Psalm 17, Psalm 19, John 9:24-41

Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. John 9:31

 Read at - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps%2017,19;%20John%209:24-41&version=NKJV

 The Amazing Goodness of the LORD.

         I am grateful and honored to be a worshipper of the Lord God Almighty (1). Because of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done on my behalf by His Atonement for my sins (2), God is Immeasurably Good to me and to those I bring before Him (3). I depend upon the Lord Jesus Christ for my sustenance in every area and these verses explain why.  Oh, What Joy!

 Psalm 19       The heavens declare the glory of God; … shows His handiwork, …  utters speech, … reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard.

            God communicates to me bountifully! In speech, sound, and sight! I cannot escape from Nature’s witness! (4)   

            God’s explicit Word communicates to me, converting my soul, changing me, making me wise, rejoicing my heart, enlightening my eyes, having me desire God’s Word ever increasingly, warning me, ensuring His rewards, cleansing me from secret faults and from presumptuous sins from ruling over me by Lord Jesus’ Word convicting me of my sin and my repenting. (Psalm 51)  

            Because of God’s Good Pleasure for me, I desire to have “the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 37:4)

Psalm 17                 Because You, Lord God declare me to be Your Own (1), I seek You continuously to bring “a just cause”, the deep cry of pain from my heart for a family member in sin, for You to set them free soon in the best manner glorifying to You. I know You hear me because “my prayer which is not from deceitful lips.” (5)

               I implore You to “Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip” so that I may follow closely You, Lord Jesus, to be with You all the time and bring others closer to You.  

               When I am to be around people who “have closed up their fat hearts; With their mouths they speak proudly”, I hide in Your Presence praying “save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, From the wicked who oppress me, From my deadly enemies who surround me.”

                I ask You Lord to “Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword”, the Word of God by the Holy Spirit. (6)

                 Because of “the Word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer” ,“my vindication comes from Your presence” so I REJOICE in this Glimpse of Heaven: “I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.”

John 9:24-41            “Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” Speaking of Jesus Christ.

             Tangible proof! (8) The Reason for my Eternal Life. – “One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” Jesus gave sight to a blind man.

             After testifying that Jesus was from God, Jesus “found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” The blind man answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”

               And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.”   Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.

            That is me! Jesus has opened my blind heart, mind and eyes!! Jesus set me free from my depravity and deceptions, and is still working on me. The Lord Jesus Christ brought me into His Marvelous Light and gave me sight! (9)  I choose to Worship the Lord Jesus Christ! (10) 

Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”

Some people who thought they were right by their own design asked Jesus, “Are we blind also?”

              Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.  (7)

                 … Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus…  2 Timothy 1:9

            His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9 

1- John 4:23-26, John 1:1-3, 12-14, 29, John 3:3-8, 15-21, 1 John 3:1, 1 Peter 1:23, Ezekiel 36:25-27, Isaiah 1:18, Psalm 51, John 15, John 15:5-11  

2- Matthew 26:28, Luke 23:38-47, John 19:30, Hebrews 9:22, Romans 3:21-26, Hebrews 2:17-18, Hebrews 9

3- 2 Corinthians 5:17-18, 1 Peter 2:9, Romans 1:16, Joel 2:27-29

4- Romans 1:19-20, Genesis 1, Job 38:1-42:6

5- Matthew 6:9-10, Psalm 84:10

6- Ephesians 6:17-18, Hebrews 4:12-13

7- Romans 3:22-24, John 8:24, 1 John 1:5-10, Romans 2:5-11 

8- Hebrews 7:24-25, Luke 24, Matthew 28

9- John 1:4-5,9, John 8:12, John 12:46, 1 Peter 2:9, John 3:18-21, John 14:1

10 – Exodus 34:14, Genesis 22:5, Hebrews 11:21, John 4:23-26, Revelation 15:4

Crystal (PsalmThirty4)

Psalm 15-16, John 9:1-23

His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9:2-3 

Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? Psalm 15:1 

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence. Psalm 16:11

Whose is responsible for the way people are?

Jesus cited a blind man’s condition as a canvas for the display of God’s glory. Jesus painted new vision into a sightless life with muddy fingers.

Jesus’ blood opened my eyes. Now I observe God’s glory in the beauty of nature. The colors of the rainbow remind me of God’s covenants. I appreciate God’s workmanship in strangers I meet. Why can’t I see Him in challenging individuals in my life?

Am I too afraid to speak a truth that could

• make known the path of life
• bring joy in God’s presence
• transform difficult into delightful
• establish a righteous heart
• guarantee a secure inheritance
• offer an unshakeable refuge

Apart from God, I can do nothing. Jesus’ sacrifice is what makes my walk blameless. What can I expect of someone who doesn’t even know Him? Don’t the lost deserve a chance to see God triumph in their lives?

Lord, I have a choice. I can either remain annoyed by those who don’t know any better or I can offer a choice for change. Help me to articulate clearly the bad news=death and the good news=eternal life through Jesus Christ. In Jesus Name I pray.

yicareggie

 

 

Psalms 12, 13, 14; John 8:28-59

They said … they declared … they replied … they retorted. An argument seems to be brewing here. And at the end, stones picked up to throw. I’m thinking to myself: must be religious leaders. Weren’t they always looking to stop him? I read it again a little more slowly, and these snippets stand out:

²⁸ So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I Am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me. ²⁹ And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.” ³⁰ Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.

³¹ Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. ³² And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:28-31 NLT

It was the believers. It was the believers who said, “What do you mean ‘You will be set free’?” They weren’t slaves, they insisted. But Jesus corrected:

³⁴ Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. ³⁵ A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. ³⁷ Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message. ³⁸ I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.”

Oh, it gets heated. They declare, they reply, they retort: Abraham is our father! God is our father!

“You say, ‘He is our God, ⁵⁵ but you don’t even know him. I know him.” John 8:54b-55a.

Rocks aimed at yesterday’s adulterous woman. Aimed in today’s reading at Jesus. In my own heart, whose advice do I seek? Is there room in it for the Lord’s message? Are there rocks in my hands today–and who am I aiming at? Brother-sister-neighbor-adversary … perhaps the target is actually my Lord.

Lord, I grow closer to you when my heart is open. When truth confronts and stirs, I pray I would put down my rocks and turn to you. I am so grateful for your forgiveness and love, that you long to restore. I want to know you better and more each day. Help me to show the very same mercy you’ve shown me to others. I don’t want to throw rocks at anyone anymore.

Courtney (66books365)

 

 

Psalm 9,11; John 8:1-27

Did the woman caught in adultery have the courage to look Jesus in the eyes, in the midst of her shame and brokenness? Would I?

“Jesus had raised himself up and saw no one but the woman…And Jesus said to her…go and sin no more”John 8:10-11 NKJV

He met her exactly where she was…

Did she walk away a new person and was her life forever changed?

Was she braver/stronger?

Could she boast in her weaknesses(2 Cor 12:9), knowing that it was God working in her and not herself? Did she always know that she could run to Him when she felt abandoned or judged? Do I?

David did…he knew he could pour out his heart and God would listen…even when his emotions were all over the place.

“I’ve already run for dear life straight into the arms of God. So why would I run away now.” Psalm 11:1 MSG

There have been times in my life when I was a coward, instead of running to Jesus like I should. I knew my sin, but I didn’t want to confess or bring it to light. He already knows it anyway right?Thats what I tell myself anyway. But, there is a difference when I confess it to Him, when I pour my heart out to Him. That is when my burden is lifted and my heart is changed.

Thank you Jesus that you pursue me and you meet me where I am. Help me to lift my eyes to You everyday. Amen

“The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not adandon those who search for you.” Psalm 8:9-10 NLT

Amy(amyctanner)

Ps 7,8; John 7:28-53

This past weekend I enjoyed several amazing fellowship encounters.  While several of the folks I had fellowship with aren’t believers, we were all engaged in the act of service and support of our fellow humans.  And that, I believe, is what God intends for us to do while in fellowship.  Perhaps He intends to use my life in a way that will influence a non-believer in those situations.  I’m not sure if that is actually the case, but it could be, so I have to be cognizant of that and not waste the opportunity. I need to live my life so it is worthy of the gift fellowship.  Here’s the real key though – God wants us to be in fellowship with Him more than anything else. Why that is, I’m not sure.  I’m a very flawed human being.  I feel like David felt:

what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them? Ps 8:4

But then I read Jesus’ words and while it’s still somewhat a mystery, I’m lifted by this:

“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, asthe Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7: 33b-38

He wants fellowship with us because He knows that it will bring us Life!  And He wants us to live. He is desperate for us to walk in the Light with Him (1 John 1:7).  As the lyrics to one of the songs Allen posted last week go, “He is jealous for me…” Still hard to fathom, but, it truly brings me hope.

God, teach me your kind of fellowship. Teach me to walk in the Light. May my life be worthy of your fellowship. Amen

Jim (jmitch1)

 

Psalm 4, 5, 6; John 7:1-27

I used to be one of those believers who went around thinking ‘now that I know Jesus nothing will ever go wrong again.’ I have come to realize in the journey of my Christian walk that, in many ways, life has actually become more difficult. Now, I have an enemy who seeks to destroy me like a roaring lion every moment of every day (1 Peter 5:8). Even though Christ won the battle at Calvary over 2000 years ago, the enemy still wants me spiritually dead – walking in sin – and even physically dead.

Because he wants me out of his way, I go through many trials that could completely break me, physically, emotionally, spiritually. I believe that God uses those circumstances to grow me and test me, to make me better tomorrow than I am today. I also believe that he uses that which the enemy intended for evil, for His good and the furthering of His Kingdom, not only in my heart but also within the world (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28).

I am not alone. Neither are you. There are countless examples of men and women of God who experienced trial and tribulation in the Bible: Joseph, Job, Esther, Ruth, Paul, to name a few. David is another. He was the anointed King of Israel and yet, before he was fully given the throne, he was forced to run for his life, live as a fugitive for many years, and hide from King Saul who wanted him dead for fear of losing the crown.

Many of the Psalms were written while David was in exile, a wrongly pursued man. These Psalms help remind me of where my focus needs to remain while I am in the midst of what seems like never-ending ordeals.

• Be angry – but don’t sin. (Psalm 4:4)
• Meditate and be still in the Lord. (Psalm 4:4)
• Offer myself as a sacrifice of righteousness. (Psalm 4:5; Romans 12:1)
• Trust in the Lord – He has heard my weeping, my supplication, and my prayer. (Psalm 4:5; 6:8-9)
• Evoke gratitude – remember the goodness in God: His countenance upon me, gladness of heart, increase out of season, peace, sleep, safety (Psalm 4:6-8)

Psalms five and six also encourage me to cry out to God and know that He will heed me. He will hear my prayers and meditations, lead me, open my eyes to understand and see His direction, return to me, deliver me, save me, and have mercy on me.

“Use your head—and heart!—to discern what is right, to test what is authentically right.” John 7:24 (MSG)

When in the midst of hardships, I have a habit of becoming very emotional, before settling down and thinking about things rationally or even looking to God for the answers or help. But He gave me Holy Spirit to walk with me and support me. As I trust Him and lean not on my own understanding, I am then able to discern the right path to walk on to walk me right through the trial (Proverbs 3:5-6)

It may sound a little cliché, but if I focus on Jesus, the mountain of problems I have will become a mole hill…if I am given lemons, I can always make lemonade…I can look at the glass half empty or half full. That doesn’t mean I can’t cry, or shout, or feel sorry for myself, but I need to get over it quick and put my focus back on God.

Yesappa, help me keep my focus on You during trials and tribulations, small or big. Help me to be overcome by Your presence, not overwhelmed by troubles. Help me to cast my cares upon you and lay my burdens at your feet. Help me walk in the garments of my salvation and to always rejoice in the Lord in good times and bad. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Blessings – Julie, Vadipatti, India

II Samuel 23, 24; John 6:41-71

As a therapist,  I know the feel of flesh and bone, tendon and ligament, nerves and blood vessels.  Hurting people come and trust me to care for them and take part in their healing.  I feel their bodies change and heal under my hands.  Scar tissue is released,  muscles start working again,  edema leaves and pain becomes a memory.  The thought of bodies and lives being broken and maimed is repugnant.  Jesus’ statement is harsh to my ears, and he was well aware that it was going to stir up trouble:

I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.  John 4:53

To me it smacks of cannibalism, but rings true. The reality of his physical body and blood  crushed for me is the very thing that my life depends on.  As much as I love and am loved by family and friends,  they can not save my life.  All the riches,  pleasures and knowledge in the world can not save me.  It is only by his grace,  his body broken for me,  his blood shed for me that I get to truly live.  Too often,  my life does not reflect what I know deep down, but oh, how I want it to.  Like David,  I can laugh a little at the obvious logic of my life’s dependency:

For who is God besides the Lord?  And who is the Rock except our God?  II Sam 22:24

With Peter, I can recognize the futility of looking anywhere else for salvation:

Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.  John 6:68-69.

Lord,  words fail to describe the depth and beauty of your fierce love for me.  How is it that I am the recipient of such wonder filled grace?  How is it that I grow distracted and lose sight of this?  Anchor my heart solidly in the reality of your love  so that I am not prone drift.  Keep me in the palm of your hand and may the thoughts in my head,  the words of my mouth and my actions come from a life that is grateful and does not wander.  Thank you.