13 July 2010 - Psalm 22

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Why don't you seem to respond to my plea?
"I cry out by day" and "by night"
For "you are enthroned as the Holy One" with might
Our ancestors put their trust in you
They were not disappointed in what you did do
But mocked and insulted by men am I
For still trusting in you until the day I die
You are my God and brought me here
"Do not be far from me, for trouble is near"
"All my bones are out of joint"
"My strength is dried up"; that's the point
"A band of evil men has encircled me"
"People stare and gloat" at what they see
"But you, O Lord...come quickly to help"
"Deliver my life" from the dogs that yelp
To my brothers "I will declare your name"
"You who fear the Lord", bring him fame
For "the suffering of the afflicted one" he does not disdain
He "has listened to his cry for help" again and again
And then "all the ends of the earth"
Will remember the Lord's great worth
The Lord rules over every single nation
Kneel before Him should all of creation
In verse thirty 'posterity' is a key word
"Future generations will be told about the Lord"

This psalm reminds me once more
That God is who I should call for
He can overcome every challenge and attack
For love and strength He does not lack
This is what I must remember
From January through to December

12 July 2010 - Galatians 6:7-10

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked"
That "a man reaps what he sows" cannot be blocked
"The one who sows to please his nature sinful"
"Will reap destruction" by the binful
"The one who sows to please the Spirit"
"Will reap eternal life"; God will confirm it
So "let us not become weary in doing good"
For "if we do not give up", reap a harvest we should
And "let us do good to all people"
Especially those who worship under the steeple

This is a very powerful verse
Even if it may seem a bit terse
What goes around, comes around
What gets planted, grows from the ground
So I must sow what I want to reap
The price of the alternative is way too steep

11 July 2010 - Galatians 6:1-5

"Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin"
"Restore him gently", like a close kin
"But watch yourself", Paul preempted
"Or you also may be tempted"
"Carry each other's burdens" it says in verse two
As "you will fulfill the law of Christ" too
"If anyone thinks he is something"
"He deceives himself" "when he is nothing"
"Each one should his own actions test"
"Then he can take pride" in doing his best
To others there is no need to compare
For we each have our own cross to bear

When I read Paul's musing
At first it was confusing
But the passage is about being good to all
Helping others - and ourselves - not to fall
While we each have our own strengths
Paul did go to great lengths
To warn us of sinful pride
If in Christ's law we are to abide
What Paul also seems to say
Is that we each have a unique role to play
So remember that part of doing our best
Is clearly trying to help the rest

11 July 2010 - ENCS

Today we continued the series on praying effectively
Pastor Larry's sermon focused on praying specifically
And of course as always he was wearing a tie
As he spoke on 'aim specific, aim right, aim high'

He started by talking about James 5:16-18
Which mentions Elijah, one of the best pray-ers ever seen
But the point of the passage was that we can pray the same way
Just as Pastor did with the rain on his wedding day
God's reminder shows us that He doth care
Pastor said there are three ways to aim in our prayer

The first is that to God we must make the need known
We must be specific, in other words take time to hone
He asked four questions in this part
'What is a need?' was where he did start
In 1 Kings 15, Elijah confronted the most evil king ever
Without Elijah's word, needed rain would return never
'Why does God allow us to have needs?' was number two
They are humbling and we often don't know what to do
As we read in Matthew chapter seven
Answers can only come from our God in heaven
'Why is expressing a need effective?' was number three
Remember that God was specific in creating both you and me
Pastor then said that as James 4:2 states so clearly
Without asking, we can't get what we want so dearly
Then of course 'why do we sometimes not receive answers to our need?'
One reason per James 4:3 is that instead of a need, we are driven by greed
Another is that God knows the right time
And waiting for God is of course not a crime
But sometimes God wants to keep in check our pride
As in 2 Corinthians 12:7, the thorn in Paul's side

The second way is to involve God's will and aim right
Breaking through the emotions helps us to see the light
Remember that the Word of God is true
It should guide us in what to do
The answer to 'what is God's will?' is found in His Word
So it says in Romans 12:2, from Pastor we heard
And 'how does praying God's will bring confidence?'
Per 1 John 5, He hears our prayers in every circumstance

The third is to ask in faith and to aim high
Believe in what we pray for and God will reply
A prayer of faith is persistent
As well as very consistent
A prayer of faith also believes
Until a result he receives
We must push through doubt
If our faith is truly devout

The other benefit when we pray
Is to tell show other's God's way
For specific prayers can make us bold
And then we can see God's work unfold

9 July 2010 - Philippians 4:4-7

Always "rejoice in the Lord"
Rejoice is the key word
To all, "let your gentleness be evident"
For "the Lord is near" and ever present
"Do not be anxious about anything"
But "by prayer and petition" in everything
"Present your requests to God" with thanksgiving
So that "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding"
"Your hearts and minds" will guard
For in Jesus nothing is too hard

There is so much to be thankful for
God has blessed us - and so much more
Worrying is something I shall not do
For God's peace can make all things new

8 July 2010 - 2 Peter 1:3-11

"His divine power has given us everything we need"
"For life and godliness through our knowledge of him" indeed
He called us through his goodness and glory
To escape the world's evil desires and actions gory
He has given us promises precious and great
So in His divine nature we may participate
For this reason add goodness to your faith
And knowledge to your goodness verse 5 sayeth
Then come self-control, perseverance, and godliness
Love is the pinnacle, building on brotherly kindness
"For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure"
They will allow you to receive God's eternal treasure
"But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind"
That "he has been cleansed from his past sins" has slipped from his mind
"Be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure"
For if you do, you will be welcomed into heaven for sure

What else is there to say?
This is what I must do today
Thank God for His great mercies
And focus on the those qualities

7 July 2010 - Psalm 27

"The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?"
Evil men will "stumble and fall" whenever they draw near
Though an army may besiege my tent
I will always remain confident
"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek"
"That I may dwell in the house of the Lord", not just get a peek
"For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling"
He will hide me and "set me high upon a rock" verse 5 is telling
Above my enemies, exalted will be my head
"I will sing and make music to the Lord" instead
Please hear me when I call and do not hide from me
Teach me your way, so on a straight path I will be
So "wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart"
"And wait for the Lord" for He will do His part

This is yet another psalm
That helps to keep me calm
No matter who or how many my enemies may be
The Lord is merciful and safe He will keep me