2020 Archived Blogs

Numbers 6:24-26  (NKJV)

The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you,
     and be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
     and give you peace.

We offer the following three prayers in response ...

1.   LORD, bring those who yet need You into new-
      birth relationship with You through Your beloved
      Son, Jesus Christ - Lord of lords and King of kings.
      Please do so whereby they, too, can so enjoy the
      huge blessings found only in the Lord Jesus as
      Your New Covenant graciously continues.  May
      peace  with God  be their eternal discovery this
      new year.  Amen

2.   LORD, bless and keep those in You who, by grace, con-
      tinue in relationship with You in their new-born state.  May
      Your holy face shine upon them and be gracious to them.
      Lift up Your countenance upon them, precious Father.
      And, dear YHVH God Most High:  THANK YOU for
      Your holy New Covenant through Jesus Christ Your
      Son.  May the  peace  of God  which passes all
      understanding be our ongoing blessing through
      2020.  Amen

3.   LORD, soften the hearts of those who claim to be
      in You  but who are not abiding in Your Son.  Open
      their eyes to the dangers of the life they are presently
      living.  Help the carnal to repent of their ways, turn
      and walk in Your Holy Spirit.  May You grace them
      with change whereby they, too, can enjoy the sweet
      abundant life Your Son, our Shepherd, so kindly offers. 
      May Your merciful, gracious light reign over the darkness.
      In Jesus Christ's glorious name we pray, amen.

____________________

Week of 1/6-10  (B2;20)

Psalm 1  (NKJV)

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of
the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits
in the seat of the scornful;  but his delight  is  in the law
of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also 
shall not wither;  and whatever he does shall prosper.
The ungodly  are  not so, but  are  like the chaff which
the wind drives away.  Therefore the ungodly shall not
stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation
of the righteous.  For the LORD knows the way of the
righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Father, in a day filled with dark uncertainty, may we be
wise enough to heed the blessings of this psalm.  May
we enjoy Your peace which passes all understanding
even though the events of Mt. 24:4-8 continue to 
manifest themselves.  LORD, we praise You for the
heavenly blessings in Christ Jesus Your glorious Son.
Thank You for Your peace which does indeed transcend
all understanding.  We magnify You oh eternal YHVH God.
In Jesus Christ's - Your Son's - holy name we pray, amen. 

____________________

Week of 1/13-17  (B3;20)

Psalm 2  (NKJV)

Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take
counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed,
saying,  "Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away 
Their cords from us."  He who sites in the heavens shall laugh; 
the LORD shall hold them in derision.  Then He shall speak to 
them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure:
"Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.  I will declare 
the decree:  The LORD has said to Me, 'You  are  My Son,
today I have begotton You.  Ask of Me, and I will give  You  
the nations  for  Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth
for  Your possession.  You shall break them with a rod of iron;  
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'"  Now 
therefore, be wise O kings;  be instructed, you judges of the 
earth.  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish  in  the way, 
when His wrath is kindled but a little.  Blessed  are  all those 
who put their trust in Him.   

Father God, we ADORE Thee.  In Jesus Christ's holy name,
LORD, help us to revere Your glorious Son.  During these
days of rebellion, help us LORD to  stay the course  and 
remain faithful to You.  Help us  endure  during these days
of global warfare against You and Your peoples - both Your
Old Covenant people and Your New Covenant people in 
Jesus Christ Your Son.  Thank You, Father God.  In Christ
alone  we bring appeal:  Come soon Lord Jesus!  

____________________

Week of 1/20-24  (B4;20)

I Peter 3:8-17  (NKJV)

Finally, all  of you be  of one mind, having compassion for one
another;  love as brothers, be  tenderhearted, be  courteous;  not
returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary
blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may
inherit a blessing.  For  "He who would love life and see good
days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from
speaking deceit.  Let him turn away from evil and do good;  
let him seek peace and pursue it.  For the eyes of the LORD
are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers;
but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.  And
who  is  he who will harm you if you become followers of what
is good?  But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake,
you  are blessed.  "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be
troubled."  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always
be ready to  give  a defense to everyone who asks a reason of
the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;  having a
good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers,
those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
For  it is  better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good 
than for doing evil. 

Father YHVH God, thank You for graciously providing 
the resources to  walk  in the perspective You've kindly
outlined Your people to obey as we abide in Your Son.
Yes LORD, thank You for your empowering Spirit.  Help
us to walk in Him as Your Ambassadors of Christ Jesus.
May we, in Your abundant mercy and grace, continue
being those lights which exalt and magnify Your great
name.  In Jesus Christ's name we pray, amen. 

____________________

Week of 1/27-31  (B5;20)

II Peter 2:1-11  (NKJV)

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as
there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring
in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them,
and  bring on themselves swift destruction.  And many will follow
their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be
blasphemed.  By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive
words;  for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their
destruction does not slumber.  For if God did not spare the angels
who sinned, but cast  them  into chains of darkness, to be reserved
for judgment;  and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah,
one of  eight  people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the
flood on the world of the ungodly;  and turning the cities of Sodom
and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned  them  to destruction,
making  them  an example to those who afterward would live
ungodly;  and delivered righteous Lot,  who was  oppressed by
the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling
among them, tormented  his  righteous soul from day to day by
seeing  and hearing  their  lawless deeds)  -  then  the Lord 
knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to re-
serve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the
lust of uncleanness and despise authority.  They are  pre-
sumptuous, self-willed.  They are not afraid to speak evil of
dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and
might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before
the Lord.  [ continued next week ]
 

Lord God, grace us, please, with Your discernment regarding the
false teachers  currently  among us.  Thank You for caring for us
to the degree You put these warnings in Your Word.  May Your
generous Spirit illumine our minds, hearts and eyes whereby we
better discern the  many  deceptions today.  Unto our protection 
in these  end of days  (in which we are, very much so, in harm's
way)  unto the efforts at reaching the lost, and ultimately, unto
Your glory and praise.  In the name of Your beloved Son, Jesus 
Christ, our Lord and Savior we pray, amen.

____________________

Week of 2/3-7  (B6;20)

II Peter 3:1-9  (NKJV)

Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in  both of  which
I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be
mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy
prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord
and Savior, knowing this first:  that scoffers will come in the last
days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, "Where is
the promise of His coming?  For since the fathers fell asleep, all
things continue as  they were  from the beginning of creation."
For this they willfully forget:  that by the word of God the heavens
were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
by which the world  that  then existed perished, being flooded 
with water.  But the heavens and the earth  which  are now pre-
served by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of
judgment and perdition of ungodly men.  But, beloved, do not 
forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day  is  as a 
thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord
is not slack concerning  His  promise, as some count slackness,
but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish
but that all should come to repentance.

Thank You, Father God, for caring as You do.  Thank You for
Your generous patience with us.  May some come to You as
we continue in these  end of days.   In Your Son's, our Savior's
mighty and holy name we pray, amen.  

Note:  Please see our Gospel pages on this site if you're open
           to God's saving message of eternal Hope in Christ Jesus.  

____________________

Week of 2/10-14  (B7;20)

I Corinthians 15:50-58  (NKJV)

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit
the kingdom of God;  nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
Behold, I tell you a mystery:  We shall not all sleep, but we
shall all be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an
eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and
the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal
must  put on immortality.  So when this corruptible has put
on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then
shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, "Death is
swallowed up in victory.  O Death, where is your sting?  O
Hades, where is your victory?"  The sting of death  is  sin,
and the strength of sin  is  the law but thanks  be  to God,
who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that
your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 

Faithful Father God, thank You for being ever so True to Your
Word.  Thank You for Your promises to Your own in death - that
death is swallowed up in victory.  Thank You for seeing our loved
ones in You, safely Home.  Thank You for the victory You provided
for needy mankind in Your holy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  And
Abba God, help us who remain to be faithful to the end, knowing
our kingdom labor on Your behalf is not in vain, especially as we
walk in Your Spirit and abide in Your Vine.  In Christ Jesus' name
we pray, amen. 

____________________

 
Valentine's Day  celebrations  continue ...
Praise:  Lord YHVH God, You are SO good!

Week of 2/17-21  (B8;20)

I Corinthians 13  (NKJV)

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have
not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
And though I have  the gift  of prophecy, and understand all my-
steries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I can
remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  And though I
bestow all my goods to feed  the poor,  and though I give my body
to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Love suffers long  and  is kind;  love does not envy;  love does
not parade itself, is not puffed up;  does not behave rudely, 
does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;  does
not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;  bears all things,
believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love
never fails.  But whether  there are  prophecies, they will fail;
whether  there are  tongues, they will cease;  whether  there 
is  knowledge, it will vanish away.  For we know in part and we 
prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect has come, 
then that which is in part will be done away.  When I was a
child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as
a child;  but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.  Now
I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three;  but the great-
est of these  is  love. 

Loving Creator, thank You for  showing  Your love for us as You
do.  Thank You for the supreme expression of Your deep love by
sending us Your Savior, Christ Jesus our Lord.  Thank You for
dying for us so that our sins can be forgiven if we but accept Your
precious, eternal gift.  Lord, wake up some churches to the fact 
that  YOU  have called us to  love  You through our graced-based
obedience to You.  Help us discern the false teaching that
everything's "done" and that we are not to "do."   Thank You
for being absolutely clear in Your Word on this matter.  And
thank You, too, for being clear that the works which are
honoring to You are done, in Your mercy and grace, by
Your generous Spirit within us whereby  You  get the glory.
Thank You for Your call (to us) to honor Your full Word so 
that we avoid the consequential deceptions of  half truths.  
Thank You that Christ Jesus Your Son atoned for the
sins of mankind while on the cross.  Yes, Lord, it is
finished.  Help lost mankind to  accept  Your gift so as
to apply it, personally, to their lives.  And thank You, too, 
that You continue doing wonderful things in and through 
Your people by Your kind mercies and grace.  We praise
and magnify Your great name.  In Jesus Christ's holy
name we pray, amen. 

____________________

Week of 2/24-28  (B9;20)

Ephesians 6:10-18  (NKJV)

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of
His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able
to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual
hosts  of wickedness in the heavenly  places.  Therefore take up
the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the
evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having
girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of
righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation
of the gospel of peace;  above all, taking the shield of faith with
which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked
one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the 
Spirit, which is the word of God;  praying always with all prayer 
and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all
perseverance and supplication for all the saints ...

Father YHVH God, thank You for kindly directing Your people
in Christ Jesus with the protective Counsel above.  As we
enjoy Your provision in this context of spiritual warfare, may 
we press on in Gospel and Discipleship ministry unto Your
glory and praise.  In Your glorious Son, Christ Jesus we pray.

____________________

Week of 3/2-6  (B10;20)

John 14:1-6  (NKJV)

[ Jesus Christ speaking ]  "Let not your heart be troubled; you 
believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are
many mansions;  if  it were  not  so,  I would have told you.  I
go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself;  that where
I am,  there  you may be also.  And where I go you know, and
the way you know."  Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not 
know where You are going, and how can we know the way?"
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No
one comes to the Father except through Me."

Lord Jesus, thank You for speaking Truthfully to needy humanity.
Lord, may we accept Your significant revelation to us concerning
the way of eternal life.  May those who need to do so, accept unto
regeneration;  may those who have already been born anew, walk
in our new birth as we rely upon You and Your wonderful provision,
Your Holy Spirit within us.  We praise You, Father, for Your kind,
ongoing grace!  Unto Your glory and praise we pray, amen. 

____________________

Week of 3/9-13  (B11;20)

I Corinthians 15:50-52  (NKJV)

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit 
the kingdom of God;  nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
Behold, I tell you a mystery:  We shall not all sleep, but we
shall all be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an
eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the
dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

YHVH God, we  long  for your Son's return and the gathering
together of His elect.  Until that time, Lord, and until His initial
appearing, help us to abide in Your precious Holy Spirit so that
we are  supernaturally - by You - enabled  Ambassadors on 
Your behalf, equipped to represent You in a manner pleasing 
to You, Oh Lord Most High.  In Jesus Christ's name we pray, amen. 

____________________

Week of 3/16-20  (B12;20)

Psalm 46  (NKJV ; emphases ours ; addition in [ ] ours)

[ YHVH ]  God  is  our refuge and strength, a very present help
in trouble.  Therefore we will not  fear, *  even though the earth
be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst
of the sea;  though  its waters roar  and  be troubled,  though 
the mountains shake with its swelling.     Selah

There is  a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
the holy  place  of the tabernacle of the Most High.  God  is  in 
the midst of her, she shall not be moved;  God shall help her, 
just at the break of dawn.  The nations raged, the kingdoms 
were moved;  He uttered His voice, the earth melted.  The LORD
of hosts  is  with us;  the God of Jacob  is  our refuge.     Selah

Come, behold the works of the LORD, who has made desolations
in the earth.  He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;  He
breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;  He burns the chariot
in the fire.  Be still and know that I  am  God;  I will be exalted 
among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!  The LORD
of hosts  is  with us;  the God of Jacob  is  our refuge.        Selah

Father God, You are great and greatly to be praised!  You grace
man with  things  which allow for the bending of our knees in wor-
ship.  Thank You!  Lord, You dwell in Your Church in Jesus Christ
Your holy Son.  Indeed, You are  in the midst of us  as this psalm
powerfully highlights when we contemplate the blessings of Your
New Covenant in Christ.  May we glean the insights You have so
kindly extended in  I & II Thessalonians  concerning Your Church
being persecuted YET eventually experiencing Your deliverance - 
in Your time.  As did the church in Thessalonica, help us endure 
through the tribulations too.  * And LORD, help us not to  fear, 
even as the earth suffers from COVID-19.  May Jesus Christ be 
praised.  Amen

____________________

Week of 3/23-27  (B13;20)

Psalm 100  (NKJV)

Preamble:  
"It is  better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.  
It is  better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes."
Psalm 118:8, 9 ; NKJV  

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!  Serve the LORD
with gladness;  come before His presence with singing.  Know 
that the LORD, He  is  God.  It is  He  who  made us, and not we
ourselves;  We are  His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,  and  into His courts with
praise.  Be thankful to Him,  and  bless His name.  For the LORD
is  good;  His mercy  is  everlasting, and His truth  endures  to all
generations. 

LORD God, we bless and magnify Your glorious name.  We give
thanks to You who alone are great and greatly to be praised!  We
exalt You in all things.  Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed
be Thy name.  Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as
it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  Forgive us our
trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.  Lead
us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For Thine is the
kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever, amen.
Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.  Amen

2nd Quarter Blogs

Week of 3/30 - 4/3  (B14;20)

[ My precious wife is playing (on the piano), We Exalt Thee
as I write out this blog.  Sweet background music indeed. ]

Psalm 119:97-100; 105  (NKJV)

Oh, how I love Your law!  It is my meditation all the day.
You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my
enemies;  for they  are  ever with me.  I have more understanding
than all my teachers, for Your testimonies  are  my meditation.
I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your pre-
cepts.  Your word  is  a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.
The entirety of Your word  is  truth, and every one
of Your righteous judgments  endures  forever. 
(Psalm 119:89, 160 ; NKJV)

Father God, You are great and we adore Thee.  Thank
You for warning us as You have.  On behalf of those who
have taken Your Son’s Counsel seriously:  THANK YOU
for the provisions we currently enjoy in more lean circum-
stances.  Thank You for Mt. 24:45ff.  May we apply  tHis
Counsel and prepare in ways outlined in Your precious 
Word.  As we obey You, we are graced to share provisions
with others in need.  Help us in Your Gospel - as Your Word
outlines! - and Discipleship - as Your holy Word outlines! -
ministries.  We work Your fields unto Your glory and 
praise.  Even so, please come quickly Lord Jesus.  Until
then, protect us as we  bathe  in Your Word.  In Jesus
Christ’s holy name we pray, amen.

____________________

Week of 4/6-10  (B15;20)

Psalm 107:1-32  (NKJV) 

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for  He is  good!  For His
mercy  endures  forever.  Let the redeemed of the LORD
say  so,  whom He has redeemed from the hand of the
enemy, and gathered out of the lands, from the east and
from the west, from the north and from the south.  They
wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way;  they found
no city to dwell in.  Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in
them.  Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,  and
He delivered them out of their distresses.  And He led them
forth by the right way, that they might go to a city for a 
dwelling place.  Oh, that  men  would give thanks to the
LORD  for  His goodness, and  for  His wonderful works
to the children of men!  For He satisfies the longing soul,
and fills the hungry soul with goodness.
Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
bound in affliction and irons - because they rebelled against
the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High,
therefore He brought down their heart with labor;  they fell
down, and  there was  none to help.  Then they cried out to
the LORD in their trouble,  and  He saved them out of their
distresses.  He brought them out of darkness and the shadow
of death, and broke their chains in pieces.  Oh, that  men
would give thanks to the LORD  for  His goodness, and  for  
His wonderful works to the children of men!  For He has 
broken the gates of bronze, and cut the bars of iron in two.
Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their
iniquities, were afflicted.  Their soul abhorred all manner of
food, and they drew near to the gates of death.  Then they
cried out to the LORD in their trouble,  and  He saved them
out of their distresses.  He sent His word and healed them,
and delivered  them  from their destructions.  Oh, that  men 
would give thanks to the LORD  for  His goodness, and  for 
His wonderful works to the children of men!  Let them sacri-
fice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with
rejoicing.
Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on
great waters, they see the works of the LORD, and His won-
ders in the deep.  For He commands and raises the stormy
wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea.  They mount up to
the heavens, they go down again to the depths;  their soul
melts because of trouble.  They reel to and fro, and stagger
like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.  Then they cry
out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brings them out of 
their distresses.  He calms the storm, so that its waves are
still.  Then they are glad because they are quiet;  so He 
guides them to their desired haven.  Oh, that  men  would
give thanks to the LORD  for  His goodness, and  for  His
wonderful works to the children of men!  Let them exalt Him
also in the assembly of the people, and praise Him in the
company of the elders.  

The following prayer is taken from  Lenten Postcards:  Daily
Devotions Inspired By The Book Of Common Prayer ; pg. 103 ;
The Foundry Publishing ; 2019.  In this season of Lent, before
our LORD's  passion,  we pray:

Lord, we long for the consummation of all things.  We ache for
your kingdom to come in its fullness.  We confess that we often
imagine the path to victory as a simple ascent to the mountaintop.
We forget that redemption was found not in the glory of the peak
but in the bloodstained dust of the valley, in the cold, unforgiving
walls of a tomb.  May we follow you - to peaks and through
valleys - for the sake of your coming kingdom. 

____________________

Week of 4/13-17  (B16;20) 

Jesus Christ preached repentance and secured salvation
for all of mankind (who need to, on an individual basis,
accept His eternally significant sacrifice for sin in order
to apply it personally).  As One having ALL authority in
heaven and on earth, listen, please, to the Lord of lords,
the King of kings:

"Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Jesus Christ - Matthew 4:17b

[ Please read our most recent  commentary  
  blog - CB4F - before continuing.  Click Here ]

Psalm 95  (NKJV) 

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD!  Let us shout joyfully
to the Rock of our salvation.  Let us come before His
presence with thanksgiving;  let us shout joyfully to Him
with psalms.  For the LORD  is  the great God, and the
great King above all gods.  In His hand  are  the deep
places of the earth;  the heights of the hills  are  His also.
The sea  is  His, for He made it;  and His hands formed
the dry  land. 
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;  let us kneel
before the LORD our Maker.  For He  is  our God, and
we  are  the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His
hand.  Today, if you will hear His voice:  
"Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as  in  the
day of trial in the wilderness, when your fathers tested Me;
they tried Me, though they saw My work.  For forty years
I was grieved with  that  generation, and said, 'It  is  a 
people who go astray in their hearts, and they do not
know My ways.'  So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall 
not enter My rest.'"

Father YHVH God, we once again PRAISE YOU for graciously
providing YOUR salvation through Your Son, Jesus Christ.  In
these days of  resurrection  celebration, we glorify YOU for 
Your kind deliverance - great is Your mercy oh LORD.  As we
know, You are  here and are not silent  as You take interest in
and are involved with the matters of man.  THANK YOU  for
being our heavenly Father who loves us enough to  discipline  us
when we go astray.  Soften hearts toward repentance, we pray.
And may Your Holy Spirit continue convicting those who choose
to retain  hard hearts  like Pharaoh of old.  Even so, please 
come quickly Lord Jesus!  In Christ's name we pray, amen. 

____________________

Week of 4/20-24  (B17;20) 

Isaiah 26  (NKJV) 

In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
"We have a strong city;  God  will appoint salvation  for 
walls and bulwarks.  Open the gates, that the righteous
nation which keeps the truth may enter in.  You will keep
him  in perfect peace,  whose  mind  is  stayed  on You,
because he trusts in You.  Trust in the Lord forever,  for in
Yah,  the LORD,  is everlasting strength.  For He brings
down those who dwell on high, the lofty city;  He lays it
low, He lays it low to the ground, He brings it down to the
dust.  The foot shall tread it down - the feet of the poor
and  the steps of the needy."
The way of the just  is  uprightness;  O Most Upright, You
weigh the path of the just.  Yes, in the way of Your judg-
ments, O Lord, we have waited for You;  the desire of  our 
soul  is  for Your name and for the remembrance of You.
With my soul I have desired You in the night, yes, by my
spirit within me I will seek You early;  for when Your judg-
ments  are  in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will
learn righteousness.  Let grace be shown to the wicked,  yet
he will not learn righteousness;  in the land of uprightness he 
will deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.  
LORD,  when  Your hand is lifted up, they will not see.  But 
they will see and be ashamed for  their  envy of people;  
yes, the fire of Your enemies shall devour them.  
LORD, You will establish peace for us, for You have also
done all our works in us.  O LORD our God, masters be-
sides You have had dominion over us,  but  by You only 
we make mention of Your name.  They  are dead, they 
will not live;  they are  deceased, they will not rise.  There-
fore You have punished and destroyed them, and made all 
their memory to perish.  You have increased the nation, O
LORD, You have increased the nation;  You are glorified;
You have expanded all the borders of the land.
LORD, in trouble they have visited You, they poured out 
a prayer  when  Your chastening  was  upon them.  As a
woman with child is in pain and cries out in her pangs,
when  she draws near the time of her delivery, so have we
been in Your sight, O LORD.  We have been with child,
we have been in pain;  we have, as it were, brought forth
wind;  we have not accomplished any deliverance in the
earth, nor have the inhabitants of the world fallen.  Your 
dead shall live;  together with  my dead body they shall
arise.  Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust;  for your
dew  is like  the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast
out the dead.  Come, my people, enter your chambers,
and shut your doors behind you;  hide yourself, as it 
were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past.
For behold, the LORD comes out of His place to punish
the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity;  the earth 
will also disclose her blood, and will no more cover her
slain.

Father God,  LORD God Most High,  send Your Son soon,
we pray.  In Jesus Christ's holy and glorious name, amen. 

____________________

Week of 4/27 - 5/1  (B18;20) 

Our devotional reading for this week highlights the
first six chapters of the Book of Daniel.

Suggested reading schedule for this special week:

Monday, 4/27          Daniel 1
Tuesday, 4/28         Daniel 2
Wednesday, 4/29    Daniel 3
Thursday, 4/30       Daniel 4
Friday, 5/1                Daniel 5
Saturday, 5/2           Daniel 6

Father God, thank You for gracing us with Your righteous 
principles to live by as we bow to Your authority over us.  
Thank You so for the HUGE,  pertinent  messages found in
each of these chapters.  As we listen to Your Spirit's leading, 
we thank You in advance for the fruit that will come as Your
Word goes forth.  As parents treat their children differently
but fairly, so too do we thank You for leading Your people in
diverse applications of Your Word as we live out our specific
gifts unto Your glory and praise.  In Jesus Christ's name we 
thank You for II Timothy 3:16, 17.  Amen. 

____________________

Week of 5/4-8  (B19;20) 

Psalm 119:1-8 (NLT)  ;  Revelation 2:1-7 (ESV)

Happy are people of integrity, who follow the law of the LORD.
Happy are those who obey his decrees and search for him
     with all their hearts.
They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.
You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully.
Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your principles!
Then I will not be disgraced when I compare my life with your
     commands.
When I learn your righteous laws, I will thank you by living as
     I should!
I will obey your principles.  Please don't give up on me!

"To the angel of the church of Ephesus write:  'The words
of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who 
walks among the seven golden lampstands.  I know your
works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you
cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those
who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them
to be false.  I know you are enduring patiently and bearing
up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary.
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the
love you had at first.  Remember therefore from where you
have fallen;  repent, and do the works you did at first.  If not,
I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place,
unless you repent.  Yet this you have:  you hate the works of
the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.  He who has an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To the one who
conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the
paradise of God.'"

Glorious Heavenly Father ...
Your ways are surely  not  our ways, O LORD Most High.
You call us to walk Your glorious path while knowing full
well we will wander.  As You know all things, You know we
need provision for forgiveness of sin.  THANK YOU for so
generously providing Your heavenly cleansing through Jesus
Christ Your Son.  And THANK YOU for calling us back to 
Your Word in these early verses of Psalm 119.  Thank You,
too, for Your eternal Word's Counsel as to our persistent
weaknesses.  We praise You for loving us enough to help
us walk the path of humility before You by being willing to
confess and repent when we need to do so.  LORD, open
our eyes to the  nevertheless I have this against you  things
that we've not sufficiently let go of, things which douse our
first love for You.  Thy Word, O LORD, is a lamp unto our
feet;  a light to our path.  We pray these things in the holy
name of Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord.  Amen  

____________________

Week of 5/11-15  (B20;20) 

Psalm 119:9-16 (NLT) ;  Revelation 2:8-11 (ESV)

How can a young person stay pure?  By obeying your word
and following its rules.  I have tried my best to find you - don't
let me wander from your commands.  I have hidden your
word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.  Blessed
are you, O LORD;  teach me your principles.  I have recited
aloud all the laws you have given us.  I have rejoiced in your
decrees as much as in riches.  I will study your command-
ments and reflect on your ways.  I will delight in your 
principles and not forget your word.  

"And to the angel of the church of Smyrna write: 
'The words of the first and the last, who died and came
to life.  I know your tribulation and your poverty (but your
are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are
Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.  Do 
not fear what you are about to suffer.  Behold, the devil
is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may
be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation.
Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of
life.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit 
says to the churches.  The one who conquers will not
be hurt by the second death.'"

Glorious Heavenly Father ...
Blessed be Thou O Lord our God.  Your holy Word
continues to work its wonders.  Thank You for the needed
authority it extends to those who are Yours.  Thank You for
graciously providing powerful means to walk in Christ Jesus,
Your holy Son.  May Your two-edged sword be abundantly
present in our lives as we live day by day for You.  And may
Your Holy Spirit use Your Word within Your own to accomplish,
in part, fruit which You graciously bring about in our lives as we
abide in Your Son and walk in Your Spirit.  And Father, thank
You so for cluing us in on some of the dangers ahead.  Thank
You for providing the means to walk victoriously through these
present days of darkness.  As we encounter heightened 
tribulation in the days ahead, please keep us in Your 
victorious hold whereby we do indeed  endure to the end.
By faith, dear Lord, we  thank You  for doing so even before
we encounter these battles in the setting of spiritual warfare.
We praise, magnify and yes, glorify Your great and holy name.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ - Who is EVERYTHING
to us - we pray, amen. 

____________________

Week of 5/18-22  (B21;20) 

Psalm 119:17-24 (NLT) ;  Revelation 2:12-17 (ESV)

Be good to your servant, that I may live and obey your word.
Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your law.  I am
but a foreigner here on earth;  I need the guidance of your
commands.  Don't hide them from me!  I am overwhelmed
continually with a desire for your laws.  You rebuke those
cursed proud ones who wander from your commands.  Don't
let them scorn and insult me, for I have obeyed your decrees.
Even princes sit and speak against me, but I will meditate on
your principles.  Your decrees please me;  they give me wise
advice.

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write:  'The 
words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.  I know
where you dwell, where Satan's throne is.  Yet you hold 
fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the
days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among
you, where Satan dwells.  But I have a few things against
you:  you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam,
who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons
of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and
practice sexual immorality.  So also you have some who
hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.  Therefore repent.
If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with
the sword of my mouth.  He who has an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit says to the churches.  To the one who con-
quers, I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give
him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone 
that no one knows except the one who receives it.'"

Glorious Heavenly Father ...
We praise You for sending Your Holy Spirit following Your
Son's ascension.  Thank You for gracing Your children with
open eyes to understand Your Word.  And thank You for
equipping us with Your resources to obey Your Word. 
Lord, rebuke those who walk in pride and who reject Your
Counsel.  And Lord, help us - Your children - to walk in
humility and be willing to confess and repent when we 
need to do so.  Help open our eyes and soften our hearts
to the fact that sexual sins so undermine our walk with You.
Thank You for Your consistent call through the ages.  Indeed,
obedience brings blessing;  disobedience brings judgment.  
Lord, we don't want to quench, grieve or insult Your Spirit.
May we, in Your strength, lovingly obey You as You've so
clearly outlined in Your precious Word.  In Jesus Christ's
holy name we pray, amen.  

____________________

Week of 5/25-29  (B22;20) 

Psalm 119:25-32 (NLT) ;  Revelation 2:18-29 (ESV)

I lie in the dust, completely discouraged;  revive me by your 
word.  I told you my plans, and you answered.  Now teach me 
your principles.  Help me understand the meaning of your
commandments, and I will meditate on your wonderful miracles.
I weep with grief;  encourage me by your word.  Keep me from
lying to myself;  give me the privilege of knowing your law.  I 
have chosen to be faithful;  I have determined to live by your
laws.  I cling to your decrees.  LORD, don't let me be put to
shame!  If you will help me, I will run to follow your commands.

"And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write:  'The words
of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose
feet are like burnished bronze.  I know your works, your love 
and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter
works exceed the first.  But I have this against you, that you 
tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess 
and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual
immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.  I gave her time
to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.
Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit
adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they
repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead.  And 
all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind 
and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve.
But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching,
who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan,
to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden.  Only hold
fast what you have until I come.  The one who conquers and
who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority
over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as
when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself 
have received authority from my Father.  And I will give him
the morning star.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches.'"

Glorious Heavenly Father ...
Hear our prayers as we repeat the Psalm reading above.
And LORD, we thank You once again for gracing us with
tremendous insight in Your word.  We are humbled Lord.
We are impressed.  May Your instruction to Your churches
be heeded.  Help us correct this sin of our of being too
tolerant toward evil.  Embolden us to love You first by 
honoring You through rejection of the dark compromises
we have embraced.  Open our eyes to the reality that You
DO discipline Your imperfect kids.  In loving fear of You, O
Lord, help us to turn from our wicked ways and lukewarm
living.  Help us to patiently endure during these end of days.
May we be Your lights to a needy generation.  As the song
goes, Lord, and as we pray, hear, this our prayer:  In our lives, 
Lord, be glorified, be glorified today.  In Jesus Christ's precious 
and holy name we pray, amen.  

____________________

Week of 6/1-5  (B23;20) 

Psalm 119:33-40 (NLT) ;  Revelation 3:1-6 (ESV)

Teach me, O LORD, to follow every one of your principles.
Give me understanding and I will obey your law;  I will put
it into practice with all my heart.  Make me walk along the
path of your commands, for that is where my happiness 
is found.  Give me an eagerness for your decrees;  do not
inflict me with love for money!  Turn my eyes from worthless
things, and give me life through your word.  Reassure me of
your promise, which is for those who honor you.  Help me
abandon my shameful ways;  your laws are all I want in life.
I long to obey your commandments!  Renew my life with
your goodness. 

"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write:  'The words of
him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.  I
know your works.  You have the reputation of being alive, but
your are dead.  Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is
about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the
sight of God.  Remember, then, what you received and heard.
Keep it, and repent.  If you will not wake up, I will come like a
thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against
you.  Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who
have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me
in white, for they are worthy.  The one who conquers will 
be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his 
name out of the book of life.  I will confess his name before
my Father and before his angels.  He who has an ear, let
him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"

Glorious Heavenly Father ...
Hear our prayers as we repeat the Psalm reading above.
Yes LORD, turn away my eyes from looking at worthless
things.  As You Counsel Your end-time people, help us 
walk in purity during these end of days.  May we exude
humility by, in part, being willing to confess our needy
state.  Help us to be watchful, to hold fast and to repent
when we need to do so.  And Lord, help us to  watch
as You have so clearly mandated, for we don't want to
be like the worldly who will be caught by surprise - as
a thief in the night.  Lord, we fear You in the context of
biblical fear.  Please grace us with being overcomers
who are not blotted out of Thy Book of Life.  We long
to honor and glorify Your holy name through eternity.
In Jesus Christ's matchless name we pray, amen.  

____________________

Week of 6/8-12  (B24;20) 

Psalm 119:41-48 (NLT) ;  Revelation 3:7-13 (ESV)

LORD, give to me your unfailing love, the salvation that
you promised me.  Then I will have an answer for those
who taunt me, for I trust in your word.  Do not snatch your
word of truth from me, for my only hope is in your laws.  I
will keep on obeying your law forever and forever.  I will
walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your 
commandments.  I will speak to kings about your decrees,
and I will not be ashamed.  How I delight in your commands!
How I love them!  I honor and love your commands.  I medi-
tate on your principles.

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:  'The 
words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of 
David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and
no one opens.  I know your works.  Behold, I have set 
before you an open door, which no one is able to shut.
I know that you have but little power, and yet you have
kept my word and have not denied my name.  Behold, I
will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that
they are Jews and are not, but lie - behold, I will make
them come and bow down before your feet and they will
learn that I have loved you.  Because you have kept my
word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the
hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try
those who dwell on the earth.  I am coming soon.  Hold
fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the 
temple of my God.  Never shall he go out of it, and I will
write on him the name of my God, and the name of the 
city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down 
from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.  He 
who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the 
churches.'" 

Glorious Heavenly Father ...
Hear our prayers as we repeat the Psalm reading above.
LORD God, thank You for Your glorious Son - the eternal
Word incarnate.  Thank You for sending Him soon.  As we
depend upon Your power - for ours is weak - we ask You
to glorify Your name as we serve as Your loving, end-time
Ambassadors in Christ Jesus.  Help us with 'patient endur-
ance' dear YHVH God.  And thank You for keeping us from
the hour of trial as You pour Your bowls of wrath upon the
earth dwellers.  Until our final trumpet rapture gathering,
help us hold fast, we pray.  Thank You for seeing us through
these dark days as we walk in Your Holy Spirit.  We praise
and glorify Your great name.  And Lord, we sure look forward
to the day of Your Son's rule.  Even so, please come quickly
Lord Jesus.  Amen 

____________________

Week of 6/15-19  (B25;20) 

Psalm 119:49-56 (NLT) ;  Revelation 3:14-22 (ESV)

Remember your promise to me, for it is my only hope.
Your promise revives me;  it comforts me in all my troubles.
The proud hold me in utter contempt, but I do not turn
away from your law.  I meditate on your age-old laws;
O LORD, they comfort me.  I am furious with the wicked,
those who reject your law.  Your principles have been the
music of my life through the years of my pilgrimage.  I
reflect at night on who you are, O LORD, and I obey 
your law because of this.  This is my happy way of life:
obeying your commandments. 

"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write:  'The 
words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the 
beginning of God's creation.  I know your works:  you 
are neither cold nor hot.  Would that you were either
cold or hot!  So, because you are lukewarm, and
neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need
nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable,
poor, blind, and naked.  I counsel you to buy from me
gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white
garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame
of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint
your eyes, so that you may see.  Those whom I love, I
reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.  Be-
hold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my
voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat
with him, and he with me.  The one who conquers, I
will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also
conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to
the churches.'" 

Glorious Heavenly Father ...
Hear our prayers as we repeat the Psalm reading above.
Father God, thank You for the loving discipline of Your Son.
Open our eyes to our wretched state and move us to 
humble repentance lest Your judgment fall upon us.  Lord,
Thank You for caring enough to confront your erring children
in Christ.  Help us to accept the fact that He will cast out 
many on the day of judgment, even those who say they
are Yours but who have proved themselves lukewarm.  Help
us to properly  fear  You.  We need to repent, Lord.  We
are so grateful for Your patient kindness to us.  How You're
willing to stand at the door of our hearts while we keep
falling, baffles us.  Great is your mercy Oh God of glory, 
God of grace.  Help us Lord to seek Thy face.  You who
dwell above the earth;  You who gave us second birth:
God of glory, God of grace, help us Lord to seek Thy face. 
In Jesus Christ's matchless name we pray, amen. 

____________________

Week of 6/22-26  (B26;20) 

Psalm 119:57-64 (NLT) ;  Matthew 24:1-8 (NKJV)

LORD, you are mine!  I promise to obey your words!
With all my heart I want your blessings.  Be merciful
just as you promised.  I pondered the direction of my
life, and I turned to follow your statutes.  I will hurry,
without lingering, to obey your commands.  Evil 
people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored
to your law.  At midnight I rise to thank you for your just
laws.  Anyone who fears you is my friend - anyone who
obeys your commandments.  O LORD, the earth is full
of your unfailing love;  teach me your principles.    

Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and
His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the
temple.  And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these
things?  Assuredly, I say to you, not  one  stone shall be
left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down."
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came
to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be?
And what  will be  the sign of Your coming, and of the end
of the age?"  And Jesus answered and said to them:  "Take
heed that no one deceives you.  For many will come in My
name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.  And
you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.  See that you are
not troubled;  for all  these things  must come to pass, but
the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom.  And there will be famines, 
pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.  All these
are the beginning of sorrows."

Glorious Heavenly Father ...
Hear our prayers as we repeat the Psalm reading above.
And LORD, thank You for informing us on the  end of days.
Open our eyes whereby we discern the lateness of the hour.
Help us heed Your commands, ones which You've graciously
given us through Jesus Christ Your beloved Son.  Yes LORD,
THANK YOU for His instruction in Matthew 24 & 25!  May we
be Your  accurate  Ambassadors during these days just prior
to Your Son's initial appearing.  Help us, LORD, endure to
the end.  In Jesus Christ's holy name we pray, amen.  

3rd Quarter Blogs

Week of 6/29 - 7/3  (B27;20) 

Psalm 119:65-72 (NLT) ;  Matthew 24:9-14 (NKJV)

You have done many good things for me, LORD, just as
you promised.  I believe in your commands;  now teach
me good judgment and knowledge.  I used to wander
off until you disciplined me;  but now I closely follow
your word.  You are good and do only good;  teach me
your principles.  Arrogant people have made up lies
about me, but in truth I obey your commandments with
all my heart.  Their hearts are dull and stupid, but I
delight in your law.  The suffering you sent was good
for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your 
principles.  Your law is more valuable to me than
millions in gold and silver!    

[ Jesus Christ speaking ]  "Then they will deliver you up to
tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations
for My name's sake.  And then many will be offended, will
betray one another, and will hate one another.  Then many
false prophets will rise up and deceive many.  And because
lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 
But he who endures to the end shall be saved.  And this
gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world
as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."

Glorious Heavenly Father ...
Hear our prayers as we repeat the Psalm reading above.
Beloved LORD, great is Your love for us.  Even in these
days filled with dark rejection of Your wonders, You love
us.  Thank You Lord God Most High.  And we once again
praise You for providing miraculous means for us to rise 
above our present circumstances and live abundantly.
All praise and honor and glory to Your name.  So, LORD,
do grace us with Your Holy Spirit within us so that we may
indeed endure to the end.  Help us love others, even in 
evil settings.  May we be Christ-like as we partake in the 
sufferings of Your beloved Son.  We sure have a hard time 
comprehending the world's  hate  toward You.  May Your 
love be that which allows us, in part, to overcome - to rise
above the darkness of this hour.  Father YHVH God, it's all
about Your Son.  Glory to Your name.  In Jesus Christ's
name we pray, amen.  

____________________

Week of 7/6-10  (B28;20) 

Psalm 119:73-80 (NLT) ;  Matthew 24:15-28 (NKJV)

You made me;  you created me.  Now give me the sense
to follow your commands.  May all who fear you find in me
a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word.  I know,
O LORD, that your decisions are fair;  you disciplined me
because I needed it.  Now let your unfailing love comfort me,
just as you promised me, your servant.  Surround me with 
your tender mercies so I may live, for your law is my delight.
Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me;
meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments.  Let
me be reconciled with all who fear you and know your decrees.
May I be blameless in keeping your principles;  then I will
never have to be ashamed.    

[ Jesus Christ speaking ]  "Therefore when you see the 
'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet,
standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him under-
stand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything
out of his house.  And let him who is in the field not go back
to get his clothes.  But woe to those who are pregnant and 
to those who are nursing babies in those days!  And pray
that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.  For
then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been
since the beginning of the world, until this time, no, nor 
ever shall be.  And unless those days were shortened, no
flesh would be saved;  but for the elect's sake those days
will be shortened.  Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here
is  the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe  it.  For false christs
and false prophets will rise and show great signs and won-
ders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  See, I have
told you beforehand.  Therefore if they say to you, 'Look,
He is in the desert!' do not go out;  or  'Look,  He is  in the
inner rooms!'  do not believe  it.  For as the lightning comes
from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the 
coming of the Son of Man be.  For wherever the carcass
is, there the eagles will be gathered together."

Glorious Heavenly Father ...
Hear our prayers as we repeat the Psalm reading above.
Most High, we honor and praise Your holy name.  We exalt You
together.  Father, may Your precious Holy Spirit be our means
to walk appropriately with You.  Help us, even in our seeking 
understanding from Your Word, to rightly divide Your Word of Truth.
Help us discern our day given the spirit of antichrist continues to
manifest itself - even in churches - through false teachers, false
christs and false prophets.  And when the day of the miraculous 
false christs and false prophets come, if we remain, may we heed
Your Son's instruction above.  Until that day, may we take up our
crosses daily as we die to self and follow Him.  In Jesus Christ's 
name we pray, amen.  

____________________

Week of 7/13-17  (B29;20) 

Psalm 119:81-88 (NLT) ;  Matthew 24:29-31 (NKJV)

I faint with longing for your salvation;  but I have put my
hope in your word.  My eyes are straining to see your 
promises come true.  When will you comfort me?  I am
shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke, exhausted with
waiting.  But I cling to your principles and obey them.
How long must I wait?  When will you punish those who
persecute me?  These arrogant people who hate your
law have dug deep pits for me to fall into.  All your
commands are trustworthy.  Protect me from those
who hunt me down without cause.  They almost finish
me off, but I refuse to abandon your commandments.
In your unfailing love, spare my life;  then I can con-
tinue to obey your decrees.    

[ Jesus Christ speaking ]  "Immediately after the tribulation
of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not
give its light;  the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers
of the heavens will be shaken.  Then the sign of the Son of 
Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth
will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the
clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  And He will
send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they
will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one
end of heaven to the other."  

Glorious Heavenly Father ...
Hear our prayers as we repeat the Psalm reading above.
And Lord, thank You for coming soon.  Until Your glorious
revealing, please help Your children  endure to the end.  
Help us to be intruments of reconciliation with You as we
hearld Your Good News to mankind.  May Your sheep 
discern one of our great needs today, instruction penned 
long ago in Mt. 28:18-20.  Lord, help us discern our day
and realize Your Son's glorious initial appearing is soon.
Father, help us redeem the time, for the days are indeed 
evil.  In Your beloved Son's holy name we pray, amen.  

____________________

Week of 7/20-24  (B30;20) 

Psalm 119:89-96 (NLT) ;  Matthew 24:32-35 (NKJV)

Forever, O LORD, your word stands firm in heaven.
Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring
as the earth you created.  Your laws remain true today, for
everything serves your plans.  If your law hadn't sustained
me with joy, I would have died in my misery.  I will never
forget your commandments, for you have used them to
restore my joy and health.  I am yours; save me!  For I 
have applied myself to obey your commandments.  
Though the wicked hide along the way to kill me, I will
quiet my mind on your decrees.  Even perfection has its
limits, but your commands have no limit.     

[ Jesus Christ speaking ]  "Now learn this parable from the
fig tree:  When its branch has already become tender and
puts forth leaves, you know that summer  is  near.  So you
also, when you see all these things, know that it is near -
at the doors!  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will
by no means pass away till all these things take place.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by
no means pass away."  

Glorious Heavenly Father ...
Hear our prayers as we repeat the Psalm reading above.
And Lord, thank You for coming soon.  This is indeed the
final generation before Your Son's glorious return.  Until His
glorious revealing, please help Your children discern our dark
culture and thus be  watchful  as You, Lord Jesus, have so
clearly outlined.  In the process of being Your Ambassadors, 
Lord, help us to be intruments of reconciliation with You as 
we hearld Your Good News to mankind.  May we Your sheep 
be about  Your  mandates to us - Pertinent, God-Honoring 
Evangelism (PG-HE)  &  Contemporary Bible Discipleship  
(CBD)  unto Your glory and praise.  Yes Lord, please help us 
better discern the present global realities  and  act in accord 
with Your full-picture reality, one which so graciously includes
this:  Your Son's glorious initial appearing is soon.  Dear Father, 
help us redeem the time, for the days are indeed evil.  In Your 
holy Son's - Jesus Christ's - precious name we pray, amen.  

____________________

Week of 7/27-31  (B31;20) 

Psalm 119:97-104 (NLT) ;  Matthew 24:36-44 (NKJV)

Oh, how I love your law!  I think about it all day long.
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for
your commands are my constant guide.  Yes, I have
more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking
of your decrees.  I am even wiser than my elders, for I
have kept your commandments.  I have refused to walk
on any path of evil, that I may remain obedient to your
word.  I haven't turned away from your laws, for you 
have taught me well.  How sweet are your words to my
taste;  they are sweeter than honey.  Your command-
ments give me understanding;  no wonder I hate
every false way of life.     

[ Jesus Christ speaking ]  "But of that day and hour no one
knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
But as the days of Noah  were,  so also will the coming of
the Son of Man be.  For as in the days before the flood, they
were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,
until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know
until the flood came and took them all away, so also will be
the coming of the Son of Man be.  Then two  men  will be in
the field:  one will be taken and the other left.  Two  women
will be  grinding at the mill:  one will be taken and the other
left.  Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your
Lord is coming.  But know this, that if the master of the 
house had known what hour the thief would come, he 
would have watched and not allowed his house to be
broken into.  Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of
Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."  

Glorious Heavenly Father ...
Hear our prayers as we repeat the Psalm reading above.
And Lord, thank You for exposing false interpretations of Your
Word as we consult parallel passages concerning Your Son's
Counsel.  Thank You for clarity in Luke 17:20-37 as You also
include Lot in Your similes.  Indeed, the gathering of Your
Church will take place and those left behind will then incur 
Your Bowls of Wrath.  Even so, please come quickly Lord
Jesus.  In Your holy name we pray, amen.  

____________________

Week of 8/3-7  (B32;20) 

Psalm 119:105-112 (NLT) ;  Matthew 24:45-51 (NKJV)

Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.
I've promised it once, and I'll promise again:  I will obey
your wonderful laws.  I have suffered much, O LORD;
restore my life again, just as you promised.  LORD, 
accept my grateful thanks and teach me your laws.  My
life constantly hangs in the balance, but I will not stop
obeying your law.  The wicked have set their traps for me
along your path, but I will not turn from your command-
ments.  Your decrees are my treasure;  they are truly my
heart's delight.  I am determined to keep your principles,
even forever, to the very end.     

[ Jesus Christ speaking ]  "Who then is a faithful and wise 
servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, 
to give them food is due season?  Blessed  is  that servant
whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.  
Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all
his goods.  But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My 
master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat  his 
fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards,
the master of that servant will come on a day when he is
not looking for  him  and at an hour that he is not aware of,
and will cut him in two and appoint  him  his portion with the
hypocrites.  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  

Glorious Heavenly Father ...
Hear our prayers as we repeat the Psalm reading above.
And Lord, as we seek Your instruction - as we ponder Your
kind Word - please open our eyes that we may behold the
wonderful things that are therein.  Father God, in light of
Your Son's instruction, help us to take seriously Your Son's
marching orders in these verses, ones through which You
express care to us and those to whom we minister as we
provide food during days filled with lack.  Help us give 
generously as Your Son did when He fed the thousands. 
Help us to redeem these times unto Your glory and praise.  
We love You Lord.  Thank You for first loving us!  With
deep praise and gratitude in the Lord Jesus we pray, amen.  

____________________

Week of 8/10-14  (B33;20) 

Psalm 119:113-120 (NLT) ;  Matthew 25:1-13 (NKJV - emphasis ours)

I hate those who are undecided about you, but my choice
is clear - I love your law.  You are my refuge and my shield;
your word is my only source of hope.  Get out of my life, you
evil-minded people, for I intend to obey the commands of my
God.  LORD, sustain me as you promised, that I may live!  Do
not let my hope be crushed.  Sustain me and I will be saved;  
then I will meditate on your principles continually.  But you 
have rejected all who stray from your principles.  They are
only fooling themselves.  All the wicked of the earth are the 
scum you skim off;  no wonder I love to obey your decrees!
I tremble in fear of you;  I fear your judgments." 

[ Jesus Christ speaking ]  "Then the kingdom of heaven shall 
be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to
meet the bridegroom.  Now five of them were wise, and five 
were  foolish.  Those who  were  foolish took their lamps and
took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels 
with their lamps.  But while the bridegroom was delayed,
they all slumbered and slept.  And at midnight a cry was
heard:  'Behold, the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet
him!'  Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us  some  of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.'  But the wise answered, saying,
'No,  lest there should not be enough for us and you;  but go
rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'  And while
they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were
ready went in with him to the wedding;  and the door was shut.
Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open
to us!'  But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do
not know you.'  Watch therefore, for you know neither the
day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."

Glorious Heavenly Father ...
At times it's challenging to repeat the Psalm reading above.
Yet, we endure in following Your examples to us.  May we
heed Your instruction in II Timothy 3:1-5  and  discern the
wisdom of obedience to verse 5!  We don't want the dark-
ness of culture today to affect our walk with You.  Lord, like
Lot we cry out, 'deliver us from our evil day.'  Lord, please
come quickly.  The evils of our day are pressing.  Lord, we
cry out, 'deliver us from the worldly bondages,' similar to
the cries of Your people in bondage in Egypt millennia ago.
Like them, Lord, help us to be patient for YOUR timing of
deliverance.  Until then, even when early plagues fall, help
us endure in honoring You.  Keep us from faulting You as
Your righteous judgments are sent.  And Lord, even now
we say THANK YOU for Your deliverace from the days
when Your full wrath will be poured upon the earth dwellers.  
Help us to be prepared virgins who wait for You with Your
sufficient provisions in both hand and heart.  Thank You,
precious Lord Jesus, for Your faithfulness endures forever.  
Your compassionate mercies are new every morning.  Even
so, please come quickly Lord Jesus!  Amen 

____________________

Week of 8/17-21  (B34;20) 

Psalm 119:121-128 (NLT) ;  Matthew 25:14-18 (NKJV)

Don't leave me to the mercy of my enemies, for I have done
what is just and right. Please guarantee a blessing for me. 
Don't let those who are arrogant oppress me!  My eyes strain
to see your deliverance, to see the truth of your promise fulfilled. 
I am your servant;  deal with me in unfailing love, and teach me
your principles.  Give discernment to me, your servant;  then I will 
understand your decrees.  LORD, it is time for you to act, for these 
evil people have broken your law.  Truly, I love your commands 
more than gold, even the finest gold.  Truly, each of your 
commandments is right.  That is why I hate every false way.

[ Jesus Christ speaking ]  "For  the kingdom of heaven is  like a 
man traveling to a far country,  who  called his own servants and 
delivered his goods to them.  And to one he gave five talents, to 
another two, and to another one, to each according to his own 
ability;  and immediately he went on a journey.  Then he who had 
received the five talents went and traded with them, and made 
another five talents.  And likewise he who had received two
gained two more also.  But he who had received one went and 
dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money.

Glorious Heavenly Father ...

Amen to the psalmist's appeals above, especially in light of
our New Covenant perspective in Jesus Christ Your holy Son.
May we demonstrate our love for You through our acts of 
obedience, oh Lord God, Most High.  Help us, as we walk
in Your Spirit, to be faithful stewards unto Your glory and
praise.  Thank You for being so generous to us dear Father.
In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.   

____________________

Week of 8/24-28  (B35;20)

Psalm 49  (NLT)

Listen to this, all you people!  Pay attention, everyone 
in the world!  High and low, rich and poor - listen!
For my words are wise, and my thoughts are filled with insight.
I listen carefully to many proverbs and solve riddles with inspira-
tion from a harp.  There is no need to fear when times of trouble
come, when enemies are surrounding me.  They trust in their
wealth and boast of great riches.  Yet they cannot redeem them-
selves from death by paying a ransom to God.  Redemption does
not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough to live forever
and never see the grave.  Those who are wise must finally die,
just like the foolish and senseless, leaving all their wealth behind.
The grave is their eternal home, where they will stay forever.
They may name their estates after themselves, but they leave
their wealth to others.  They will not last long despite their
riches - they will die like the animals.  This is the fate of fools,
though they will be remembered as being so wise.     Interlude 
Like sheep, they are led to the grave, where death will be 
their shepherd.  In the moring the godly will rule over them.
Their bodies will rot in the grave, far from their grand estates.
But as for me, God will redeem my life.  He will snatch me 
from the power of death.                                                  Interlude  
So don't be dismayed when the wicked grow rich, and their
homes become ever more splendid.  For when they die, they
carry nothing with them.  Their wealth will not follow them into
the grave.  In this life they consider themselves fortunate, and
the world loudly applauds their success.  But they will die like
all others before them and never again see the light of day.
People who boast of their wealth don't understand that they
will die like the animals.  

Father God, You are great and we adore Thee.  Thank
You for Your gracious rescue from the uglies of eternal
death in the grave, yes, but also in the Lake of Fire.  Thank
You for Your dear Son who rescues us from the eternal wrath
to come.  Lord, may folks consider Your strong, gracious and
glorious deliverance!  May they say "yes" to the gift Your 
beloved Son offers them.  In Jesus Christ's name we pray, amen. 

____________________

Week of 8/31 - 9/4  (B36;20) 

Psalm 119:129-136 (NLT) ;  Matthew 25:19-30 (NKJV)

Your decrees are wonderful.  No wonder I obey them!
As your words are taught, they give light;  even the simple
can understand them.  I open my mouth, panting expectantly,
longing for your commands.  Come and show me your mercy,
as you do for all who love your name.  Guide my steps by your
word, so I will not be overcome by any evil.  Rescue me from
the oppression of evil people;  then I can obey your command-
ments.  Look down on me with love;  teach me all your principles.  
Rivers of tears gush from my eyes because people disobey your 
law.  

[ Jesus Christ speaking ]  "For  the kingdom of heaven is  like a 
man traveling to a far country,  who  called his own servants and 
delivered his goods to them.  And to one he gave five talents, to 
another two, and to another one, to each according to his own 
ability;  and immediately he went on a journey.  Then he who had 
received the five talents went and traded with them, and made 
another five talents.  And likewise he who  had received  two
gained two more also.  But he who had received one went and 
dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money.  After a long time
the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
So he who had received five talents came and brought five
other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents;
look, I have gained five more talents besides them.'  His lord
said to him, 'Well  done,  good and faithful servant;  you were
faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.
Enter into the joy of your lord.'  He also who had received two
talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents;
look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'  His lord
said to him, 'Well  done,  good and faithful servant;  you have
been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many
things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.'  Then he who had
received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to
be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and 
gathering where you have not scattered seed.  And I was 
afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground.  Look,
there  you have  what  is yours.'  But his lord answered and
said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I
reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not
scattered seed.  So you ought to have deposited my money
with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received
back my own with interest.  Therefore take the talent from
him, and give  it  to him who has ten talents.  For to every-
one who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance;
but from him who does not have, even what he has will be
taken away.  And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer
darkness.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"

Glorious Heavenly Father, thank You for Your generous
talent gifting.  May we take what You have so lovingly given
and invest our lives in Your eternal Kingdom.  May we do so
for your glory and praise, knowing that what You graciously
grant by way of  reward  will be used throughout eternity to
bring You even further glory and praise.  YHVH Father God,
thank You for being so generous to us.  We adore You - You
who are the one and only God.  In the name of Your holy
Son, Jesus Christ, we pray, amen.

____________________

Week of 9/7-11  (B37;20) 

Psalm 119:137-144 (NLT) ;  Matthew 25:31-46 (NKJV)

O LORD, you are righteous, and your decisions are fair.
Your decrees are perfect;  they are entirely worthy of our trust.
I am overwhelmed with rage, for my ememies have disregarded
your words.  Your promises have been thoroughly tested;  that
is why I love them so much.  I am insignificant and despised,
but I don't forget your commandments.  Your justice is eternal,
and your law is perfectly true.  As pressure and stress bear
down on me, I find joy in your commands.  Your decrees are
always fair;  help me to understand them, that I may live. 

Glorious YHVH God, You alone are God.  Your rightoues
justice is fair, even when You send judgment on the earth
to encourage us to turn from our wicked ways.  Lord, thank
You for loving through Your hand of discipline.  Help the lost
to understand this HUGE fact.  Help even Your people in
Christ to accept this HUGE fact.  Help us all to see Your just
judgment comes with the hope of repentance, for one day
You will indeed judge in the context of our  eternal state.
Lord, we would be sheep, not goats.  Help us Lord, to walk
in newness of life in Your Son whereby we do good deeds
which are pleasing in Your sight.  We love Your Word oh
God Most High.  And, Father God, thank You for Your kind
Spirit.  May we walk day by day in Him.  In Jesus Christ's 
holy name we pray, amen.  

____________________

Week of 9/14-18  (B38;20) 

Psalm 119:145-152 (NLT) ;  Mark 13:1-13 (NKJV)

I pray with all my heart;  answer me, LORD!  I will obey
your principles.  I cry out to you;  save me, that I may
obey your decrees.  I rise early, before the sun is up;
I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.  I stay
awake through the night, thinking about your promise.
In your faithful love, O LORD, hear my cry;  in your
justice, save my life.  Those lawless people are coming
near to attack me;  they live far from your law.  But you
are near, O LORD, and all your commands are true.  I
have known from my earliest days that your decrees
never change.  

Then as He  [ Jesus Christ ]  went out of the temple, one
of His disciples said to Him, "Teacher, see what manner
of stones and what buildings  are here !"  And Jesus 
answered and said to him, "Do you see these great 
buildings?  Not  one  stone shall be left upon another,
that shall not be thrown down."  Now as He sat on the
Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John,
and Andrew asked Him privately, "Tell  us, when will these
things be?  And what  will be  the sign when all these things
will be fulfilled?"  And Jesus, answering them, began to say:
"Take heed that no one deceives you.  For many will come in
My name saying, 'I am  He,'  and will deceive many.  But when
you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled, for
such things  must happen, but the end is not yet.  For nation
will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  And
there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be
famines and troubles.  These  are  the beginning of sorrows.
But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to
councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues.  You 
will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a
testimony to them.  And the gospel must first be preached
to all the nations.  But when they arrest you and deliver you
up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will
speak.  But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that;
for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.  Now bro-
ther will betray brother to death, and a father  his  child,
and children will rise up against parents and cause them
to be put to death.  And you will be hated by all for My
name's sake.  But he who endures to the end shall be 
saved."

Precious Heavenly Father, we exalt Your great name.  We
praise You for Your essential revelation to us.  My, O LORD,
where would we be without Your Word!  Thank You for gracing
us with it.  We are sincerely grateful.  And Abba Father, thank
You for Your generous Counsel concerning crucial details about
the end of days.  Thank You for sharing these words of Counsel
through Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ.  May we be wise in
response and heed Your instructions to us.  Thank You for 
Your Holy Spirit within us, helping us to obey.  Please, in Your
mercy and grace, continue allowing us discernment of present
culture as we listen to Your awesome, insightful instruction to-
ward the end of  enduring to the end.  Lord, Your Counsel in
Psalm 74 is nothing short of amazing.  THANK YOU!  In the
sweet name of Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ 
we pray, amen.  

____________________

Week of 9/21-25  (B39;20) 

Psalm 119:153-160 (NLT) ;  Mark 13:14-23 (NKJV)

Look down upon my sorrows and rescue me, for I have not
forgotten your law.  Argue my case;  take my side!  Protect 
my life as you promised.  The wicked are far from salvation,
for they do not bother with your principles.  LORD, how great
is your mercy;  in your justice, give me back my life.  Many  
persecute and trouble me, yet I have not swerved from your
decrees.  I hate these traitors because they care nothing for
your word.  See how I love your commandments, LORD.
Give back my life because of your unfailing love.  All your
words are true;  all your just laws will stand forever. 

[ Jesus Christ  speaking ]  "So when you see the 'abomination 
of desolation,'  spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where
it ought not" (let the reader understand), "then let those who are
in Judea flee to the mountains.  Let him who is on the housetop
not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his
house.  And let him who is in the field not go back to get his
clothes.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who
are nursing babies in those days!  And pray that your flight may
not be in winter.  For  in  those days there will be tribulation,
such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which
God created until this time, nor ever shall be.  And unless the
Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved;  but
for the elect's sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.
Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here  is  the Christ!'  or, 
'Look,  He is  there!'  do not believe it.  For false christs and
false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to 
deceive, if possible, even the elect.  But take heed;  see, 
I have told you all things beforehand."

Holy Heavenly Father, help Your Church to honor You by
obeying James 4:4.  Indeed friendship with this dark world
is a betrayal before You.  Thank You for this Psalm which
fosters better relational balance with You in light of the full
Counsel of Your Word.  Lord, help us better prepare for the
days ahead as we take on more of Your perspective as we
press on in abiding in Your Vine, our Savior.  Thank You for
telling us of crucial things "beforehand."   In Jesus Christ's 
name we pray, amen.  

____________________

Week of 9/28 - 10/2  (B40;20) 

Psalm 119:161-168 (NLT) ;  Mark 13:24-27 (NKJV)

Powerful people harass me without cause, but my heart trembles
only at your word.  I rejoice in your word like one who finds a great
treasure.  I hate and abhor all falsehood, but I love your law.  I will
praise you seven times a day because all your laws are just.  
Those who love your law have great peace and do not stumble.
I long for your salvation, LORD, so I have obeyed your commands.
I have obeyed your decrees, and I love them very much.  Yes, I
obey your commandments and decrees, because you know
everything I do. 

[ Jesus Christ  speaking ]  "But in those days, after that tribulation,
the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;  the
stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be
shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds
with great power and glory.  And then He will send His angels, and
gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest
part of earth to the farthest part of heaven."

Lord Jesus, Your Counsel is so very appreciated - thank You!
Help Your people take note concerning the accuracy of Your
prophetic Word.  LORD, we lift Your name on high.  May we 
shine Your light to a needy generation in these days preceding
the time when the sun, moon and stars will darken following
the great earth quake of Revelation 6:12.  As has taken place
through history in various ways, may the luminaries of Your 
glorious heaven  speak  once again.  May they be a spectacular
display, one which immediately precedes the initial appearing 
of Your Son in such a way as to capture the attention of the
entire earth.  Yes, LORD, thank You for Joel 2, Acts 2, 
Matthew 24:29, 30  and  Revelation 6:12, 13.  Until that
time, though, O LORD Most High, help Your children in
Jesus Christ endure the upcoming war against Your Saints.
May we indeed resolve to  endure to the end  during this
most challenging time.  And LORD, help Norma, Rebecca,
Venita, Brett, Eric, Joy and Denny in their time of trial.  In 
the holy name of Your Son, Christ Jesus we pray, amen.  

4th Quarter Blogs

Week of 10/5-9  (B41;20) 

Psalm 119:169-176 (NLT) ;  Mark 13:28-37 (NKJV)

O LORD, listen to my cry;  give me the discerning mind you
promised.  Listen to my prayer;  rescue me as you promised.
Let my lips burst forth with praise, for you have taught me 
your principles.  Let my tongue sing about your word, for
all your commands are right.  Stand ready to help me, for I
have chosen to follow your commandments.  O LORD, I have
longed for your salvation, and your law is my delight.  Let me
live so I can praise you, and may your laws sustain me.  I 
have wandered away like a lost sheep;  come and find me,
for I have not forgotten your commands.
 

[ Jesus Christ  speaking ]  "Now learn this parable from the
fig tree:  When its branch has already become tender, and
puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.  So you also,
when you see these things happening, know that it is near - at
the doors!  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no
means pass away till all these things take place.  Heaven and
earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in
heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  Take heed, watch and
pray;  for you do not know when the time is.  It is  like a man
going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to
his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the door-
keeper to watch.  Watch, therefore, for you do not know when 
the master of the house is coming - in the evening, at midnight,
at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning - lest, coming
suddenly, he find you sleeping.  And what I say to you, I say
to all:  Watch!"

Gracious Heavenly Father, Your Counsel is so appreciated - thank 
You!  May the portion of the Psalm above be our prayer.  Thank 
You so for Your shepherding love for us.  Please keep us on Your
staight and narrow path as Your Son has so taught.  Lord, may
this be the generation which sees Your prophetic revelation come
to pass.  Give us eyes to behold the treasures in Your kind Counsel.
May we balance our not knowing the day nor the hour with the
Counsel of Your Son to be in a state of watchfulness.  Guard us
against ill-preparedness - sleepiness in these frog-in-the-kettle
days.  Help us discern the hour Lord.  In Jesus Christ's name
we pray:  "Please come quickly Lord Jesus!"  

____________________

Week of 10/12-16  (B42;20) 

Psalm 94:1-8 (NLT) ; Psalm 117 (NLT)  &  Psalm 118:1-9 (NLT)

O LORD, the God to whom vengeance belongs, 
O God of vengeance, let your glorious justice be seen!
Arise, O judge of the earth.  Sentence the proud to the
penalties they deserve.  How long, O LORD?  How long
will the wicked be allowed to gloat?  Hear their arrogance!
How these evildoers boast!  They oppress your people,
LORD, hurting those you love.  They kill widows and
foreigners and murder orphans.
"The LORD isn't looking," they say, "and besides, the
God of Israel doesn't care."  Think again, you fools!
When will you finally catch on?

Praise the LORD, all you nations.
Praise him, all you people of the earth.
For he loves us with unfailing love;  the
faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD!

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!  His faithful love
endures forever.  Let the congregation of Israel repeat:  "His
faithful love endures forever."  Let Aaron's descendants, the
priests, repeat:  "His faithful love endures forever."  Let all
who fear the LORD repeat:  "His faithful love endures forever."
In my distress I prayed to the LORD, and the LORD answered
me and rescued me.  The LORD is for me, so I will not be
afraid.  What can mere mortals do to me?  Yes, the LORD
is for me;  he will help me.  I will look in triumph at those
who hate me.  It is better to trust the LORD than to put
confidence in people.  It is better to trust the LORD than
to put confidence in princes. 

Gracious Creator God.  Have mercy on us, we pray.  Thank
You for Your Son who takes away the sin of the world.  LORD,
help those who are not  in  Your Son to accept Your loving care
as expressed through His death and resurrection on our behalf. 
Help open their eyes to see the wonders of Your salvation.  And,
O LORD Most High, send judgment upon those who insist on
evil, including the divisive politicians who contiue waging
civil war against us.  Silence them, O LORD, through means
only You could extend whereby the world would have further
reason to fear You.  Silence them by softening their hearts;  
silence them through Your supernatural judgments;  silence 
them by taking their very lives if it would serve Your righteous 
purposes.  LORD, bring judgment upon those who murder
orphans, including those who take the lives of the unborn.
LORD, we pray for our enemies, asking  Your will be done
in their lives.  And LORD, thank You for Your loving mercies.
Indeed, Your faithful love endures forever.  We praise Your
holy name.  In Jesus Christ's authoritative name I pray, amen.

____________________

Week of 10/19-23  (B43;20) 

Psalm 99 (NLT)

The LORD is king!  Let the nations tremble!  He sits on his
throne between the cherubim.  Let the whole earth quake!
The LORD sits in majesty in Jerusalem, supreme above all
the nations.  Let them praise your great and awesome name.
Your name is holy!  Mighty king, lover of justice, you have
established fairness.  You have acted with justice and 
righteousness throughout Israel.  Exalt the LORD our God!
Bow low before his feet, for he is holy!  Moses and Aaron
were among his priests;  Samuel also called on his name.
They cried to the LORD for help, and he answered them.
He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud, and they
followed the decrees and principles he gave them.  O
LORD our God, you answered them.  You were a forgiving
God, but you punished them when they went wrong.  Exalt
the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain in
Jerusalem, for the LORD our God is holy! 

Holy heavenly Father, thank You for revealing to us Your
standard of fairness!  You alone are, from everlasting to ever-
lasting, God.  You sustain Your creation and are involved in
the affairs of man.  Thank You for helping us discern the
evils of our day.  May Your kind Word, as He indwells Your
children in Christ by Your/His Holy Spirit, continue to guide
us in these dark days.  You are King.  You are LORD.  May
we walk in Your footsteps while You were Immanuel.  May
we bow in humility before You.  And THANK YOU LORD
God for Your full glories.  May we enjoy Your patient mercies
while at the same time acknoweledge You punish Your own
when we stray.  May we accept Your Fatherly care when we
need Your hand of discipline.  May it lead us to turn from our
erring ways;  may Your Spirit guard our hearts against bitter
response.  We exalt You oh LORD God and worship at
Your feet, for You are holy!  In Jesus Christ's holy name
we pray, amen.  

____________________

Week of 10/26-30  (B44;20) 

Psalm 100 (NLT)

Shout with joy to the LORD, O earth!  Worship the LORD
with gladness.  Come before him, singing with joy.  Acknow-
ledge that the LORD is God!  He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  Enter his gates
with thanksgiving;  go into his courts with praise.  Give thanks
to him and bless his name.  For the LORD is good.  His un-
failing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues
to each generation.  
 

Holy heavenly Father, thank You for YOU!  You alone are
God Most High.  We give You thanks and praise.  We bless
Your holy name.  Lord, move dark America back to Your
precious light.  May we confess our apostasy, claim Your
forgiveness and walk differently as a result of allowing You
to govern our lives in our new-born state.  Thank You for the 
glorious fruits of Your Spirit.  May we thrive therein as we yeild 
to You and Your transcendent ways.  Ultimately, LORD, may we 
do so for Your glory and praise.  In Jesus Christ's holy name
we pray, amen.  

____________________

Week of 11/2-6  (B45;20) 

Psalm  2  (NKJV)

Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take
counsel together, against the LORD and against His 
Annointed,  saying,  "Let us break Their bonds in pieces
and cast away Their cords from us."  
He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;  the LORD shall 
hold them in derision.  Then He shall speak to them in His
wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure:  "Yet I
have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.  I will declare the
decree:  The LORD has said to Me, 'You  are  My Son, today
I have begotten You.  Ask of Me, and I will give  You  the 
nations  for  Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth  for
You possession.  You shall break them with a rod of iron; 
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'"  
Now therefore, be wise, O kings;  be instructed, you judges
of the earth.  Serve the LORD with fear;  and rejoice with
trembling.  Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish
in  the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little.  Blessed
are  all those who put their trust in Him.  
 

Precious Lord God Most High, we exalt You in these 
exciting days before Your Son's glorious initial appearing.
Thank You that You're fully aware of the plots of men.  Thank
You for calling us to separate from the world and come out
from it.  We bow to Your plan for the ages - for Your upcoming
humbling of man when You begin pouring out Your judgments
and wrath.  Lord, help us honor You during this time when You
judge the earth.  Help us not to fault You and slip into an
apostate attitude.  Help us put our trust in You.  And LORD,
open the eyes of the world leaders who experience the 
pressures to contribute to the building of the one world
system.  Help them  see  the big picture and realize that
one day, darkness will overtake their global, secular,
socialistic plans  and  then move on to bring in the time
known by many as  Daniel's 70th Week.  Until that  day,
precious Father, may Your people in Jesus Christ Your
Son abide in Your Vine and walk in Your Holy Spirit.  In
the holy name of Your Son, Jesus Christ we pray, amen.  

____________________

Week of 11/9-13  (B46;20) 

Psalm  117  &  I Chron. 16:8-27 - note the context!   (NKJV)

Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles!  Laud Him, all you peoples!
For His merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth
of the LORD  endures  forever.  Praise the LORD! 

Oh, give thanks to the LORD!  Call upon His name;  make
known His deeds among the peoples!  Sing to Him, sing psalms
to Him;  talk of all His wondrous works!  Glory in His holy name; 
let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!  Seek the 
LORD and His strength;  seek His face evermore!  Remember
His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the
judgments of His mouth, O seed of Israel His servant, You 
children of Jacob, His chosen ones!  He  is  the LORD our God;
His judgments  are  in all the earth.  Remember His covenant 
forever;  the word which He commanded, for a thousand 
generations,  the covenant which  He made with Abraham, 
and His oath to Isaac, and confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
to Israel  for  an everlasting covenant, saying, "To you I will 
give the land of Canaan as the allotment of your inheritance,"
when you were few in number;  indeed very few, and strangers
in it.  When they went from one nation to another;  and from
one  kingdom to another people, He permitted no man to do
them wrong;  yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes,  saying,
"Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm."
Sing to the LORD, all the earth;  proclaim the good news of His
salvation from day to day.  Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.  For the LORD  is  great and
greatly to be praised;  He  is  also to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples  are  idols, but the LORD made
the heavens.  Honor and majesty  are  before Him;  strength
and gladness are in His place.  
 

Precious Lord Jesus, we honor You and in doing so, we
honor our Heavenly Father - YHWH God Most High.  Lord,
thank You for Your amazing mercies - new every morning.
Even so, please come quickly dear Shepherd of our souls.
In Your glorious name we pray, amen.  

____________________

Week of 11/16-20  (B47;20) 

Psalm  117  &  I Chron. 16:23-36  (NKJV - bold emphasis ours)

Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles!  Laud Him, all you peoples!
For His merciful kindness is great toward us, and the truth
of the LORD  endures  forever.  Praise the LORD! 

Sing to the LORD, all the earth;  proclaim the good news of His
salvation from day to day.  Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.  For the LORD  is  great and
greatly to be praised;  He  is  also to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples  are  idols, but the LORD made
the heavens.  Honor and majesty  are  before Him;  strength
and gladness are in His place.  Give to the LORD, O families
of the peoples, give to the LORD glory and strength.  Give to
the LORD the glory  due  His name;  bring an offering, and 
come before Him.  Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of
holiness!  Tremble before Him, all the earth.  The world also
is firmly established, it shall not be moved.  Let the heavens
rejoice, and let the earth be glad;  and let them say among
the nations, "the LORD reigns."  Let the sea roar, and all
its fulness;  let the field rejoice, and all that  is  in it.  Then
the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the LORD, for
He is coming to judge the earth.  Oh, give thanks to the LORD,
for  He is  good!  For His mercy  endures  forever.  And say,
"Save us, O God of our salvation;  gather us together, and
deliver us from the Gentiles, to give thanks to Your holy name,
to triumph in Your praise."  Blessed  be  the LORD God of
Israel from everlasting to everlasting!  And all the people said,
"Amen!" and praised the LORD. 
 

Precious Lord Jesus, we honor You and in doing so, we
honor our Heavenly Father - YHWH God Most High.  Lord,
thank You for Your amazing mercies - new every morning.
Even so, please come quickly dear Shepherd of our souls.
Gather us up together*  as You have promised in Mt. 24:31
and I Thes. 2.  In Your glorious name we pray, amen.  

*  See this most hopeful promise by  clicking here.

____________________

Week of 11/23-27 (B48;20) 

Psalm  130  (NKJV)

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD;
Lord, hear my voice!  Let Your ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplications.  If You, LORD, 
should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
But  there is  forgiveness with You, that You may
be feared.  I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, 
and in His word I do hope.  My soul  waits  for 
the Lord more than those who watch for the
morning -  Yes, more than  those who watch 
for morning.  O Israel, hope in the LORD;  for
with the LORD  there is  mercy, and with Him 
is  abundant redemption.  And He shall redeem
Israel from all his iniquities. 
 

Precious Holy Father, glory to Your name.  We exalt 
You during this sweet Thanksgiving Season.  Thank You
for Your redemtive plan for mankind under the eternal
New Covenant in Jesus Christ Your Son.  O Church,
hope in the LORD;  for with the LORD  there is
mercy, and with Him  there is  abundant redemp-
tion.  Lord God, You shall redeem all mankind from
their iniquities, for those who come to You and humbly
accept  Your  provision of forgiveness of sin through 
Christ Jesus our Savior.  God, You alone are Savior. 
Thank You for Your wonderful Son.  Even so, please
come quickly Lord Jesus.  Amen  

____________________

Week of 11/30 - 12/4 (B49;20) 

Please read  (from a  hard copy)  the book of Lamentations
(in the Bible).

Now that you've (hopefully) done so, please read a  hard
copy  version of Daniel chapter 9.

Note how these two testimonies have similarities - in 
multiple respects.

Now read, from a  hard copy,*  Psalm 32.

Contemporary America (USA) is also depicted in both
Lamentations and Daniel 9. 

Will we repent of  our own  sins and enjoy the blessings
which come when we turn from our wicked ways ?  (see
II Chronicles 7:12-22)

IF  we do so, we, too, will enjoy the Lord's mercy and,
like Jeremiah, could also respond in like manner to that
of Lamentations 3:21:

     "This  [what's written in context]  I recall to my mind,
       therefore I have hope  [in light of what follows this
       21st verse]."

IF  we repent and turn from our rebellion against God,
we, too, will enjoy the Lord's mercy and find ourselves
better relating to Daniel's cry (in Daniel 9:14-19).

Encouraging  application ...

Will we humble ourselves and repent and forsake evil
ways ?  IF  we do so, King David's testimony in Psalm 32
could also be our experience.

OR  will we persist in our hard-hearted stubbornness,
a pride-based expression depicted, in one way, in 
Jeremiah 6:16ff ?

*  Question:  Don't have a  hard copy  of God's Word?
    Our response:  Care to secure a free copy?  Email us at
    mail@endmin.com  for details.  We'll send you a free copy
    if  you would but help us with mailing costs.

____________________

Week of 12/7-11 (B50;20) 

Psalm 144  (NKJV) 

Blessed  be  the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for
war,  and  my fingers for battle - my lovingkindness and my
fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and  the
One  in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under
me.  LORD, what  is  man, that You take knowledge of him?
Or  the son of man, that You are mindful of him?  Man is like 
a breath;  his days  are  like a passing shadow.  Bow down
Your heavens, O LORD, and come down;  touch the moun-
tains, and they shall smoke.  Flash forth lighning and scatter
them;  shoot out Your arrows and destroy them.  Stretch out
Your hand from above;  rescue me and deliver me out of 
great waters, from the hand of foreigners, whose mouth speak
lying words, and whose right hand  is  a right hand of false-
hood.  I will sing a new song to You, O God;  on a harp of ten
strings I will sing praises to You,  the One  who gives salvation
to kings, who delivers David His servant from the deadly
sword.  Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners,
whose mouth speaks lying words, and whose right hand  is  a 
right hand of falsehood - that our sons  may be  as plants grown
up in their youth;  that  our daughters  may be  as pillars, sculp-
tured in palace style;  that  our barns  may be  full, supplying
all kinds of produce;  that  our sheep may bring forth thousands
and ten thousands in our fields;  that  our oxen  may be  well
laden;  that there be  no breaking in or going out;  that there be 
no outcry in our streets.  Happy  are  the people who are in 
such a state;  happy  are  the people whose God  is  the LORD!

LORD God, under the authority of Your eternal New Covenant,
we pray this prayer of King David.  We pray for our enemies - 
that they would repent of their actions as a result of being satan's
slaves.  LORD God, soften their hearts to the point of receiving
Your glorious salvation in Jesus Christ Your Son, the One in whom
You were, and are, well pleased.  LORD, deliver us from evil.  
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever
and ever.  In Christ Jesus name we pray, amen. 

____________________

Week of 12/14-18  (B51;20) 

Psalm 145  (NKJV) 

I will extol You, my God, O King;  and I will bless Your name 
forever and ever.  Every day I will bless You, and I will praise
Your name forever and ever.  Great  is  the LORD, and greatly
to be praised;  and His greatness  is  unsearchable.  One 
generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall 
declare Your mighty acts.  I will meditate on the glorious 
splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works.
Men  shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I
will declare Your greatness.  They shall utter the memory of
Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness.
The LORD  is  gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger
and great in mercy.  The LORD  is  good to all, and His tender
mercies  are  over all His works.  All Your works shall praise 
You, O LORD, and Your saints shall bless You.  They shall 
speak of the glory of Your kingdom, and talk of Your power,
to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the
glorious majesty of His kingdom.  Your kingdom  is  an 
everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion  endures  throughout
all generations  The LORD upholds all who fall, and raises up
all  who are  bowed down.  The eyes of all look expectantly to
You, and You give them their food in due season.  You open
Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.  The
LORD  is  righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works.
The LORD  is  near to all who call upon Him, to all who call
upon Him in truth.  He will fulfill the desire of those who fear
Him;  He also will hear their cry and save them.  The LORD
preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.
My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh
shall bless His holy name forever and ever.

Prayer:   Pray this Psalm to the Lord.  In some verses,
               minor adjustment are needed.  Some include:

vs.3   "Great  is  the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
           and His greatness  is  unsearchable."

           Prayer:  Great are You, Oh LORD, and greatly to be
                         praised.  Your greatness is unsearchable.

vv.8, 9   "The LORD  is  gracious and full of compassion, slow
               to anger and great in mercy.  The LORD  is  good to
               all, and His tender mercies  are  over all His works."

               Prayer:  You, Oh LORD, are gracious and full of com-
                             passion - slow to anger and great in mercy.
                             You, Oh LORD, are good to all - Your tender
                             mercies are over all Your works.

vs. 14   "The LORD upholds all who fall, and raises up all
              who are bowed down."

              Prayer:  Oh LORD, You uphold all who fall, and You
                            raise up all who are bowed down.

Blessed be Thou, oh LORD our God, King of the universe.
In Jesus Christ's name we pray, amen.  

____________________

Week of 12/21-25  (B52;20) 

Psalm 146  (NKJV) 

Praise the LORD!  Praise the LORD, O my soul!  While I live
I will praise the LORD;  I will sing praises to my God while
I have my being.  Do not put your trust in princes,  nor  in a
son of man, in whom  there is  no help.  His spirit departs,
he returns to his earth;  in that very day his plans perish.
Happy  is he  who  has  the God of Jacob for his help,
whose hope  is  in the LORD his God, who made heaven 
and earth, the sea, and all that  is  in them;  who keeps
truth forever, who executes justice for the oppressed, who 
gives food to the hungry.  The LORD gives freedom to the
prisoners.  The LORD opens  the eyes  of the blind;  the
LORD raises those who are bowed down;  the LORD 
loves the righteous.  The LORD watches over the strangers;  
he relieves the fatherless and widow;  but the way of the 
wicked He turns upside down.  The LORD shall reign 
forever - your God, O Zion, to all generations.  Praise 
the LORD! 

Father - God of glory, God of grace - blessed and joyful
are those who Hope in You, for You are trustworthy.
Thank You for being Truth, forever Truth.  Thank You
for bringing justice to the oppressed.  Thank You for
delivering us from dark bondages.  Lord, please open
our blind eyes;  uplift Your broken people.  Thank You
for allowing us peace knowing You will, one day, repay
the wicked.  Lord God, You reign forever.  We praise 
You dear Lord God Most High.  Thank You for 
Immanuel - God with us.  Lord Jesus, thank You
for being willing to come and save mankind from the
clutches of satan.  In Christ Jesus' holy name we pray, 
amen.  

          O Holy Night *

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth;
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
'Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope - the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;

   Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices!
   O night divine!  O night when Christ was born.
   O night, O holy night, O night divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming;
With glowing hearts by his cradle we stand:
So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land,
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend;

   He knows our need, to our weakness no stranger!
   Behold your King!  Before Him lowly bend!
   Behold your King - your King before him bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law of love and His gospel is peace;
Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother,
And in his name all oppression shall cease,
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise His holy name!

   Christ is the Lord, then ever! ever praise we!
   His pow'r and glory, evermore proclaim!
   His pow'r and glory, evermore proclaim!

*  Lyrics to  O Holy Night  
    by  Adolphe Adam (1847)
    (Thank you Linda!) 

____________________

Week of 12/28 - 1/1  (B53;20) 

Praise To God Most High

Praise the LORD!
Praise God in His sanctuary;  praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise God for His mighty acts;  praise Him according to His excellent
greatness!  Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;  praise Him with
the lute and harp!  Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;  praise Him
with stringed instruments and flutes!  Praise Him with loud cymbals;
praise Him with clashing cymbals!  Let everything that has breath
praise the LORD.  Praise the LORD!   Psalm 150  (NKJV)


After praying Psalm 150 in reverent praise ...
Lord, as this year of trouble and unrest comes to a close, we
acknowledge You as holy God.  Thank You for extending Your
hand of discipline on a rebellious world - all toward the end of 
hoping for repentance.  Lord, may Your people humbly and
sincerely repent.  Lord, Your people praise Your name.  Thank
You for Immanuel.  Our Savior has come and will be returning
again soon.  We praise You oh LORD!  In Jesus Christ's holy 
name we pray, amen.   

          I Stand In Awe *

You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?
Who can fathom the depth of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty, enthroned above

     And I stand, I stand in awe of You
     I stand, I stand in awe of You
     Holy God, to whom all praise is due
     I stand in awe of You

You are beautiful beyond description
Yet God cruched You for my sin
In agony and deep affliction
Cut off that I might enter in
Who can grasp such tender compassion?
Who can fathom this mercy so free?
You are beautiful beyond description
Lamb of God who died for me

     And I stand, I stand in awe of You
     I stand, I stand in awe of You
     Holy God, to whom all praise is due
     I stand in awe of You

*  Author:  Sovereign Grace's  Mark Altrogge  (1999)

P.S.  May God Most High bless you through 2021.

To EM's  2021 Archived Blogs  CLICK HERE