Not feeling so great this morning, so I snoozed. Waking up, I realized there were so many parts in my life I needed to work on... some parts worst than others.
So I said a little prayer and picked up where I left off on Psalms, and God had a message for me:
"Praise ye the LORD, O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.
Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can show forth all His praise?
Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that does righteousness at all times.
Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that Thou bearest unto Thy people: O visit me with Thy salvation;
That I may see the good of Thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Thy nation, that I may glory with Thine inheritance."
I really like history... so here's a little flashback of history for the day. The tsunami happened to be 6 years ago today, how time flies.
"For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not."
A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth. It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.
Ecclesiastes 7:1-3
It had been a while since I last experienced lost of loved ones. Last night when my Aunt (by marriage) passed away in the ICU, this chapter of Ecclesiastes came to mind. And as I meditate upon it again this morning, it's very true.
I've been to a number of birthday parties, graduation parties, weddings, anniversaries... but the sorrow that our family experienced last night, along with the prayers that were directed to our Heavenly Father really brought home the fact that we were mere humans. No celebrations on this earth can remind us of where relying on the extent of our power ends, and depending upon our Savior's faithfulness really begins. "...for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart."
I got these by email a while back... made me smile from time to time. :)
Letter to God:
Which one made you smile the widest? :)
"But Jesus said, Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. And He laid his hands on them and went away."
Matthew 19:14,15
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"Peter said in reply, See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?
Jesus said to them, Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
James 1:1-4
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Oh, who am I kidding with? The way I've lived my life up to this point. I cannot be the first person in line to say, "Thank you Lord for the trials, for the afflictions... for they have made me stronger!" This morning my words are more, "Is that how one's supposed to feel, when more often than not, found in the winning side of the battle?" I say this road of faith is rough, and often times I am too much of a complainer... a whimp, to try and thread this narrow road.
To a similar tune, apostle Peter says in his first letter...
"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."
1 Peter 1:7
"...As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance."
1 Peter 1:14
The book of James is such a practical book, especially for these End Times. Did you know that the name James is the Greek version of the Hebrew name Jacob? I did not know that till 2 weeks ago. :) I think it's neat how names given to different individuals at different life situations, have quite a significance in the Bible. In her book "Patriarchs & Prophets", Ellen White describes Jacob's experience during the night of wrestling and anguish (Genesis 32) as a representation of the trial through which the people of God must pass just before Christ's second coming.
"Such will be the experience of God's people in their final struggle with the powers of evil. God will test their faith, their perseverance, their confidence in His power to deliver them. Satan will endeavor to terrify them with the thought that their cases are hopeless; that their sins have been too great to receive pardon. They will have a deep sense of their shortcomings, and as they review their lives their hopes will sink. But remembering the greatness of God's mercy, and their own sincere repentance, they will plead His promises made through Christ to helpless, repenting sinners. Their faith will not fail because their prayers are not immediately answered. They will lay hold of the strength of God, as Jacob laid hold of the Angel, and the language of their souls will be, "I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me." (Patriarchs & Prophets p.202)
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"If thou has run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how can thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?"
