Living in Philippians Four Offered by Doug Blair, Kitchener ON, 2021
Expulsive Power of an Over-reaching Love
What are your problems, ailments. How much of your time and adrenaline do they consume? Do all of your worrying plans for solution amount to little? Is it possible to ignore it all to death? Can something or Someone Else enter in and simply take over the square footage.
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Could it amount to Jesus...growing in your consciousness and in your love? Making prayer time and meditation a delight. Making the Four Gospels a continuing meal of intimacy. Making the problems of others a calling for your uplift. Plucking you out of that dark place. In ways that you can scarcely define.
Transformed, Not Just Tuned Up
To show up sharp
To show up clean
To hear of Christ
To see, be seen.
It’s what my folks
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Did for me
The elements before me
The bread and wine
Divine.
A blessing truly mine.
BUT there are those who claim
A brand new life by faith
Those born again so called
A revolutionary sort of thing
Of this they sing
And testify 3
Is this for me?
Oh my.
Whatsbotherinyou?
Psalm 118 contains the middle verse of the entire Bible, verse 8. Gives some additional significance to the chapter. It is the final portion of the Grand Hallel of Psalms which gets sung at Passover. (chapters 113-118). The writer is not named. It places much emphasis upon the persecution experienced by the writer and all the people of God. There is celebration in the intimacy of 4
holiness, but a cost is very real. The writer likens the attack of the ungodly to an onslaught of bees. He is aware of the constant buzzing and also of the crackling of the wrongdoers in the flames. Yes, God does intervene and set things right. In spite of the negatives the psalmist is heard to say, The Lord God is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. He chooses to emphasize such victorious hope and rejoicing. So must we. It does not matter whatever the attack or concern: Persecution Slander Lack Loneliness Unemployment Pressing duties beyond ability Confusion or panic Infirmities Condemnation over past wrongdoing Delay in answer to prayer Circumstances opposing some Bible promise
Dear reader, take your concerns in prayer to your loving, all-powerful Heavenly Father. Respect His timing. Plead the merits of Jesus. Read again Psalm 118. It is believed to be the song voiced at the conclusion of Jesus' Last Supper (see particularly verses 27, 28)
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Oh give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. (v 29) Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord: (v 19) https://justhappeneduponthis.wordpress.com/2021/05/15/set-free-buthow/
Thanksgiving Despite the Night
The night is dark And sleep evades me As with other times I look for the marrow For the hint of Your Availability and Care.
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Not hard to find Lord If I will only Close my yapper to listen And to consider past appointments Past rescues in the Power of a determined Father. I need you now God But why limit it? I need you always. And you always reveal The Answer The Comfort The Courage. So I will thank you In advance. Amen
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
(taken from Philippians chapter 4 KJV)
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