All joy comes from Jesus

Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding. O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision.” (1 Chronicles 29:10–19)

Today was unusual. Beginning it by a fun time work on a HARD puzzle, then reading David’s prayer put much joy in my heart. His prayer echos my thoughts. How wonderful is the Lord. He is exalted above all else and able to bless His people with strength and the power to do His will.

He blessed us as we took a trip to a nearby greenhouse that goes beyond plants with an incredible restaurant. After eating an incredible chicken Benedict, we looked at spring plants, an amazing gift store, then a unique food store, and finally a spectacular orchid display. I said of the hundreds of varieties in every color and color combination imaginable, “How can anyone think all this just happened or just evolved?” 

They echoed David’s prayer, and as I watched dozens of visitors and shoppers also in such variety, I marvel again the creative power of the Lord. How can He not be praised when seeing the glory of His imagination!

Coming hope with a tired body and sore feet does not ruin the praise I feel. His Word pops up with:

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)

Getting tired out in a paradise of food and flowers boosts my energy level. Imagine what heaven will do for it!

Jesus, many thanks for today. It was truly a blessing to laugh with family and enjoy the treats at the Enjoy Centre. Thank You for being my portion today and forever.

Gracious words from a gracious God . . .

Deuteronomy 16; Psalm 103; Isaiah 43; Revelation 13

Sometimes I read all the suggested Scriptures and the Lord gives me one thought for the day. Now and then, if my heart is quiet and not distracted, I hear Him speaking continually. This is one of those days. Space allows for just a few of what He is saying to remind me of His gracious faithfulness. After the past two days, He blesses me with positives!

In celebrating the Passover, the Israelites were told to eat no leavened bread to remind them how quickly they had been delivered, then seven days of unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, so “that all the days of your life you may remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 16:3)

APPLY: It is a good idea that each day I remember when Jesus saved me from slavery to sin, a reminder to live accordingly!

There are other truths in my spiritual life that the Lord wants me to remember. Here are a few of them . . .

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:1–5)

I am forgiven, healthy, redeemed, blessed with His continuous love and mercy, and given so many good things that most people think I’m 10 – 15 years younger than I am. What can I say to all that!

APPLY: Remember His multiplied blessings and be thankful, today and every day.

While I rejoice over my own salvation, I’m also burdened by concerns for those who don’t know the Lord and have shown no interest in Him. Isaiah’s words of rebuke are for those in that “I don’t care” attitude about God. He tells them of the Lord’s attitude toward them and what He will do to bring them to faith in Him. Right in the middle of those warnings, God says through the prophet:

“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins." (Isaiah 43:25)

APPLY: God disciplines those He loves and deals with our sin, not because we deserve His grace but because He is a merciful and saving God. I can put my unsaved family and friends in His hands. He knows how to turn their lives from disobedience to righteousness because He has great power to change hearts, to make them new. My prayers for these burdens need not be pleading and in despair but raised in confidence because the God that I love is a God of salvation.

According to Revelation, a time is coming when those remaining on the earth will be completely deceived by leaders who are “given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.” The first one will blaspheme God, His name, and those who dwell in heaven. This “beast” will be allowed to make war on God’s people and conquer them and be given authority over every tribe and people and language and nation. All who live on earth will worship it except those whose name has been “written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.” (Revelation 13:5–8)

This is a scary scenario yet comes with a promise; the faith that God gives to His people is so powerful that all who believe in Jesus Christ will NOT give in to the coming deceptions. This faith might result in martyrdom yet it will not fail. Those who believe were written in the book of life before God created the world!

The next verses say:

If anyone has an ear, let him hear: If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. (Revelation 13:9–10)

As the world seems to be rolling toward a climax many Christians are wondering if Jesus will come soon. He could yet these thoughts come with every large crisis. Christians were expecting Jesus soon during the world wars and other pandemics. However, no one knows the day or the hour. All I know is that whenever it happens, the people of God will endure because the faith and endurance He gives are sufficient!

APPLY: Be confident. God isn’t done with this planet yet. Those who resist Him cannot win that battle. Eventually every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God. This confidence in Him is my daily joy.