Not to long ago while reading read one of my morning devotionals with a rather catchy title…Reading Backwards and preparing for today’s blog I ran across the word Advent…here it is Friday and my publish date is this Saturday, funny how God will show will us the way if we just pay attention. I have a study group on Tuesday mornings and we are in the book of Revelations, pair that with another morning devotional and then put Advent with Revelations and you are ready to go. You see even at this late hour I had no real subject to share with you.

So….What is the point here? How do these two and reading backwards go together? Glad you asked that question. 

We will start with Advent… the Latin word meaning “coming, or arrival”. For Christians it is a season of preparation for the coming of Jesus and in a theological twist the beginning of the end. It is at this point, the arrival of Jesus that God begins the restoration and salvation of his people. The book of Revelations prepares God’s people for the end times and through John’s vision he reveals those things that must take place before the end. Both the Old Testament and the New contain writings of the prophecies, events and stories of Jesus and of the time of Judgement to come…the Lord’s Day. Let’s start at the end. Reading Backwards…

Revelations Has a total of 22 chapters and 21:1 through 22:21 deals with the New Jerusalem and the epilogue and benediction. For our purposes today we will look at 21:1-8. There will be an end to this wicked earth as we know it, this present earth will be no more. There will be a New Jerusalem, it will become the capital city of heaven. Here is where the saints will live. (John 14:1–3). I will try to highlight some points of interest here without getting to involved. The term bride is symbolically pointing to the saints who have come to this new city to meet the groom…Christ. This is his Fathers’s House. As written in verse 3 the Tabernacle is God’s house, this is where he lives. There will be no sadness here, no need for tears. We are reminded in verse 5 that God always speaks the truth. Verse 6 refers to the lasting spiritual water Jesus spoke of. In verse 7 those who persevere, remain true to the faith and accept the saving grace of Jesus Christ, will inherit the wonder of the new creation. In verse 8 we encounter the caveat that lists some of the traits of the unbelievers and their fate. Here is the list of traits from a biblical perspective:

Revelations 21:8

But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (NKJV)

As we read backwards we will encounter all the events of biblical history that got us to the end as recorded by the saints in moving toward the salvation God has ordained for his people.You may correct me if you wish but to me the beginning starts with the birth of Christ and Advent, which prepares us for the birth of Jesus and our journey to salvation…the end of another beginning. This one is forever.

Life is Good

jk

Short time back we shared with you the power of Psalms and today we are back to underline, so to speak, the power of prayer and the power of Psalms to be part of our prayer life. Thursday many a prayer will be lifted up around the family table and among friends and associates. There will be Churches, groups and organizations that do their part in sharing the bounty of God’s table with those who are less fortunate than others.In preparation for this blog I was blessed to find that Psalms is a rich source of thankful prayers to God for the blessings and abundance of life itself and calling us to acknowledge the Goodness of our God through word and song.

As we gather and join hands to say a prayer of thankfulness for the food and blessings may we be reminded of the  Psalms of Thanksgiving to recall God’s blessings on us. You might say for us Christians it is a family tradition and means of expressing our trust in God… prayer in a way is our Ebenezer Stone. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “No matter what happens, always be thankful for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” These are but a few of many. So I pray that you and yours will have a great Thanksgivings and use these Psalms of Thanksgiving in a prayer of gratitude before eating together or for greeting cards to loved ones. Give gratitude from the heart for the blessings of God!

Psalm 69:30 ~ I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 100:1-5 ~ A Psalm for giving thanks. 

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 69:30 ~ 

I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 111 ~ 

Praise the Lord. I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly. Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works, giving them the lands of other nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are established for ever and ever, enacted in faithfulness and uprightness. He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever- holy and awesome is his name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

Life is Good

jk

Resource: 

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

Beautiful Psalms of Thanksgiving and Scripture Quotes to Inspire Gratitude

Compiled & Edited by BST & Crosswalk Staff

 

Jeremiah 29 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

 

The Beatles wrote many songs but my favorite has always been “Yesterday.” Remember….Yesterday

All my troubles seemed so far away

Now it looks as though they’re here to stay

Oh, I believe in yesterday

Suddenly

I’m not half the man I used to be

There’s a shadow hanging over me

Oh, yesterday came suddenly

https://lyricstranslate.com/en/Beatles-Yesterday-lyrics.html

All of us have some yesterdays to be remembered and for the most part are referred to as the ‘good ole days’. Suddenly, it seems with little or no warning we are no longer who we used to be. Age and time leave their marks while past and current events change and mold us into who we are. This is not a ‘blame game’ it is about a selective silence, a faith of convenience and what makes people uncomfortable, the accumulation of life’s every day events. The world and the country are changing and in the minds of those of the faith not for the better. I have readers from around the world… a gift of the internet and Bill Gates. It would be a case of bad manners to be judgmental of other countries when here in the USA we can’t manage our own house…so to speak. Now back to ‘Yesterday’… Yes the world has changed and Yesterday is Gone…  In a book by Dan Boone, “A Charitable Discourse” Mr Boone in the preface lists about 12 things that bother most people but they are not comfortable talking about them, much less confronting them. Some of these items minimize or eliminate meaningful conversations. No doubt the pressure that surrounds societal changes, the evolving culture changes they bring, such as, this new thing that has come to be known as cancel culture. What is that? My definition is a bit harsh I suppose. I view it as a social phenomenon of refined hate by the social elite. Below is a more rational definition.

Cancel culture or call-out culture is a phrase contemporary to the late 2010s and early 2020s used to refer to a form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles – whether it be online, on social media, or in person. Those subject to this ostracism are said to have been “cancelled”. Wikipedia

Biblically speaking it undermines and shatters the very message of Jesus Christ. It strikes at the very heart of God’s Commandments to his people. In his article Dan Boone has a list of things and I will not list those here…buy the book…It’s a good and insightful read. The point of this blog is to answer a question. So in a world that is hostile to Christian thought or precepts what do we do, where do we go? In times of trouble and distress there can be found a universal desire… Most folks just want to find a source of comfort, inner peace and a place or time that takes them there. God has provided for his people a means that does just that. In the Book of Psalms we can experience the power of prayer, which I believe is simply a conversation with our creator… the creator of all things and the place where He who will sustain us in our time of uncertainty dwells and listens for our voice. 

But first do this…

Philippians 4:5-7 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Psalms offers a way to bypass the negative feelings that life sometimes puts on us. Psalms focuses on prayers, poems, and hymns that bring us closer to God in praise and adoration. Many of these were used as a hymnal in the worship services of ancient Israel. God hears our prayers…Turn to the Psalms in time of distress.

We are never alone in times of…

Trouble:

Psalm 25:16-18

16 

Turn to me and be gracious to me,

for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 

Relieve the troubles of my heart

and free me from my anguish.18 Look on my affliction and

my distressand take away all my sins.

He hears our voices:

Psalm 34:4

4 

I sought the Lord, and he answered me;

    he delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 121:1-2

1

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from? 2 My help comes

from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 116:1-2

1 

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;

he heard my cry for mercy. 2 Because he turned

his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

The Confidence and Assurance, that is ours through our God:

Psalm 23:4

4 

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil,

for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Life is Good

jk

 

Resource:  Boone, Dan. A Charitable Discourse, Volume 2: Uncomfortable Conversations 

 Kindle Edition. 

Sweden’s Dag Hammarskjold, who traveled the world as Secretary -General of the United Nations always took these three items with him as he traveled. A copy of the New Testament, a copy of the Psalms and a copy of The United Nations Charter. Psalms presents to us God’s claim upon the whole world and speaks to God’s will that there be justice, righteousness and peace for all peoples and nations. In the twentieth century the predominant approach to Psalms has been historical but we are reminded by the writings of J Clinton McCann JR. that there is also a theological side to the Psalms. It is not my intent at this time to delve into a study of Psalms but some background information is always good. Sometime in future blogs I will return to this rich source of God’s will for his people.

The above is an excerpt from a past post, in July of 2020. I wrote a blog in which there was a reference to the Book of Psalms. Today I return to that book…a promise made a promise kept. Consider this…sometimes we can have to much religion ! What exactly is religion?

Religion is a set of organized beliefs, practices, and systems that most often relate to the belief and worship of a controlling force, such as a personal god or another supernatural being.Jul 21, 2022

 verywellmind.com

The web address above is not normally where I go for a definition, I came across it and decided I kinda like it. To be on the safe side I have not researched it so I don’t endorse it. It was the definition I liked even if it is one of a secular mode. Tired of religion…try God…let God’s words be your guide to a better life. I have come to believe that salvation is not a denominational thing, group thing or a list of do’s and don’ts. I believe it to be, or yet better said,“a personal relationship of communication and obedience to God the creator of all things. Psalms…the meat of prayer and yes I may have gone overboard a bit but you prayer life is your direct line to God in this world of confusing values. What exactly are the Psalms also referred to as the Psalter and where did they come from? They are from the Septuagint (the pre-Christian Greek translation of the OT), where they originally referred to stringed instruments (such as harp, lyre and lute), then to songs sung with their accompaniment. I believe that prayer is and should be an essential of living a Godly Life. There are times that the words don’t come easily or the situation is such that there are no words for it. As a simple layman theological knowledge is often overwhelming. We know that when we go to God in prayer even when we can’t find the words…He hears and understands our groaning and knows our needs. 

Romans 8:26-27

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (NKJV)

How do we approach Psalms in today’s world? The same way the people of God have done in past times. In Psalms we find instruction for living a Godly life. Within the Psalms there are songs to be sung and words to be spoken, all which will help us understand our deepest fears and strongest emotions and how they fit into our relationship with God. My preparation for this blog led me to a thought I found interesting, one I had never considered. All churches have

certain standards or what I call judgement points…as to how well you fit in with their doctrine and precepts. Consider this… Anything less than a demeanor of peace and contentment becomes a concern to others as to why, when and how. In many cases you are expected to lessen or eliminate any display of anger, fear and of all things grief. In America that would be a “straight face” for our English brothers and sisters that would be a “stiff upper lip”. I am open to being questioned about this opinion but even a little of this type of attitude of suppression keeps us away from meaningful prayer. Interesting to note that The psalmists experienced the full spectrum of human emotion and poured it all out to God with no restraint—words to flesh out the invisible and overwhelming. In today’s world …sometimes you just got to let it go. I wish to be on record as having said, I’m all for that with one caveat…Let it go to God!

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Surely your goodness and  love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:4,6

Please join me next week as we search a little more into this Platform to prayer…God hears you, remember to raise your praise, thanksgiving and concerns to him in prayer.

Life is Good 

jk