246TH Week, Psalm Chapters 87-89 and Jude Intro - Chapter 1 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)

 Click on title for Video Intro

Monday, Psalm Chapter 87

Psalm 87

Verse 1

Jane Jones

Verse 1:  He has set his foundation on the holy mountain;

THOUGHT

This Psalm looks ahead to the Holy City of God. The honor of living there will be granted to all whose names are recorded in the Lamb’s book of life. It is God’s grace that forms and sustains this wonderful community. How could anyone refuse God’s offer to be part of this celebration?

It is the perfect time of year to start focusing on our lives if we are truly preparing for the celebration of going home. In Revelation we read in 21:23 that the city we will be going to does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it.  The Glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.  Wow!! I can only imagine. Let’s work on getting our names written in the Lamb’s book of life. Let’s be the hands and feet of Jesus.

PRAYER

We thank You, Lord, for Your grace. We thank You, Lord, that You are preparing a place for us on the Holy Mountain. We thank You, Lord, that You have given Jesus Christ to us for the redemption of our sins. This is a great week to be thankful for all our many blessings. AMEN

Tuesday, Psalm Chapter 88

Psalm 88

Verse 13

Jane Jones

Verse 13:  But I cry to you for help, O Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you.

THOUGHT

Friday evening about 5:30 pm I received a call from a very dear friend at church. Her name is Sandi, and she is my massage therapist. She helped me through so much when I had vertigo.  Anyway, she asked me to pray for her son. Vaughn is a 28 year old, married, and has one little girl soon to have two. He was at a party last summer where he ended up being at the wrong place at the wrong time. He was not involved with teenage pornography, but was caught at the scene when invited over to a friend’s house not knowing what was going on. The police arrived, and he was guilty by association.

Ever since then his life has been in a turmoil. He lost his job immediately. He has had four job offers only to be rejected because of his ‘now’ criminal record. Sandi said that he called her on Friday morning only to report that life really is not worth living anymore. She feels Vaughn is in the deepest of despair.

When I read Psalm 88, my mind went immediately to Vaughn. The theme of the Psalm was when there is no relief in sight, God understands even our deepest misery. Have you ever felt as though you have hit bottom like Vaughn? The Psalmist is so low that he even despairs of life itself just as Vaughn has. Although everything is bad and getting worse, he is able to tell it all to God. We read in Psalm 88:13 that we can still pray. This Psalm can be a prayer to God for Vaughn and his life.

The answer in this dismal turmoil is prayer. Sandi did the right thing. She did the one and only thing that will help Vaughn the most. That is prayer itself. She reached out to her friends for prayer. Vaughn is a Christian but has been tested to the limit. The choices he made were wrong by association. May we pray for those in need of God’s mercy.

PRAYER

Dear God, I pray for Vaughn this evening. I pray that he will look to You even in his deepest hour. I pray for his wife and little girl. Life is a series of choices.  Lord, I pray that through all of this that the lesson he has learned will not destroy him or his family. May You find a way to answer our prayers in a Christian building experience. I also pray for Sandi and Gene. As parents, they too must be hurting. Please comfort them this evening with Your everlasting love.  AMEN

Wednesday, Psalm Chapter 89

Psalm 89

Verse 15

Jane Jones

Verse 15:  Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.

THOUGHT

When I read this Psalm, I had already underlined this verse. Righteousness, justice, love, and faithfulness are the foundation of God’s throne; they are fundamental aspects of the way God rules. As God’s ambassadors, we should deal with people similarly. Make sure your actions flow out of righteousness, justice, love, and faithfulness because any unfair, unloving, or dishonest action cannot come from God.

As we learn in Micah 6:8, “And what is asked of us? To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.”

I gave a CD to Sierra and Crystal. I have one for Micah for Christmas. There is one song on it that reminds me of this Psalm. It is called, ‘God Rules’.

The Chorus goes like this:

“God Rules! Let’s raise the roof! God Rules! 

Lift his name up! Cut loose and sing like no one’s listenin’

Let’s dance and go the distance with our praise

God Rules!”

In closing, I would just like to say how very thankful I am for the Salt Shakers. You are salt and light to my life as well as Jesus Christ. I want to thank you for always being there for me and for praying for me.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, as we arise each AM, may our first focus be a surrendering to You.  Anoint us daily with the Holy Spirit so that we may walk in Your Light and live a life that You would say, “Well done, Faithful Servant.”  May we remember that to live is Christ and to die is gain.  Help us to live by the Spirit so that we will not carry out the desires of the flesh.  Each morning may we arm ourselves with the Armor of the Lord to defend the evil one.  Thank You for loving us.  In the Blood of Jesus.  AMEN

Thursday, Jude Introduction

Jude Introduction

Bart Strayer

THOUGHT

Jude is one of my favorite books. Much like James, (the other brother of Jesus), I love the topics. I have heard many Christian voices say recently, "There has never been a day in our nation in which the gospel has been under such an attack than these days we are in now." (This was written 2006) That is what Jude is all about: false teachers, fighting for the truth, not letting the world corrupt our beliefs, holding to our unchanging God. As we read Jude, think about how we have had to defend truth. Think of how the world sees truth and how you are going to remain strong in the face of opposition. 

PRAYER

Dear God, we thank You for the love You have for us. We thank You for all the blessings You have showered down on us. Help us as we read Jude to truly understand Your message You have for us. Help us apply the truths of Your Word to our lives so that we may be salt and light to the world. In Jesus Name. AMEN

Friday, Jude Chapter 1

Jude 1

Verse 4

Bart Strayer

Jude 4: "For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord." 

THOUGHT

The question remaining is this, "What does a maturing Christian look like?"   Are they doing whatever they want without fear of God's punishment? This goes against one of our core missions of this group, ‘to be salt and light'. It may seem difficult to be salt and light to the world as Jesus commands when we are wrapped up in behavior that compromises the gospel. 

It’s like a parent telling their child, "Don't smoke." as they take a drag on a cigarette. Not very powerful, is it? Are we perfect? No. But the day-to-day slips in our human errors give full application to the blood of Jesus. Choosing to live a sinful life is all together different. 

We Salt Shakers do sin. However, we don't get up in the morning and say, "I think I will sin today. I think I will premeditate an activity that goes against God's laws; because you know, ever since Jesus died, I get immunity." Turning God's grace into a license for immorality is a dangerous game. Don't let anyone fool you. People who knowingly engage in wrong are more harshly judged than those who are ignorant as to wrongful behavior. 

PRAYER

Dear God, we thank You for the blood of Your Son. Again we ask that You help us be salt and light to the world. Help us in our day-to-day struggles. We know they displease You, and we ask that You help us have victory over sin. In Jesus Name. AMEN