"I will bless the LORD at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1, KJV
We quote the verse all the time. A lot of folks open up the worship service with that scripture. It's even a song. What does all mean though? What does the word all mean? It says "at all times" so what does all mean? Well I looked it up and one definition puts it, "the whole, entire, total amount, quantity, or extent of." That same verse in the Good News Bible says, "I will always thank the LORD; I will never stop praising him."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, KJV, "16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
Same verses in the GNB, "Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus."
"In every thing give thanks..."
"I will bless the LORD at all times..."
"I will always thank the LORD..."
"...be thankful in all circumstances..."
During this Thanksgiving time, I dare everyone reading this to be thankful no matter what's going on. A song writer put it like this, "Praise now. It could be worse." Some of us are dealing with pain that feels like it's never going to go away. "Through it all, through it all, I've learned to trust in Jesus, I've learned to trust in God. Through it all, though it all, I've learned to depend upon His Word." I know it's a process, but a process can't be a process unless it gets started. So if you're been slacking on your gratefulness, I dare you and I dare myself to be thankful in spite of everything that's going on. Let's all start the I'm thankful in spite of process. I'm sure when we do that, God, in His own way, will show his gratitude.
Another song writer penned, "I'm covered, I'm not worried. Rest. On His promise. I'm still singing. I'm still shouting. I'm still dancing. I'm still praising." I dare you to get your still back. As the old saints say, I dare you to make a devil out of a lie, and say, "I'm still singing. I'm still shouting. I'm still dancing. I'm still praising." Why? Because "I'm covered. I'm not worried."
Proverbs 18:21, KJV, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."
in the GNB, "What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words."
My prayer is that all who read this and don't read this have a blessed Thanksgiving, and use this time to be thankful in all things. Despite of what is going on, be thankful. So much false hope is going on today, but my hope is built...
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Wednesday, November 09, 2016
HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS
As I type this it's now the day after the election of 2016. Donald Trump became the new president elect. I had a hard time falling asleep last night. I couldn't get comfortable. Not because Trump became won the election. Honestly I feel that it was because it seemed as if the ones that are supposed to have hope were hopeless. The same ones that were posting stuff like, "No matter who wins the election, God is still on the throne." were now the same ones with no hope. How are ones seeking for hope supposed to find it when the ones that have the answer are acting the same way? If I was a smoker looking to stop smoking, I wouldn't go to someone like Dave Chappelle for advice on how to stop smoking.
John P. Kee sang, "There's a lily in the valley, found it to be bright as the morning star." I find that to mean there's hope. Deuteronomy 31:6 says, "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." Matthew 28:20 says, "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." That right there is reason to have hope. That right there is a reason to continually "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." (Ephesians 6:10)
If people are really as scared as they say they are they're going to be seeking some answers to what to do. That's why it's important to stay strong. Not just in face but in spirit as well. It is written where it said, "I'm not afraid of the darkness. Whom shall I fear if God before me. What shall we say to these things, I'm not afraid anymore." That is where we should be, but to keep it real, life happens, and fear sets in. But there should be something in us that reminds us that our "
hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand."
So while I couldn't sleep, I went to God in prayer after trying other things to get to sleep. As I was praying I got reminded of a story my dad would refer to sometimes when he was preaching. The story is found in the Bible, 2 Kings 6:8-23. The main part I focused on was verses 15-17a, "And when the servant of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw; and, behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." One commentary says, "Faith reveals that God is doing more for his people than we can ever realize through sight alone. When you face difficulties that seem insurmountable, remember that spiritual resources are there even if you can't see them."
Romans 8:31, "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us." 2 Chronicles 32:7-8, "Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles." Exodus 14:14, "The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
John P. Kee sang, "There's a lily in the valley, found it to be bright as the morning star." I find that to mean there's hope. Deuteronomy 31:6 says, "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." Matthew 28:20 says, "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." That right there is reason to have hope. That right there is a reason to continually "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." (Ephesians 6:10)
If people are really as scared as they say they are they're going to be seeking some answers to what to do. That's why it's important to stay strong. Not just in face but in spirit as well. It is written where it said, "I'm not afraid of the darkness. Whom shall I fear if God before me. What shall we say to these things, I'm not afraid anymore." That is where we should be, but to keep it real, life happens, and fear sets in. But there should be something in us that reminds us that our "
hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand."
So while I couldn't sleep, I went to God in prayer after trying other things to get to sleep. As I was praying I got reminded of a story my dad would refer to sometimes when he was preaching. The story is found in the Bible, 2 Kings 6:8-23. The main part I focused on was verses 15-17a, "And when the servant of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw; and, behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." One commentary says, "Faith reveals that God is doing more for his people than we can ever realize through sight alone. When you face difficulties that seem insurmountable, remember that spiritual resources are there even if you can't see them."
Romans 8:31, "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us." 2 Chronicles 32:7-8, "Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles." Exodus 14:14, "The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
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