THANKSGIVING

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Chord Progression: (C  F  Bdim  Em)    (Am  Dm  G  C)

UNFATHOMABLE

screen-shot-2016-12-07-at-11-12-21-amYour splendor covers the heavens (Hab 3:3).

You are magnificent—

costly and sumptuous (ref#110, p1341)—

so worthy of notice (ref#110, p927).

 

The earth is full of Your praise (Hab 3:3).

You are above understanding—

unfathomable (ref#110, p1457)—

outstanding and famous (ref#110, p927).

 

Your brightness is brilliant as the sunrise (Hab 3:4)—

very astonishing—

wonderful and extraordinary—

tremendous (ref#110, p1425).

 

You are exalted in Your power (Job 36:22)—

notable and remarkable (ref#110, p927).

You are prodigious—of great supremacy;

You are breathtaking with great command (ref#110, p1073).

CONFESSION

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HEAR ME, FATHER

screen-shot-2016-12-07-at-11-07-20-am…GOD OF ALL, hear my voice when I call, answer me, Your face I will seek (Ps 27:7-8). I venture to speak to You, although I am but dust and ashes (Gen 18:27). O GOD, listen to my prayer (Ps 54:2).

FATHER, lift me above myself. Make me overflow with the hope of the power of Your HOLY SPIRIT (Rm 15:13). Increase my faith so that I perceive CHRIST living in my heart (Eph 3:16-17). Contrast the self-love that I have been after by giving me roots and foundations in real love (Eph 3:17).

How I desire understanding (2 Tim 2:7). May I become content with nothing but CHRIST, Himself, for in Him lay all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:2-3).

LORD, I need wisdom; I ask You for it. Turn my doubt into belief (James 1:6). Give discernment to me, then I will understand Your decrees (Ps 119:125). You say, “The fear of the LORD is true wisdom and to forsake evil is real understanding.” (Job 28:28). I forsake evil; give me true wisdom. I desire to be strong in my inner self (Eph 3:16). Oh, for true Christian maturity (2 Cor 13:9).

ADORATION

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Chord Progression: (C E7 Am D7) (Dm G/D G7 C)

THE DEPTH OF RICHES

screen-shot-2016-12-07-at-10-42-03-amThe heavens declare Your glory, GOD,

and the sky shows Your handiwork,

exhibiting it across the horizon—

displaying Your craftsmanship (Ps 19:1).

 

They speak of the glory of Your kingdom

and tell of Your power

to make known Your mighty deeds,

and Your glorious splendor (Ps 145:11-12).

 

O, the depth of Your riches,

wisdom, and knowledge, O GOD.

How unfathomable are Your judgments;

how undiscoverable are Your ways (Rom 11:33).

 

Your decisions are unsearchable;

Your methods are inscrutable;

Your paths are mysterious;

they are past finding out (Rom 11:33).

 

You choose me; I am blessed.

You cause me to approach You

that I may dwell in Your courts.

I shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house (Ps 65:4).

 

O LORD, You are my GOD;

I will exalt You; I will praise You’re name,

for You have done great things—

plans formed of old, faithful and sure (Isa 25:1)

PRELUDE TO PRAYER

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Read Through the Bible in a Year: January 1st – 7th:

Jan 1    Gen 1,2; Luke 1

Jan 2    Gen 3-5; Luke 2

Jan 3    Gen 6-8; Ps 1

Jan 4    Gen 9-11; Luke 3

Jan 5    Gen 12-14; Luke 4

Jan 6    Gen 15-17; Luke 5

Jan 7    Gen 18,19; Ps 2

Prayer Facts:

“It is not enough to remember [who God is and what His promises are]; we must hear it again. Prayer is the act in which we hear it again. It is not enough to carry memory verses around with us; we need daily encounter with the resonant voice of God. Prayer is that encounter. Situations change. Does God change? We pray. We listen. God speaks his word again—the same word!—and we are restored and renewed in our commitment….Resolve is essential but not enough. In prayer God provides renewal. Prayer is not so much the place where we learn something new, but where God confirms anew the faith to which we are committed” Eugene Peterson (ref#144, loc 1298-1311).

           

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because You plant eternity in my heart—a sense of purpose which nothing under the sun but You can satisfy (Eccl 3:11), I will wait for You.

Because my blood is costly in CHRIST’s sight and because He has pity on me (Ps 72:13-14), I will wait for You.

Because You confirm and make me steadfast and established and endue me with the gifts of the HOLY SPIRIT (2 Cor 1:21), I will wait for You.

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life (Ps 63:3), I will wait for You.

 

SUPPLICATION

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SICKNESS – LIFE THREATENING

[The majority of our prayers concern physical health. We all know someone who is dealing with a life-ending disease. Here is an opportunity to pray for them. Fill their name in the blanks.]

ETERNITY IN OUR HEARTS

screen-shot-2016-10-21-at-2-22-43-pm…LORD, You have planted eternity in ____’s heart (Eccl 3:11). And so You have had to set the cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the way to the tree of life (Gen 3:24) lest (he/she) eat from the tree and live forever in (his/her) fallen nature. It is (his/her) human desire to live forever. ____ would like to always be healthy. But if (his/her) present body would become immortal it would mean eternal torment. You have not created (his/her) present bodies to last forever.

This world is in bondage to decay (Rom 8:21). It will not endure. At CHRIST’s second coming, the material elements of the universe will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up (2 Pet 3:10).

____’s body is (his/her) earthly home. The Apostle Paul calls bodies tents for they are only temporary (2 Cor 5:1). In this (he/she) groans because (he/she) is encompassed with many infirmities (2 Cor 5:2).

FATHER, how my sympathies want You to rise up and help ____ become well again. The desire to live forever is so strong that my first prayer request is always to ask You to heal. I know life isn’t the best here or earth, but it appears a lot better than death. And, so I pray for ____. But, my sympathies do not equal Your compassion.

LORD, guard ____ from deceptive and self-destructive means of temporary escape. And guard me from going no further in prayer than to ask You for more of this temporary life. I do not want to pray for only the pain and inconvenience to go away.

Give ____ enough faith to commit (his/her) way to You—to trust You (Ps 35:5). I pray ____ place (his/her) hope in You (Rom 15:13). Help (him/her) to embrace true Christian maturity (2 Cor 13:9) for godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come (1 Tim 4:8).

Aid ____ to resist the urge to desire this temporary life to be permanent. Prod (him/her) to prepare for the life to come by living each day of this week from faith to faith (Rom 1:17).

THANKSGIVING

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YOU TEST ME THEN RESCUE ME

screen-shot-2016-10-21-at-2-13-43-pm “Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be,…for this is the will of God for you…’ (1 Thes 5:18 AMP).

Through my God I shall do valiantly, for it is He Who shall tread down my enemies (Ps 60:12). Though You are high, You regard the lowly (Ps 138:6). You rend the heavens and come down (Isa 64:1). You provide a way of escape for me (1 Cor 10:13).

Even though You test and try me, bringing me into the net, laying crushing burdens on my back, letting men ride over my head, yet You bring me out to a place of abundance (Ps 66:10-12). You reach down from on high and take me—drawing me out of deep waters. You rescue me from my strong enemies for they are too mighty for me. You bring me into a broad place because You delight in me (Ps 18:16,17,19).

Therefore I will come into Your house and perform my vows to You (Ps 66:13). A day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere (Ps 84:10). I shall be forever praising You. Great is Your faithfulness. Your love never ceases; Your mercies never come to an end (Lam 3:22-23).

You are my portion, I will wait for You; my hope is in You, for You are good to me (Lam 3:24-25). You give me reason to ceaselessly praise You.

CONFESSION

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THOUGHTS IN MY HEAD–SATAN’S OR GOD’S?

screen-shot-2016-10-21-at-2-06-23-pm…FATHER, my natural inclination is when life is easy to take life easy. Thus, it often does not occur to me to be resolute in the investigating of spiritual matters. You command me to “test everything” (1 Thes 5:21). I know I have power through the HOLY SPIRIT to test everything that enters my life. Let this prayer remind me that the evil one continually hurls lies at me (ref#101, p137-138).

Conviction that is real is conviction from the HOLY SPIRIT that leads to holiness while satan’s conviction leads to discouragement because he continually accuses (ref#101, p140). Asking for the precious cleansing blood (1 John 1:9) to purify me stops all accusation. If I am still assaulted with indictments I know they are from the devil (ref#101, p139). “…the Holy Spirit never reproves further if the sin is cleansed by the precious blood and forsaken” Watchman Nee (ref#101, p140).

“If the reproof is of a nagging nature—that is, blaming, without any end to it—and if it is a vague and general reproof rather than clearly specific, then we may know it to be, as a rule, the accusation of Satan. If the reproof is clear and specific, and if we instinctively know that we have only to be willing to say yes and repent to have peace and comfort, then we may be assured that it is the voice of the gracious Holy Spirit…and we may safely obey His convictions and turn to Calvary” Roy and Revel Hession (ref#100, p96-97).

How sly the enemy is to make his convictions only slightly uncomfortable so that I can be lazy and only a bit discouraged. FATHER, too often I let accusations free to roam in my head for lengthy periods. Prod me, FATHER, that I may recognize conviction and deal with it immediately. All praise to You who conquers all Your enemies.

ADORATION

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JESUS GIVES ME THE ABILITY TO BE GOD’S PHYSICAL PRESENCE

screen-shot-2016-10-21-at-2-01-01-pm…FATHER, You collaborated with the SON and the HOLY SPIRIT to create creatures with the primary role of being Your physical presence on earth. You made humans to have dominion over the works of Your hands (Ps 8:6), crowning them with glory and honor (Heb 2:7).

You left nothing outside of man’s control, but, at present, all things are not subjected to them (Heb 2:8). Your Scriptures tell about the failings of Your hand-picked nation, Israel—Your chosen, blessed to be a blessing—but not so.

You chose Aaron and his heirs to take on the sins of people, but they were not a blessing either for their priesthood was only a shadow of Your future plans—merely a rude outline of the good things to come (Heb 10:1).

You expressed Your will by piecemeal—not all at once. You made a covenant with Adam and then opened Your will further by revealing more to Enoch, Noah, Abraham, David—all along pointing to CHRIST (ref#21, p808 [Heb 1:1]).

Approximately 4000 years after Adam, You Son came to earth (ref#21, p 809 [Heb 1:1]). He is called “the last Adam” (1 Cor 15:45) because He is the end of Your revelation to man.

Never did CHRIST seek His own will but only the pleasure of You, FATHER (John 5:30) becoming my example of the emissary You created me to be. Now, with CHRIST in me, I am Your physical presence on earth.

Scripture paints a wonderful picture from Genesis to Revelation of how You direct Your creature’s hearts right down to me today. FATHER, allow these facts to root deep in my heart that I may gain a small sense of Your great plans.

VALLEYS TO MOUNTAINTOPS

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SABBATH REMINISCING

12/1/2016

screen-shot-2016-12-02-at-2-46-26-pm“God seeks to bring His holy remnant into the power of eternal life, even now….God wants a free people, a remnant totally detached from all that is earthly…” David Wilkerson (ref#138, p164).

This quote has been inscribed on my heart since I first read, Set Thy Trumpet to Thy Mouth back in the 80’s. David Wilkerson’s words and prophecies are still relevant.

My Sunday posts for the year, 2016 have ended. I have talked about the Sabbath every which way. So, how has my posts affected me?

First, those Sunday words have sobered me. I no more take the Sabbath lightly. I have internalized the truths expressed and experienced a humbling and an unction to be more in GOD’s presence.

The change gives me something to work toward and something to find joy in. My heart is more than ready to be detached from secularized society—this is where my joy lies. And my future work is to make that a reality—as unnatural as that is.

One reason GOD initiated a Sabbath was to offer a place where His people could be seen as different than the world. Sabbath observance would set them apart.

However, I am not set apart by just attending church on Sunday morning. 35-40 million people do that in this country; secular society has accepted that. Alistair Begg (ref#165, Series: God’s Work, God’s Way, Sermon#: 1761, “Threats to Spiritual Wholeness,” Part Two of Two, November 28, 2016). But, I can be labeled a fanatic if I set the rest of the day apart.

Thanks be to GOD who “built-in” a way to set His remnant apart. Observing the Sabbath is a weekly 24-hour opportunity to detach myself from all that is earthy and prove to the world that my spiritual life is more important than my physical.

And as I obey the keep-the-Sabbath command I will have my joy—joy in praising GOD as Creator, thanking Him for last week’s provisions and, by faith, next week’s, and taking advantage of the occasion to rest my body and soul. It is a time on earth to be immersed in eternity.

SABBATH

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CHRISTMAS SABBATH

“I go to the manger of Bethlehem and gaze on the infant Savior.  My faith staggers, and I exclaim, ‘Is this the Son of God?’ Retiring, I track that infant’s steps along its future path.  I mark the wisdom He displayed and I behold the wonders He worked.  I mark the revelations He disclosed, the doctrines He explained, the precepts He taught, the magnanimity He displayed.  I follow Him to Gethsemane, to the judgment-hall, and then to Calvary, and I witness the closing scene of wonder.  I return to Bethlehem and, with the evidences my hesitating faith has thus collected, I exclaim, with the awestruck and believing centurion, ‘Truly this was [is] the Son of God!'” (ref#135, Dec 25th).

Merry SABBATH Christmas

Merry SABBATH Christmas.

The Psalter Hymnal, (Pittsburg, PA: The United Presbyterian Board of Publication and Bible School Work, (c)1927)