Exercise Your Spiritual Muscles

Here we are at the end of 2013, expectantly looking forward to 2014. Many people make new year's resolutions, but I am not usually one of those folks. I've come to realize that most new year's resolutions I make last only about three weeks, at best. Perhaps that is because the beginning of a new year is a lame excuse for making a change in my life. If a change needs to be made, I should not wait for a new year to make it.

That being said, I do want to try to get more exercise this year. I'm even thinking about buying a used treadmill or elliptical to have at home so that I can't use the excuse that I don't have time to go to the gym (I will probably buy it from someone whose resolution last year was forgotten after only a few weeks).

Are you making any similar plans for the coming year? Are you going to try to get healthier this year, either by eating better, or by getting more exercise? What about your spiritual health? Have you even thought about the fact that you may need to be on a healthier spiritual diet, or that you may need to get more spiritual exercise?
God tells us what kind of diet He wants us to feed on: 

• Prayer:

I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and He gave ear unto me. Psalm 77:1 (King James Version)

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (King James Version) 

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16b (New King James Version)

• Bible Study 

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:103-105 (King James Version) 

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 (New King James Version) 

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (New King James Version) 

God also tells us how to exercise spiritually:

• Church Attendance:

And Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’ Matthew 16:17-18 (King James Version) 

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 (KJV)

• Good Works

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22 (New King James Version)

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Matthew 25:37-40 (New King James Version)

I want to take this opportunity to wish you a very happy, healthy, and prosperous 2014. My prayer for you and for myself is that we will make a very real effort to get into better physical AND spiritual shape, through good diet and more exercise. I hope you will join me as I pray from Hebrews 12:1-2 (New King James Version): 

Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

A Christmas Wish List

Have you made your Christmas wish list?  Have you bought everything on your loved ones' lists?  If not, you don't have much time left! 

I love Christmas and all its traditions.  I love giving and receiving gifts.  I especially love it when my family gives me their wish lists, so I know what they want and I know that they will enjoy the gifts I get for them.  I sometimes have a hard time making my wish list, but I do try to make one.  I don't want my family to dread shopping for me, trying to figure out what I would like or what size to buy. 

Our Heavenly Father wants us to make wish lists.  He wants us to tell Him what we want.  He loves giving us gifts.  And He wants us to acknowledge the gifts He gives us.

Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withheld the request of his lips. (Psalm 21:2)

The young lions lack and suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.  (Psalm 34:10)

For God giveth to a man what is good in His sight: wisdom and knowledge and joy; (Ecclesiastes 2:26a)

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. “Or what man is there among you whom, if his son ask for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he ask for a fish, will give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in Heaven give good things to them that ask Him? (Matthew 7:7-11)

Verily, verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you. (John 16:23b)

What then shall we say of these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?(Romans 8:31, 32)

Charge those who are rich in this world that they be not haughty, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; (1 Timothy 6:17)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17)

Please don't misunderstand me or any of the above scriptures.  God is not a glorified Santa Claus or a magic genie who is obligated to give us anything we ask for whenever we want it.  Just like a good earthly parent, He will not give us something that is not in our best interest or that is not in his sovereign will.  But He does delight in making us happy.  I will always remember when we moved back to San Antonio after being away for about three years.  I really wanted a house with white rock and blue trim.  Guess what!  That's just exactly the house God led us to!  Was it an accident or just coincidence?  I don't think so.  I believe that God gave me the desire of my heart.  Don't be afraid to trust God for the little things.  If you can't trust Him with the little things, how can you trust Him with the really BIG things? 

The greatest gift of all was the Gift God gave us over 2000 years ago.  That Gift came wrapped in swaddling clothes, not in shiny paper with a beautiful bow.   And instead of being placed under a fir tree, He was placed in a manger.  Instead of twinkle lights, He was greeted by a star in the heavens.  Instead of being introduced by a parade in Times Square, He was heralded by a choir of angels.  Instead of a gift that wears out, goes out of fashion, breaks, or gets used up, God's Gift to us is eternal.  His Gift makes it possible for our sins to be forgiven, enabling us to live forever in a wonderful relationship with Him.  God's Gift cost Him dearly -- God's Gift was sent to us to die in our place as the payment for our sins.  His Gift is perfect.

God has a wish list for us, too.  Here are just a few things from His wish list.  These are listed in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 (New Living Translation):

• Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work.

•  And live peacefully with each other.

• Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy.

• Encourage those who are timid.

• Take tender care of those who are weak.

• Be patient with everyone.

• See that no one pays back evil for evil,

• but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

• Always be joyful.

• Never stop praying.

• Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

• Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.

• Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said.

• Hold on to what is good.

• Stay away from every kind of evil.

My prayer this week is that you will give God some gifts from HIS wish list.  I pray that you and your family will be safe as you travel and that you will make sweet, lasting memories with your family and friends.  But most of all, I pray that you will keep Christ at the center of all you do at this time of year, that you will celebrate His birth, and that you will join me in worshipping Him -- "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."  (Isaiah 9:6) 

(Except where indicated, all scripture references are from 21st Century King James Version)

Visions at Christmas

The story of Christmas includes many visions. Mary saw an angel who told her she had been chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus. She was a young girl, probably around 14 or 15 years old, a virgin. She was promised to Joseph, but they were not yet married. She feared that when Joseph found out that she was pregnant, he would either have her stoned or, at the very least, divorce her. In that culture, either would have been acceptable. And yes, even though they were not yet married (as we understand marriage), the engagement period was taken so seriously that it would have required a divorce for Joseph to end his relationship with Mary. But in spite of any fear or embarrassment she may have felt, Mary responded to God's vision with submission and willing obedience to Him, in faith.

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her and said, “Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.” And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying and cast about in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, “Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David, and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end.” Then said Mary unto the angel, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” And the angel answered and said unto her, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that Holy Being who shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth: she hath also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.” And Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” And the angel departed from her.  (Luke 1:26-38, 21st Century King James Version)

Joseph also saw an angel. He loved Mary, and when he learned that she was pregnant, he decided to "put her away quietly." He was not planning to bring any more shame to her by publicly divorcing her. But one night, he saw an angel who was sent by God. After the angel told him that God's plan was for him to be the earthly father to God's son, he too responded with submission and willing obedience to Him, in faith.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was in this way: When His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. And Joseph her husband, being a just man and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel” (which being interpreted is, “God with us”). Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife, and knew her not until she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.  (Matthew 1:18-25, 21st Century King James Version)

The shepherds saw an angel, too.  They were frightened at first, but when the angel told them the good news of the birth of Jesus, they immediately went to find the Baby, they worshipped Him, then told everyone in the area about Him.  They responded quickly to worship Him and to tell about Him, in faith.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!” And it came to pass, when the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  (Luke 2:8-17, 21st Century King James Version)

Another person who had a vision was a man named Simeon.  God had promised him that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah.  Forty days after Jesus birth, Mary and Joseph travelled to Jerusalem to dedicate Him to God and to offer a sacrifice as prescribed by Jewish law.  While they were there, God fulfilled the promise He had made to Simeon.  Can you imagine his excitement when he saw the infant Jesus, the One the prophets wrote about so long before?  Simeon responded with awe and worship and anticipation, in faith.

 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him after the custom of the law, then he took Him up in his arms, and blessed God and said, “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.” And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:25-35, 21st Century King James Version)

The wise men also saw a vision.  They were men who studied the stars and had also studied the prophecies of Daniel, Isaiah, Hosea, Micah and all the prophets of Israel.  When they saw a new star in the sky, they knew what it meant.  The star was most likely visible to everyone, but only the magi were looking for it.  Only the magi responded to it.  They did so by making an arduous journey, bringing gifts, and worshipping the Christ Child, in faith.

The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents; the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.  (Psalm 72:10, 21st Century King James Version)

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”  When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star which they saw in the East went before them until it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts: gold and frankincense and myrrh.  (Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11, 21st Century King James Version)

So have you seen a vision?  Are you even looking for a vision?  If not, ask God to open your eyes and your heart to the idea of seeing what He wants you to see.  Remember the wise men.  If they had not been looking, they would not have seen the star.  I never thought I would write a book.  Even after I wrote my book, I had no idea that I would write a blog each week.  But God gave me a vision -- not one that I saw with my eyes, but a vision all the same.  It frightened me at first.  I was reluctant, but in faith, I have tried to be obedient, to the best of my ability.  And God has blessed me as a result.  My prayer for myself and for you this week is taken from Psalm 27, 21st Century King James Version:

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  One thing have I desired of the Lord; that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple.  When Thou saidst, “Seek ye My face,” my heart said unto Thee, “Thy face, Lord, will I seek.”  Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and lead me.

 

Unaware, Unconcerned, Unconvinced or Understanding?

As we celebrate the birth of the Christ Child, how will you receive Him?  At the time of His birth, there were only a handful of people who truly understood who He was -- Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men.

Although His coming was foretold from the beginning of time, the majority of the world's population was unaware of the coming Messiah.  Adam and Eve were told about Him: 

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her Offspring;  He will bruise and tread you head underfoot, and you will lie in wait and bruise His heel.  (Genesis 3:15, Amplified Bible). 

 The prophets wrote about Him (all references from King James 21st Century Version): 

Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.  (Isaiah 7:14)

“Behold, the days come,” saith the Lord, “that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch; and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. (Jeremiah 23:5)

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth unto Me He that is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”  (Micah 5:2) 

Daniel was a prophet during the time that Israel was being held captive by the Babylonians.  He was recognized, even by King Nebuchadnezzar and later by his successors, Belshazzar and Darius, for his wisdom and his prophetic gifts.  So, perhaps a few of the Babylonians believed and taught their children and grandchildren Daniel's prophecy concerning the time that Christ was to be born.
Some people believe that the magi were descended from the Babylonians, and so that is why they understood the meaning of the star and followed it to Bethlehem.  But those who were widely and regularly taught about His coming were the Jews.  The Israelites and a handful of descendants of the Babylonians were a tiny minority of the world's population.  If you were someone who lived in another part of the world, you probably never would have heard that a baby would be born to a virgin in Bethlehem, a descendant of King David, who was coming to save His people.  You would have been unaware.

When the magi came looking for the Christ Child, they most likely travelled with a very large entourage.  There were probably servants who went ahead of them, preparing the way for them.  They would have removed debris from the road, fixed holes in the road, and made the people in the area aware that the magi were coming.  Surely this vanguard would have told the people in the area why they were so busy at work, but apparently those they told were unconcerned, or if they were there is no biblical record of them making any effort to go to worship the Newborn King.  As they followed the star, the magi stopped in Jerusalem to talk to the political and religious leaders there, inquiring about the birth of the Christ Child.

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet (Matthew 2:4, 5).

Naturally the wise men would have gone to these authorities for answers, since the regional officials should have known what was going on in the area, and the rabbis read from the books of the prophecy and taught the Jewish people about the Messiah.  Little did the magi know that these Jewish leaders would be totally unconcerned about the birth of THIS baby. The rabbis were not expecting a baby born in a stable. They expected a royal birth. They didn't want a Suffering Servant, but a conquering king, someone who would overthrow Rome and set up a kingdom on earth.  They disregarded all they knew about the prophecies and were totally unconcerned about the Baby Jesus.

As Jesus grew into a man, He was respected in the temple for his understanding of the scriptures -- understanding that no one but God Himself could have had.  But when He began his public ministry, the temple leaders were unconvinced that He was The Son of God. 

But Jesus held His peace. And the high priest answered and said unto Him, “I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.”  Jesus said unto him, “Thou hast said; nevertheless I say unto you, hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”  Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, “He hath spoken blasphemy! What further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy!  (Matthew 26:63-65.)

Despite the many, many miracles He performed, despite the fact that He fulfilled 100% of the prophecy that they themselves had taught, despite the fact that He was resurrected from the grave just as He said He would be, they continued to be unconvinced.

During His time of ministry, Christ touched the lives of many people.  Some understood who He was, but not all.  Some were looking for what He could do for them, not understanding that He wanted to be the sovereign lord of their lives. 

When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” And they said, “Some say that Thou art John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”  And Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  (Matthew 15:13-16.)

So how will you receive Him?  As hard as it is to believe in this day of instant communication, there are still some who have never heard and who are unaware of Him.  Most of the world has heard, but they have heard what they want to hear, or they have heard what popular media has to say about Him.  They may have made him in their own image of what they think He should be, but they are totally unaware of who He really is and they are unconcerned about finding out who He really is.   Some may have heard the truth about who Jesus is, but remain unconvinced.  These include people who have more faith in their own knowledge and education than they have in Jesus who spoke every molecule of creation into existence and whose knowledge is beyond any knowledge we can even imagine.  The unconvinced are also people who claim to know Jesus, but who do not trust Him enough to allow Him to influence their daily lives, who have not allowed Him to be Lord of their lives.  So what about you?  Are you unaware, are you unconcerned, are you unconvinced?  Or do you understand and worship and yield your life to Him?

My prayer for you and for me this week is from 1 John 5:20:  "(Thank you, Father, that) we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true; and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and Eternal Life."   
   

Thankful I'm Not A Turkey

It was such a blessing to have our daughter, our son-in-law, and our four grandsons at our house for Thanksgiving last week.  We had a very traditional Thanksgiving meal of turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, cranberry salad, and pumpkin pie.  Before the meal, we each took a turn saying what we were thankful for, beginning with our second grandson who is 6-1/2 years old.  He said, "I'm thankful I'm not a turkey!"  We all had a good laugh, then continued around the table, mentioning family, health, our relationship with Jesus, and numerous other blessings.  Finally, after going all the way around the table, we were back to our second grandson who led us in prayer, thanking God for our food.

Even though our grandson was just looking for a laugh from the family, his comment caused me to think:  For some people, it might be hard to find something for which they are truly thankful.  I'm thinking about a sweet family whose son, about the same age as my grandson, died from a rare form of leukemia just a couple of months ago.  I'm thinking about the family in the town where I live who lost everything they own in a house fire last summer, started when their four little girls were playing with matches.  I'm thinking about my friend who was just diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.  I'm thinking about the veteran who lost his legs and is now suffering from PTSD.  Perhaps all they can find to be thankful for this year is that they are not the turkey.

There was a time, a little over 18 years ago, that I, too, didn't feel thankful at all.  When my son died, I was not thankful.  I still am not thankful for the accident that killed him, but now I am able to be thankful to God for giving me 21 year with him.  I'm thankful He gave me the strength to go on, even though I still miss him every day of my life.  I'm thankful that God knows my pain and has compassion on me and all my family.  I'm thankful that He heard my prayer when I asked Him why, and that He didn't call my questioning a sin.  I'm thankful that He allowed me to be angry with Him for a short time, but that He soothed my anger with His love and grace, never allowing me to become bitter and hateful.  I'm thankful that now I am able to share with others the source of true joy and strength, and that is knowing and having a personal relationship with The Living God, Our Creator, Our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Consider your faith right now.  Is it strong enough to hold up under trial and unbearable hurt?  If not, begin now to strengthen your faith.  Begin by praising God for who He is, thanking Him for what He does, and asking Him to grow your faith.  He will do it.  Don't wait until the catastrophe comes.  Choose now to live by faith, not by sight. 

Oswald Chambers writes, "The undiminished radiance, which is the result of abundant joy, is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can change.  And the experiences of life, whether they are everyday events or terrifying ones, are powerless to 'separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord' (Romans 8:39)." 

In Nehemiah 8:10, the Bible says, "The joy of the Lord is your strength."  That passage refers to a time when the prophet Ezra had been reading from the Book of the Law of Moses, and all the people were worshiping God together.  The word translated as "joy" in this passage is the Hebrew word, "chedvah."  It is used only one other time in the Bible, and that is in Ezra 6:16 when the people celebrated with joy when the rebuilt temple was dedicated.  I get the sense that this kind of joy is associated only with a deep, personal, tangible nearness to God.  When we focus on Him and on His attributes and His word, He gives us joy and strength that is beyond anything we can imagine.  That is the strength and joy that buoyed me through the darkest time in my life.  And that is the strength and joy that propels me to learn more about Him and to give more and more of myself to Him, living each day in eager anticipation about what He has for me next.  That is the joy that takes away fear, soothes pain, dispels worry, enables forgiveness, and produces strength.  (Excerpt from "I Choose Joy:  Strengthened by Faith, Equipped for Grief")

I hope you recognize many things for which you are thankful this year.  And I hope we will all remember those who are hurting this year and pray for them.  My prayer for you, for them, and for myself this week is Psalm 51:11-13 (New King James Version):  Heavenly Father, "Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.  Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You."  Amen.

Stress will Steal your Joy!

When I was a kid we didn't start celebrating Christmas until after the Thanksgiving dinner was done, the University of Texas/Texas A&M football game was over, and the Macy's parade was ended.  The tree and lights were not put up, Santa didn't arrive, and the stores and streets were not decorated until after Thanksgiving.  But this year I began seeing Christmas decorations prominently displayed in the stores in August, even before school started!  I suppose the reason for that is primarily financial.  Most retailers depend on the Christmas shopping season to bring their annual bottom line into the black.  I used to complain about the Christmas season starting so early, but now I'm beginning to see that, as a consumer, I should appreciate it and use it to my advantage.  After all, shaking my head and fretting about it, complaining that it's too hot in August to think about Christmas, longing for the way things used to be doesn't change anything.  It only creates stress in my own mind, and stress is destructive.

According to the American Psychological Association, 61% of Americans report a lack of money as the leading cause of stress during the holidays, followed closely by an overloaded calendar and anxiety over giving and receiving just the right gifts.  Their survey also showed that higher stress levels during the holidays are reported by 44% of American women and 31% of American men.

I wonder when the Christmas season first began to be so stressful.  Was that what God had in mind when He sent His Son to live among us?  I would think that Mary and Joseph would have been stressed, since they could not find a room in Bethlehem.  I would think that it would have been stressful for Mary to give birth in a stable.  We know it was stressful for King Herod.  When he heard about the birth of the "King of the Jews" he called a meeting with all the chief priests and scribes.  He asked them where Christ was to be born.  They reported to him that, according to prophecy, there would be born in Bethlehem of Judea one who would govern the people of Israel.  This greatly troubled Herod, so much so that he ordered that all the baby boys in the region of Bethlehem, aged two and under, be killed.  (Read Matthew 2:1-16)  It is estimated that about 20 little boys lost their lives because of Herod's insecurity and stress.

The good news is that God protected the child, Jesus, from Herod's brutality.  He sent an angel who warned Joseph to take his family to safety in Egypt because Herod intended to harm Jesus:

And when they (the wise men from the east) were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.  (Matthew 2:13-15, King James Version)

Do you suppose this caused Joseph some stress?  I know if an angel visited me  I would be stressed.  Then if that angel told me my child was in danger I would surely be stressed.  And if I had to get up in the middle of the night and leave everything I had and everyone I knew to move to a foreign country in order to protect my child I would most assuredly be stressed!

But it's funny.  The bible doesn't give us any indication, not even a hint, that Joseph or Mary was stressed by any of this!  The only ones in the entire Christmas story who were stressed were Herod, the temple officials, and the people of Jerusalem.  Herod and the temple officials were afraid of losing their power.  The people of Jerusalem were afraid of losing the peace and good economy that the Roman rule had provided.  But Mary, Joseph, and the wise men were so focused on Jesus, they had no stress.  

The Christmas story as recorded in Luke also included the shepherds and their sheep.  When the angel first appeared to the shepherds, they were afraid.  Luke 2:9 says that "the glory of the Lord shone round about them."  It seems to me that might frighten all the sheep, too.  I don't know much about sheep, but I've seen other animals react in panic and fear when something happens suddenly that is out of the ordinary.  The shepherds were frightened, plus they may have been worried for the sake of their sheep.  But the angel told them that there was nothing to fear because he was bringing good news of great joy.  After the angel's reassurance, the shepherds were no longer afraid.  And there is nothing in Luke's account that tells us the sheep were disturbed at all.  Instead, we are told that the shepherds went quickly to Bethlehem to worship the baby Jesus.

So, this Christmas season, where is your focus?  Is it on the decorations?  Is it on the shopping?  Is it on all the parties and extended family celebrations?  Is it on the credit card bill?  Or is your focus on the Christ Child? 

The American Psychological Association and many other web sites offer a lot of advice about how to relieve stress during the holidays -- planning, budgeting, lowering expectations, etc.  You can look them up or you can turn on the t.v. and hear all kinds of solutions to the problem of holiday stress.  But, in my opinion, the best answers come from God's word:

• Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.  (1 Peter 5:7, New Living Translation)
• Jesus said, “Don’t be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. (John 14:1, Easy-to-Read Version)
• Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.  Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.  Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.  You know the teachings I (Paul) gave you, and you know what you heard me say and saw me do. So follow my example. And God, who gives peace, will be with you. (Philippians 4:6-9, Contemporary English Version)

So this week, as we celebrate Thanksgiving and as many people begin their Christmas shopping, my prayer for all of us will be this, adapted from John 14:27 (New American Standard Bible):

Heavenly Father, Thank you for leaving us with Peace; Your peace that you give to us; not as the world gives do you give to us. Do not let our hearts be troubled, nor let us be fearful.

The Big Reveal

When I had my babies the doctors never took a sonogram unless there was a problem.  So we never knew ahead of time whether we were having a baby boy or a baby girl.  But now, sonograms are a routine part of prenatal care.  At about 18 to 20 weeks into the pregnancy, the sonogram is able to show, with greater than 90% accuracy, the gender of the unborn baby.  Many parents use this opportunity to throw a "reveal" party for their family and friends when they announce the sex of their baby. Sometimes the "reveal" is done with a cake as Mom and Dad cut into the white cake, revealing either pink or blue filling.  Some, like my friend Krista, used a box full of helium filled balloons.  When she opened the box, the blue balloons floated to the ceiling accompanied by shrieks of excitement and applause by all.

As we approach the Christmas season, I think of "The Big Reveal" the world was given by the prophet, Isaiah, sometime between 701 and 681 B.C.  He told us, "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6, 21st Century King James Version)  Isaiah told us there would be a son.  There were no balloons, no cake with blue filling.  And this proclamation was not made just 20 weeks before Jesus was born, after Mary was half-way through her pregnancy.  This news was given over 680 years before He was born!

Isaiah also told us about the mother of Jesus.  "Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."  (Isaiah 7:14, 21st Century King James Version) 

He also told us about the crucifixion of Christ.  "But he was pierced for our transgressions.  He was crushed for our iniquities.  The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed."  (Isaiah 53:5, World English Bible) 

And he also told us that we should seek out this Christ who was given to us to be our Savior, our Lord.  "Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.  Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon."  (Isaiah 55:6-7, New King James Version)

This gift of God is the best Christmas gift anyone could ever receive.  It is a gift that is eternal -- it has an unlimited, unconditional warranty, it fits everyone, it meets all our needs, it never goes out of style, and best of all, it is free to us.  It was paid for by Jesus Christ, with his blood on the cross of Calvary.

Another "Big Reveal" was accomplished in the life of Jesus.  He came as a man, yet fully God. He revealed to us all that God is -- Able, boundless, compassionate, defender, everlasting, faithful, gracious, holy, immutable, just, kind, loving, merciful, near, omniscient, powerful, quiet, righteous, strong, trustworthy, understanding, victorious, wise, "x-act," yearning for a relationship with us, zealous in His love for us... Jesus was able to reveal God to us because He is God! 1 Timothy 3:16 (21st Century King James Version) says: "And beyond controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." And Jesus Himself said, "I and my Father are one." (John 10:30, King James Version)

I hope that you know the peace and joy that comes from knowing the Savior that Isaiah revealed to the world in his prophecy over 2600 years ago, whose birth we celebrate at this Christmas season.  And I hope that you will keep "The Big Reveal" at the center of your Christmas plans and celebration.  My prayer for you this week is from Isaiah 55:12:  "(I pray that) you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace;"

Got Questions?

When I studied journalism in college I was taught that any good newspaper article should answer four basic questions within the first paragraph.  Those questions are WHO, WHERE, WHAT, and WHEN.  My classmates and I were warned to avoid drawing our own conclusion when we reported the fifth basic question, WHY.  We were taught to "stick to the facts," and if we were not told the WHY, we should not attempt to report it, but rather to write something like, "it is not at this time known why. . ."

When we study the Bible, we should ask the same questions.  For any given verse, chapter, or book of the Bible we should ask, "Who wrote it and to whom was it written?  Where was the author and where was the reader?  What was being written about? When was it written?  Why was it written?"  If we ask these questions about any particular passage, we can avoid taking things out of context and twisting scripture to make it suit our own biases.

When we look at all scripture in context, we will find that there is absolutely no conflict or contradiction within the entire Bible.  To me, that is absolutely amazing, a confirmation that the Bible we read is indeed the inspired, infallible, inerrant word of God.  The Bible contains 66 individual books, written over a 1600 year time period, in three different languages (Aramaic, Greek, Hebrew), by about 40 writers, on three continents (Africa, Asia, Europe), including several subjects (history, poetry, prophecy, wisdom, etc.), and yet every part of the Bible points us to one true and living God who loves us and wants an eternal relationship with us. 

What is even more astounding to me is the prophecy within the pages of the Bible.  Even the books we consider primarily "history" contain prophecy about the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Not even one of those prophecies was left unfulfilled.  According to FaithFacts.org:

Mathematicians have calculated the odds of Jesus fulfilling only 8 of the Messianic prophecies as 1 out of 10¹⁷ (a 1 followed by 17 zeros). This is equivalent to covering the entire state of Texas with silver dollars 2 feet deep, marking one of them, mixing them all up and having a blind-folded person select the marked one at random the first time.

BUT THERE'S MORE!  In addition, there are prophecies about His coming again at some time in the future!  In light of the past fulfilled prophecies, how can we doubt that these future prophecies will also be fulfilled, just as they are written!

Some folks would try to deny the veracity of the Bible, saying that it is just a book of legends and folklore.  But did you know that there is not one piece of scientific or archaeological evidence that can refute anything stated in the Bible?  Did you know that, before Galileo first used the telescope to peer into space and proclaimed that the earth is round, the Bible told us that very fact?  Writing about the sun, King David wrote in Psalm 19:6, "Its rising is from one end of heaven, and its circuit to the other end;"  A circuit is round, not flat.  And in Psalm 103:12, he wrote, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."  The distance from the North Pole to the South Pole is a finite distance.  But, because the earth is round, the distance from east to west cannot be measured, it is infinite.  That is how far God removes our sin from us when He forgives us!  WOW!   

So, back to my five basic questions:

WHO is this God that I love to write and talk about? 

Exodus 3:13, Amplified Version:  "And God said to Moses, I Am Who I Am and What I Am, and I Will Be What I Will Be;"

John 14:6, New King James Version:  "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'"

WHERE can you find Him?

1 Kings 8:27, Easy-to-Read Version:  "But, God, will you really live here with us on the earth? The whole sky and the highest heaven cannot contain you. Certainly this Temple that I built cannot contain you either."

Revelation 3:20, New King James Version:  "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."

WHAT does He want me to do?

Proverbs 3:5-7:  "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil."

Philippians 4:4-8, New King James Version:  "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!  Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."

WHEN does He want me to do it?

Psalm 118:24, King James Bible:  "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."

2 Corinthians 6:2, Common English Bible:  "He says, I listened to you at the right time, and I helped you on the day of salvation. Look, now is the right time! Look, now is the day of salvation!"

WHY should I worship Him?

John 3:16, King James Version:  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Romans 5:8, King James Version:  "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

My prayer this week is that we will have a hunger and a thirst for the word of God, where He is able to answer all our questions.  My prayer is taken from Psalm 119:103-105, King James Version:

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.  Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Help me as I read your word, the Bible, to understand it, to apply it to my life, and to faithfully share it with others.)

 

 

Praise Will Restore Your Joy!

No matter how strong your faith, no matter how long you have been a Christian, no matter how great your life seems to be going, there may still come times of doubt, depression, or perhaps a feeling of distance from God.  First of all, know that it's normal, even okay to feel that way sometimes.  God understands.  As a matter of fact, He understands us better than we understand ourselves.  Don't let guilt about your feelings add to your sadness.  That can create a snowball effect, digging an even deeper chasm of depression, more guilt, more depression, more guilt, more depression. . .  and before you know it, you are feeling bitter, angry, and alone.

Instead, stop at the first sign of doubt or depression, admit your feelings to God, and then offer praise to Him for who He is.  God tells us in Psalm 46:10 (American Standard Version), "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 

This is how the Bing Dictionary defines exalt: 
     1.  praise somebody or something: to praise or worship somebody or  something 

     2.  promote somebody or something: to raise somebody or something in rank, position, or esteem

     3.  intensify something: to increase the intensity or effect of something

     Synonyms: promote, raise, elevate, intensify, boost, lift

Praise, or exaltation, is entirely different from thanksgiving.  Yes, we should thank God for what He does for us, as prescribed in Psalm 95:2 (American Standard Version), "Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving," but that is not the same as praise.  Praise is based on who God is, not what He does for us.  Our faith in God should enable us to praise Him for who He is, even when things are not going as we would like them to, even when we feel like He hasn't answered our prayers, even when His answer is not the answer we wanted.

In order to praise God, we must first know who God is and who He is not.  He is not a god that we create in our own imagination, to suit our preconceived idea of what our own personal god should be.  God is not our fairy godmother, hanging around, waiting to fulfill our every desire.  He is not a genie we can conjure up to grant us three wishes whenever we follow some magic ritual.  He is not an angel sitting on our shoulder, waiting for us to choose between his guidance and the temptation of an impish red devil sitting on our other shoulder.  God created us in HIS image, so we should not try to create a god in OUR image. 

To learn more about who God truly is, read His word, the Bible; join a Bible study group (I HIGHLY recommend Bible Study Fellowship); attend a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching church.  I would also recommend a book, "Fully in Focus," by my dear friend Carol Graves (FullyInFocus.com).  This book is a collection of scriptures that illustrate SOME of God's many attributes.  Here are a few to get you started:
God is the CREATOR:  "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."  (Genesis 1:1, New King James Version) 

• God is ABLE:  "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21, American Standard Version)
• God is the ONE God:  "You surely believe there is only one God. That’s fine. Even demons believe this, and it makes them shake with fear." (James 2:19, Contemporary English Version)
• God is GOOD, He ENDURES, He is FAITHFUL:  "For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations."  (Psalm 100:5, English Standard Version)
• God is LOVE:   ^"but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  (Romans 5:8, English Standard Version)
• God JUDGES:  "Who can tell God what to do?  He judges powerful rulers." (Job 21:22, Contemporary English Version)
• God is GRACIOUS, He is POWERFUL, He is capable of WRATH:  "The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him." (Ezra 8:22b, King James Version)
• God AVENGES, He LIVES:  "For we know Him who said, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord.  And again, 'The Lord will judge His people.'  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."  (Hebrews 10:30-31, New King James Version)
• God is FAITHFUL, He is JUST, He FORGIVES, He CLEANSES:  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9, New King James Version) 
• God is our FATHER, He is CHANGELESS:  "Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father, the creator of the heavenly lights, in whose character there is no change at all."  (James 1:17, Common English Bible)

I hope you will join me in praising God this week.  You will be amazed at how your joy is restored after spending time praising God.  I hope that you will join me in this prayer of praise this week, taken from Habakkuk 3:17-19 (The Message): 

Though the cherry trees don’t blossom
and the strawberries don’t ripen,
Though the apples are worm-eaten
and the wheat fields stunted,
Though the sheep pens are sheepless
and the cattle barns empty,
(Though nothing is going my way
or turning out how I had planned,)
I’m singing joyful praise to God.
I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God.
Counting on God's Rule to prevail,
I take heart and gain strength.
I run like a deer.
I feel like I’m king of the mountain!

 

Only One Way to True Joy

Society at large may say I'm narrow minded.  Perhaps they would go so far as to say I'm a hater.  A certain segment of society these days considers anyone a fanatic, a radical, an extremist who takes a solid, uncompromising stand for anything.  We are intolerant.  Well, perhaps I am guilty of all of the above.
Being a Christian has never been about being popular, or blending in with society.  Real, honest-to-Jesus Christianity has always been radical, anti-social, life-changing, earth-shaking.

And when Christians dare to say that there is only ONE WAY to heaven, to life eternal with our Creator Savior, then some say we are getting downright offensive!  Some people lately have even called us dangerous, terroristic, criminal.

But this should come as no surprise to us!  Jesus promised us that this was the way society would react to us when we make the decision to follow Him.  Read what He told His disciples in John 15:18-20a (New American Standard Bible): 

  “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’  If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you." 

Jesus is the One who told us that there is only one way that is acceptable to God.  He said in John 14:6 (21st Century King James Version):  "Jesus said unto him, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.'"

He also said, in Matthew 7:13-14 (Contemporary English Version):  "Go in through the narrow gate. The gate to destruction is wide, and the road that leads there is easy to follow. A lot of people go through that gate.  But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow that only a few people find it."

So, if I am narrow minded, it is because my eyes and my heart are fixed only on Him who loved me so much that He gave His life for me.  If I am a hater, it is because I hate my own sin so much, knowing that it is my sin that separates me from a perfect, sinless, holy God and the joy and peace that only He can give.  If I am a fanatic, a radical, an extremist, it is because He has filled me with so much love for Him that it is impossible for me to contain it -- I must allow Him to flow through me, into every area of my life, influencing all my decisions, guiding me in every step I take.  If I am intolerant, it is because I cannot tolerate my own sin, my inadequacy to save myself, my inability to live the life He wants me to live without His help.

I hope and pray that you will join me as I walk the hard road, through the Narrow Gate who is Jesus Christ, the One who brings us to complete peace, joy, comfort, and an eternity with Himself.  My prayer for myself and for you this week is adapted from Psalm 1:1-3 (New American Standard Bible): 

Dear Jesus, (Bless me and the one reading this, help us to be those) who do not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!  But (remind us to) delight in the law of the Lord, and in His law (help us to) meditate day and night.  (Cause us to) be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season.

I Choose Joy No Matter What

Does your level of joy depend upon a lucky roll of the dice?  What happens to your joy when the roll of the dice is not a winning roll -- when your checking account is overdrawn, when your children disappoint you, when your boss tells you that your job is being phased out, when the doctor says the prognosis is not good, when you get that call in the middle of the night?

If your joy is based upon circumstances, it can be gone in an instant, in the blink of an eye.

But if your joy is based upon knowing your Creator, the King of Kings, The Great I Am, then your joy will not fail when everything else does.

The joy God offers to us is always available, no matter what.  He loves us so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die a cruel death on a cross in order that we may spend eternity with Him.  And that eternity begins the instant we accept His free love gift of salvation and apply it to our own sin-filled lives.   He loves us so much that He has made it possible for us to be adopted into His family, even though we can never measure up to His perfection.  As a part of his family, He calls us his children, His heirs.  And He promises us that He is with us and will never, ever leave us, no matter what.  His word tells us:

• There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1, 21st Century King James Version)
• And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. (Galations 3:29, New American Standard Bible)
• For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39, 21st Century King James Version)
• Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. (James 1:2-3, New American Standard Bible)
• Where can I go from Your Spirit?  Or where can I flee from Your presence?  If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.  If I take the wings of the dawn,  if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me. (Psalm 139:7-10, New American Standard Bible)

God never promised us a life without difficulties.  As a matter of fact, His word assures us that we WILL face difficulties.  But he does promise us that He will be with us through them all, that He understands what we are facing, and that He will guide us, teach us, love us, and comfort us, no matter what.  If that doesn't bring you joy, then I can't imagine what would.

My prayer for you and for myself this week is taken from the last two verses of Psalm 139, verses 23 and 24 (New American Standard Bible):  Search me (and my readers), O God, and know (our) heart(s); try (us) and know (our) anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in (us), and lead me (and my readers) in the everlasting way (in the way You want us to go).