The Heart

King David was a man after God's own heart.  God has a heart.  Perhaps that is why the word heart is found so often throughout the Bible. 

TV~  (Today's Verse)
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.  [Psalm 28:7]

Christ Everywhere

The following prayer keeps coming to mind in recent days.  It is attributed to St. Patrick and is part of a longer prayer, entitled: St. Patrick's Breastplate.

If we pray this and attribute this to ourselves, it truly is like a breastplate.  It protects us from temptation, from the evil one and from our own evil desires.

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

TV~ (Today's Verse)
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [Colossians 1:17]

Part of God's Family

I spent last evening at a surprise birthday party.  There were 80 people present.  The "birthday girl" has been married for 40 years, has no children, both her parents are deceased and she has few blood relatives.   At one point in the evening, she came over to speak with me and we discussed all the people present.  The majority were from her church.  "They are my family,"  she said, with tears in her eyes. 

The scriptures call us children of God and refers to our fellow believers as brothers and sisters in Christ.

TV~ (Today's Verse)
But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

I Will, by God's Help

At one point, during the Anglican baptismal service, those in the congregation renew their baptismal vows.  The celebrant asks questions about faith, fellowship, resisting evil, witnessing and serving.  In each case, the people answer:  "I will, by God's help."

Celebrant   Wilt thou continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowhip, in the breaking of bread, and in
                     prayers?

People        I will, by God's help.

TV~  (Today's Verse)
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all men. [Acts 2:47]

Explanation for Trials??

A good coach knows his athletes and pushes each one, individually, just short of their utmost limit.  This makes them strong and prepared for what lies ahead.  God is the same way.

"God knows our strength, and He measures it to the last inch; and a trial was never given to any man that was greater than that man's strength, through God, to bear it.  It is His trust in you that explains the trials of life, however bitter they may be." ~Streams in the Desert  

TV~   (Today's Verse)
 God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.  [I Corinthians 10:13]

Only in the Presence of Light

Following the Lamb

They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. (Revelation 14:4)

I asked a 12-year-old today what it means to follow Jesus wherever he goes.  His response,       "If the Lamb goes up a hard hill, we go up a hard hill."  This reminded me of Much-Afraid, the protagonist in the Christian classic Hinds' Feet on High Places.

          “O Shepherd. You said you would make my feet like hinds' feet and set me upon

           High Places".

          "Well", he answered "the only way to develop hinds' feet is to go by the paths which

            the hinds use."   -Hannah Hurnard, Hinds' Feet on High Places 

TV~ (Today's Verse)
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children... [Ephesians 5:2]