Seek God and God will Speak

Psalm 8:1-4

1 O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth! who have set your glory above the heavens.

2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings have you ordained strength because of your enemies, that you might still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained;

4 What is man, that you are mindful of him? and the son of man, that you visit him?

• Lord I find you in the sunrise, the sunset, and the passing clouds in the sky.
• You give your strength to the weakest. I have your strength to still those who stand before me and have ill will.
• Lord, I find you in all of your creations, from the tiniest flower to the expanse of the night sky full of fireworks.
• I am so small, yet you are mindful of me. You visit the son of man. You are infinite, yet you pay attention to the smallest of your creations. 

Psalm 19:1-2

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork.

2 Day to day utters speech, and night to night shows knowledge.

• God will speak to me day and night, through his handiwork that is all around me. The heavens themselves show me the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 6:19
20 For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

• God owns me because Jesus paid the price on the cross. I will live in a manner which will glorify God in my body and my spirit. All of me belongs to God.

Jeremiah 29:13
13 And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.

• I have found the Lord because I sought him with all my heart. 
• Thank-you Lord for speaking to me through your people, creations, the Holy Bible and through the Holy Spirit.

Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July 2017!

Father God, as we celebrate the independence of the United States from Great Britain, let us not forget that this country has always been a Christian nation. Thank-you Lord for making this a great and united country.
Amen

Praise the Lord - Psalm 100:4

Great encouragement is given us, in worshipping God, to do it cheerfully.

If, when we strayed like wandering sheep, he has brought us again to his fold, we have indeed abundant cause to bless his name. The matter of praise, and the motives to it, are very important. 

Know what God is to you. 
Know it; consider and apply it, then you will be more close and constant, more inward and serious, in his worship. 
                                                                                                                                                      adapted from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

Worship In The Spirit and Truth - John 4:23-24

23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

Spiritual worship is that where the heart is offered to God, and where we do not depend on external forms for acceptance.                            Barnes Notes on the Bible

Worshiping in the Spirit and in Truth Is:

• in our spirit, or inwardly in our minds and hearts
• adoring his majesty
• revering his power
• humbled before his purity
• confiding in his mercy
• praising him for his benefits
• loving him for his extraordinary and transcendent love to us
• being subject to his authority
• obedient to his will
• devoted to his glory
• and striving after a closer union with him
• and a more full conformity to him. 

And all this is through the enlightening, energizing, and comforting influences of his Spirit, the Holy Spirit.                                                                                    adapted from the Benson Commentary

Take Joy in the Power and Protection of God and Jesus Christ

Psalm 5:11
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.               

• Be glad when I take refuge in the Lord
• Sing for joy that God is there for me
• Keep a bubble of your protection over me
• I love the name of God and rejoice in the relationship

Ephesians 3:20-21 
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.          

• God can do more than I ever think to ask or imagine. He is infinite and I am not.
• His power that is at work within me
• I will glorify God in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations - forever and ever 

Jude 24-25
24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.                                                                                  

• Jesus is my salvation forever and will present me before God without fault
• Jesus will take great joy in my presence before him.
• Thank-you Jesus for keeping me from stumbling.

Joshua 1:5
5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.       

• God will not be separated from me.
• What God did for Moses and Joshua, he will do for me.