Do you wonder what Jesus must have felt like as He hung on the cross with all the sins of the world upon His shoulders?  The pain and suffering is indescribable.  But besides all of that, He even in His agony, spoke some pretty unbelievable words as He looked over the crowd, including the soldiers that had driven the nails into His hand and feet.  He asked God to forgive them.  He told God they didn't know what they were doing.  Does that seem strange to you?  It certainly does me.  The people obviously knew they were crucifying Him.  Even Herod and Pilate knew that He was innocent (Luke 23:13-17)  They all knew they were crucifying an innocent man.  They knew that Barabbas was a murderer and they wanted him to be set free instead of Jesus.  They knew all these things, yet Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, they don't know what they are doing."  They knew what they were doing in their intellect but they had no idea what they were doing in their spirit.

Now, just after Jesus had made that request to His Father, the Word says that the soldiers gambled for His clothes by throwing dice.  They all heard the words of forgiveness but they all went right on in their sinful ways not seeming to receive or walk in the forgiveness that was offered.  Jesus, on the other hand, went on with His mission to save the very ones who mocked Him.  (Luke 23:35-38)  He accepted the suffering so they could be forgiven.  So we could be forgiven.  Some of us have taken this forgiveness lightly as did the crowds and soldiers that day.  But, this morning, let's take another look at forgiveness - just what it means to us and how we need to follow the example of Jesus and forgive others.  It's easy to forget a very hard saying that came from Jesus.  Here it is:  "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."  (Matthew 6:15  - quote from King James Version) The original word here for, "trespasses," means such things as, unintentional error and willful transgression.  It also means fall, fault, offense, and sin.  That pretty much covers just about anything that anyone could do against us!  That is not easy.  It may not even be possible if we do not have the love of God planted deeply in our hearts.  It was love that caused Jesus to, among all the mocking and pain, say, "Father, forgive them."

Is there one (or many) in your life that has unintentionally hurt you or even willfully harmed you?  Has someone you looked up to fallen or disappointed you?  Even offended you??  Are there those in your life who are filled with faults?  Well, first of all, we might remember that we too, have unintentionally brought hurt and disappointment to others.  We, too, have faults.  Yes, we do!!  And, some of us may have taken some pretty bad spills in life, completely disappointing those closest to us.  (Colossians 3:13)  Jesus has forgiven it all but, until we do the same for others, we can't receive that forgiveness.    A long time back, I encouraged another believer to forgive someone in their life who had really hurt them deeply.  So, the believer called the offender and angrily said, "I forgive you but I never want to see you again."  Somehow, I don't think that's what Jesus had in mind when He told us to forgive one another.  It was a start but it wasn't from the heart.  In the midst of our pain, just like Jesus, we must reach out in the strength of His love and forgive those who have brought the pain to our lives.  Then we can freely receive what Jesus has done for us.  Jesus wasn't looking at the crowd and thinking, "I forgive you, but I never want to see you again."  He was looking with compassion.  With His eyes, he saw their insensitivity but, in His heart was longing to see them again in eternity.  But, would they come?  He wanted their hearts to become soft and pliable so that they could see how much He loved them.  But, at that point they were too busy gambling for His clothes and carrying out their own distorted agenda.  What are you busy with this morning?  I have lots of things on my mind.  In that myriad of things in my mind, I may even have some thoughts about others stuffed away in corners that I have not given up in forgiveness.  Thoughts of things that bring pain to our lives can easily be "stuffed."  We don't want to go there.  But, that doesn't mean they are not there.  They may be put away from our conscious minds but they will affect everything else in our lives until they are cleaned out.  Is there a hurt in your life that is kind of just stuck there and you haven't completely given it up?  (Psalm 19:12)  This morning, let's check with God and allow Him to shine His light into the deepest recesses of our hearts.  (Psalm 139:23)  When He spots a dark place of unforgiveness, let's give it up.  Forgive that person and get on with your life in the freedom that we can know when we are completely and totally forgiven.  (John 8:36)  That person may just go on with his or her misdeeds just as the soldiers and the crowds did on the day Jesus was crucified.  But, like Jesus, we can then get on with our mission and fulfill it completely and in freedom.  If the offender will not repent, just go on with your mission.  Walk away, but not in bitterness.  God will deal with all offenders, including us!! (Romans 12:19) 

Back to Gideon.  Gideon wasn't sure that it was the Lord really speaking to him.  Have you ever been in that position?  I have.  But, we have the assurance from Jesus that we can be sure.  He said that His sheep know His voice and they follow Him.  (John 10:27)  When we hear His voice within our hearts, we need to follow.  If we don't follow, what does that say about us?  (John 15:10)  Oh, yes, if we are really His little stray lamb, He will find us.  (Luke 15:4-6)  But, why get lost in the first place?  Praise God, the Shepherd will not lose a single lamb.  But, why not stay in the fold so He can spend His time looking for the other lost sheep.  There is so much more safety in the fold than being out there on the rocks of sin.  (Psalms 107:17, Psalm 32:5) 

Gideon finally began to get the picture.  Even though he knew he was weak, the Lord said to him, "I will be with you.  And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man."  Wow!!  That is what God is saying to you and me this morning.  We are weak in the natural but He said He would be with us. (Matthew 28:20)  He has sent you and me out to conquer the enemies that are holding us and our families, churches and neighborhoods captive.  He has given us power to do it.  (Mark 16:17-18, Luke 10:19-20)  As believers, we have His power.  He will do the work through us.  We need to go in the strength that we have.  Gideon also realized at a given point that it was God speaking to him and begged Him to stay in his presence until he could get an offering together.  We, too, should always have an offering ready when God is manifesting His presence to us.  We usually speak in terms of money because that is what usually captures our heart.  But, whether you have any money or not, God wants your heart.  A sacrifice of praise is never overlooked by our Father.  (Hebrews 13:15)  (Judges 6:36-40)  Then he became afraid.  It is an awesomely fearful thing to find that your Creator is speaking directly with you!  But God reassured him.  God is always letting us know that we should not fear.  (2 Timothy 1:7)   Gideon found peace in the presence of God and built an altar there by the name of "Yahweh-Shalom.  That means, "the Lord is peace."  (Judges 6:24)  We, too have been given peace - the Prince of Peace - even Jesus.  (Isaiah 9:6,John 14:27)  Gideon did some  pretty awesome works for the Lord but in secret.  (Judges 6:27)  Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon.  (Judges 6:34)  So, we to have been given the Spirit of the Lord.  (Acts 1:8, John 16:13)  Even after the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, he asked a few questions and God was patient with him. (Judges 6:22-23)  God went on to let Gideon know that it was His strength that would win the war.  (Judges 7:2)  God seemingly decreased Gideon's strength so He could show His own strength.  Do you feel weak or inadequate this morning?  Good.  You're in a process.  Gideon went through a process and we will too.  It's God's process and He has already gotten you the victory!!  Just keep on going in the strength that you have.  God will supply everything else that you need. 

We are told in the Word of God that we should ask for what we need and want.  (Mark 11:24)  That we should make our desires known to the Lord.  (1 John 5:15)  The psalmist said that he made his requests known every morning and then waited expectantly for the answer.  (Psalm 5:3)  Not a bad pattern to follow!  In the morning, before the day gets out of hand and we become slightly distracted by the practical things of this world, we would do well to make our requests known to God.  Then, all day we can wait expectantly like a child, knowing our Father has heard and is working on our requests.  Sometimes we get into a tight spot.  What we want may not be exactly what God wants.  Oh, to be like Jesus and to have our desires come into line with His. (Psalm 37:4)   In some instances, our hearts desires are centered not on His will but on the world and on our own comfort.  But, God says that, if we will delight ourselves in Him, then He will give us the desires and secret petitions of our heart.  This is a good standard by which we can inspect our prayers, if you will.  Are they coming from a heart submerged in the love, presence and will of God?  Or, are they based on our temporal needs, wants and comforts?

What is it that you need or want this morning?  First of all, nothing is impossible with God. (Luke 1:37)  But, faith needs to be in place when we go before the throne. (Hebrews 11:6)  Without faith, it is impossible to please God.  So, why would you ask somebody for something if you knew they weren't pleased with you?  Not much chance of getting what you want that way!  But, if we are striving to please God (and that doesn't mean that we are perfect - it's a work in progress), we can go boldly before His throne and make our requests known. (Hebrews 10:19)  How is this made possible that we can enter the throne room boldly (yet humbly) and ask the creator of this world for what we want? Because, one evening in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed the perfect prayer.  He made the perfect request.  "Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done." 

Why not go to God this morning with all your requests.?  He is interested in everything that concerns you and those around you.  He wants to hear from you.  If you are a parent, you accept your child, along with the good and the bad, don't you?  God accepts His children the same way.  But, if they need a bath, He gives it to them.  If they do not act responsibly with something He gives them, sometimes He takes it away for a while.  Isn't that what we do with our children?  If we fall down and scratch up our knees and elbows because we were running way too fast ahead of our Heavenly Father, He picks us up, places salve on our wounds and even carries us for a while if we can't walk.  There's nothing good that He won't do for His children.  (Matthew 7:11)

When Jesus prayed that perfect prayer in the garden, He first let His Father know how He felt.  He was in agony.  Being deity, He knew what His mission would involve.  He knew He would complete it.  No wonder He was sweating drops of blood at the time.  I've never been in such emotional, spiritual and physical agony that I sweat drops of blood.  I really doubt that many of you have either.  Does that mean that we have not really suffered?  No, but the magnitude of our sufferings is miniscule compared to the suffering Jesus went through that evening before He got to the last part of His prayer.  First, He said, "Father, if it's at all possible, can I just skip drinking this cup?"  (That's my paraphrase.)  (Matthew 26:39)  He showed us that He had feelings just as we do when things get very uncomfortable in our lives.  It's okay to let God know how you feel when you pray.  It's okay to ask God for what you want.  It's just not okay to insist on it. That's part of our faith walk.  Like Jesus, when we pray, we need to use that "nevertheless" word.  If what we want is really a good gift - if our desires are in line with those of our Father, we will have what we asked for.  If He sees that we don't really need that thing or that it would ultimately harm us, we won't get what we asked for.  Or there may be a delay until we can handle what we have asked for.  Jesus went on to complete the mission.  He drank the cup that was so painful because He could see beyond the pain of not having His personal comforts.  He saw the joy that was before Him out there in the distance.  (Hebrews 12:2)  He went through.  He did the "nevertheless."  Faith tells us that all things do work together for our good if we are called of God and are walking in His purpose.  (Romans 8:28)  Notice the "if's" in there.  Faith again.  The ultimate purpose is to make us like Jesus.  (Romans 8:29)  Sometimes it's painful to be more like Jesus.  It hurts a little bit or even a lot.  He knows.  He shed His blood so we could be excused from the pain we deserve.  The first drops were the drops He sweat in the garden for you and for me.  Next time things don't go our way, let's realize that God is good anyway and He is working things out for our good.  The greatest thing is that we are being made like Jesus.  Oh, to be like Jesus!

It's a rather dreary day this morning where I am.  There are threats of severe thunder storms and wind.  We just had two palm trees "transplanted" from the nursery to our garden.  I am watching them wave in the wind and hoping they will survive whatever weather comes along.  As I do, I am reminded of God's promise to you and me.  The Godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like cedars.  (Psalm 92:12)  My palm trees are planted in my garden where the fallen nature of this world may take them out.  But I am planted in the courts of the Lord's house.  I pray that is where you are planted today also.  If so, you are flourishing and so am I.  That's what His Word says.  

If you are older like I am, you may be wondering if you are of any earthly good.  Well, stop wondering about that because God's Word has made a promise to us also.  He has said that even in our old age, we will still produce fruit.  Like healthy, strong trees, we will remain vital and green.  (Psalm 92:14)  We have lots to offer.  We have experiences that younger people have not had.  We have either made it through with God's help without slipping.  Or, we have slipped and God has restored us.  Either way, we have something to say to this generation.  No, it doesn't really matter what age we are, we have something to offer.  Remember, Jesus loved the children.  He talked to them.  He still talks to them today.  They are also "transplants" in His courts and they have something to say to us.  It seems that sometimes they perhaps hear  and see Him better than we do because their minds are not cluttered with the cares of this world.  When my son was small, he used to say, "I want to go to Heaven while I'm still little."  Although that was a bit scary to me because I can't imagine having a child taken Home before I am, it was a good thing.  His reason was this.  "I want to still be little enough to sit on Jesus's lap."  What he wanted was the very close presence of Jesus.  (Psalm 16:11)   We older and wiser ones can learn a lot from that statement.  Amen?  If you're a young adult, you have lots to say and do for the Kingdom too.  God has given you some specific instructions in the book of Proverbs.  He wants you to guard your heart and obtain a heart of wisdom.  (Proverbs 4:23)  He wants you to learn from the experiences and spiritual insight of your spiritual fathers and mothers.  He wants you to search the scriptures and be attuned to what God is saying to you.   (Proverbs 23:26)  He doesn't want you to be insecure because of your age.  You are special "transplants" in His courts.  He has much to say through you, just as He did through young Pastor Timothy. (1 Timothy 4:12)  Your job in God's garden is to be pure and live what you know, being an example to all the other "transplants."  You are called to learn humility, even in the time of your greatest strength.  (1 Peter 5:5)  John wrote to all ages too. (1 John 2:14)  Yes, there are lots of "transplants" in God's garden and each one has a purpose whether a seedling or a mature tree. There are palms and cedars too, each having it's purpose.  So, we are not all alike but we each have a specific purpose. (Ephesians 2:10)  If you are a palm tree, don't try to be a cedar.  If you are a Windmill Palm, don't try to be a Mexican Fan Palm.  There's room in God's courts for every kind of tree and a purpose for each.  He is the Master Gardener.  He transplants us into the perfect spot in His courts.  Don't feel much like a fruitful tree this morning??  Then feel the loving hands of the Gardener digging around your base.  Feel that fertilizer being placed about you.  It may not smell so good at the moment but it's for your growth.  God is wanting you to grow and flourish.  (Luke 13:8)  

Maybe it's pruning time in your life.  God surely takes care of His "transplants."  (John 15:1-4) If we are to grow and flourish even to produce fruit in our old age, we can know that when pruning time comes, we will be in line and feel the  temporary pain of God's pruning shears.  But in the next season, more and more lush green growth will appear!  If you're in a pruning season this morning, know that it is for your growth.  Submit to it and talk to the Gardener as He works on you.  Ask Him for His Word to heal the places He has had to prune because they were sapping the strength out of you.  Let Him assure you that you will soon see growth appearing that you never could have believed.  (Ephesians 3:20)  Then, you and I, like the Psalmist will declare:  "The Lord is just!  He is my Rock!  There is no evil in Him!"  (Psalm 92:15)   From one transplant to another, "I'm so glad we're placed in the courts of God."  I am watching so many of you flourish and God is causing me to flourish too.  Yes, the Lord is just.  He is our rock.  He is good!  All of His "transplants" are beautiful because of the Rock - even Jesus!  (1 Corinthians 10:4)  We're all watered with Living Water!  No wonder we're flourishing!!

So.  What are you and I saying today?  Are we saying, in spite of all we see going on around us and even in our own lives, "I will trust in God."?  Are we willing to admit that we are helpless in and of ourselves?  That we need a place to hide in the safety of God's secret place?  (Psalm 91:1)  If we do admit it, does that mean that we are weak?  Was David weak?  Of course not.  We're stronger than strong because we are dwelling in God and He is dwelling in us.  Jesus used the same imagery of wings and baby birds.  He wept over Jerusalem and conveyed His desire to gather them under His wings like a mother hen gathers her chicks.  He wept because they would not enter that place of safety and strength.  (Luke 19:41-42)   This morning we have the opportunity to rest beneath those wings.  We can abide there.  It can be our home.  Only there will we find true security.  Then we, too, can say that God is our refuge.  He is our fortress.  Our trust is in Him.  What are you saying right now?  As for me, I think it's pretty warm and safe here under His wings!  This is my kind of fortress!!

What about you and me?  Are we looking up?  Or, are our eyes fixed on the things of earth?  Jesus died on the cross and was pierced just as the scriptures said He would be.  But the story didn't end there.  This servant-King who rode into town on a donkey signifying that He was our ultimate burden bearer, didn't stay dead.  (Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:5)  He knew Who He was even in death and He conquered death and the grave.  He couldn't help it.  That's Who He is!  He did it for you and for me.  And anyone else who will believe and trust Him.  The grave could not hold Him.  Darkness can never hold the Light.  When He arose, He appeared to many.  (Acts 13:31)  Then He returned to His rightful place at the right hand of God the Father. (Mark 16:19)  There He sits to make intercession for us to this day.  (Romans 8:34)  But, He's not going to stay there.  He's looking down expectantly to see our upward gaze.  He's going to come back just as the disciples saw Him go.  (Acts 1:9-11)  Are you looking up or down this morning?  Are your eyes on all that He has blessed you with?  Those are only slight glimpses of all that awaits us in Heaven.  We can enjoy them and be thankful for them.  We should.  We should also be sharing them and using them to build the Kingdom so more and more can know the Savior.  But, our eyes should not be fixed on them.  (Colossians 3:2)  If they are, we are bound by the blessing!  The original meaning for, "look up" has to do with reversal.  It means to unbend.  It's root is the same word used when Jesus healed the woman who was bent over all her life.  (Luke 13:11)  When we have our eyes fixed on the earthly blessings we become like that woman stooped over, bent over.  We couldn't look up if we wanted to.  We're bound and frozen in that position.  But Jesus......  Jesus healed the woman.  She stood up straight.  For the first time in eighteen years, she could see Him!  Friends, Jesus wants to take our eyes off the temporal things of earth today, heal us so we can lift our heads and look up.  It doesn't matter how long you've been bent over and looking down.  Today is the day to receive your healing.  Look up, your redemption is coming.  All the signs point to His soon coming return.  Are you looking up?  Don't find yourself spiritually a day late and a dollar short.  Don't miss Him when He comes back!  We'll fly away - oh, glory!

MORNING MANNA - APRIL 22, 2007 - WE HAVE HEARD THE JOYFUL CALL

Psalms 89:15 (New Living Translation)
^{15 (NLT)} Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD.

There is no better place to be than in the presence of the Lord.  It is where we were created to be.  God wanted to have intimate fellowship with us just as He did with Adam and Eve in the garden.  It was their sin and ours that put the walls up.  Direct communion was severed.  But God loves us so much that He was not satisfied to be far from us.  His desire was, and still is, reconciliation.  Since He is God, He achieved His desire.  The cost was great but He paid it.  He sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sin that caused the break in communication with Him.  (John 3:16)  Adam and Eve enjoyed the presence of their Father until...... Yes, they disobeyed.  When they did that, they wanted to hide from their Father.  (Genesis 3:8)  They ducked behind some of the lush foliage placed there to bring them enjoyment and pleasure.  But they weren't enjoying themselves!  They knew something was wrong.  They were very quiet just as anyone in hiding is.  When you're hiding, you can't freely express yourself.  They didn't want to be found.  They wanted to cover themselves and their sin.  Is there something in your life that you are trying to hide, even from yourself?  As the song, "Secret Place," so aptly puts it, "Is there a place in your heart where even you won't go?"  As long as we're trying to cover ourselves or something in us, we will be miserable.  For one thing, nothing is going to stay hidden when God shines His Light on it.  And He will shine His Light on everything sooner or later!   (Luke 12:2)  Adam and Eve had the brief pleasure of walking in the Light of God's presence.  But their sin soon separated them and the rest of mankind.  Then when the time was right, God sent His Light back to live among men and then die for them.  (Romans 5:6)  The Light could not be extinguished even by the darkness of death so on the third day, the Light came forth again.  Yes, Jesus lives.  (1 Corinthians 15:4)  The Light traveled upwards back to His rightful place at the right hand of the Father.  But, He left His spirit with us to walk alongside of us and give us renewed communion with the Father.  (Romans 8:16)  

Do you want to be in the presence of God at all times?  I do.  But, it means giving up sinful thoughts and attitudes and focusing on the joyful call to worship.  What does that entail?  The King James Version renders the beginning of Psalm 89:15)   this way:  "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound..."  Some of what that means in the original is this.   Relieved, honest, prospering and going forward are people who perceive, understand, acknowledge, declare and teach the clamorous, loud, ear-splitting acclamation of joy!  Is that where you and I are this morning?  Are we willing to make a noise?  Not just make a noise to make a noise.  But...... but, is our heart so full of the joy of the Lord that when we open our mouths, the joy pours forth in worship?  If so, we will be among those that are relieved, honest, prospering and going forward.  We will walk or, in other words from the original meaning, we will behave ourselves, exercise ourselves, run along, and even whirl along in the Light of God's presence.  What freedom there is when we can run along prospering as we continually go forward in the presence of God!  That's the way He meant it to be.  No wonder He says that if we wait on Him, we will run and not grow weary and walk without fainting.  (Isaiah 40:31)  Have you ever been waited on in a restaurant?  The one waiting on you had to be in your presence didn't he/she?  When we wait on God, we get into His presence.  Then we don't leave His presence.  We go where He goes because we are walking in Jesus who is His Light.  (John 8:12)

The word translated, "presence," here actually means, "face."  We are directly before God's very face!  The radiant beams from the holy face of God are lighting our way.  (Psalm 80:7)  When we hear the loud call to worship;  when we hear the sound of the trumpets (another meaning of "call to worship"), we need to acknowledge it and join in.  (Psalm 100)  All of the gratitude and thankfulness in our hearts should well up and explode into joyful singing, shouting and exclamations of joy.  My daughter has been calling me lately and instead of saying, "Hi Mom," or "Hello," she just starts singing an old fashioned chorus that goes like this.  "God is so good, God is so good, God is so good.  He's so good to me!"  As soon as I hear the first words on the other end of the line, I join in and we set those telephone lines on fire with our little worship song!  Oh yes, He is good.  God is just so wonderfully good.  All of the time He is so good!  The joyful call to worship is out.  Who will respond?  He is working mightily in our time.  His goodness is evident to all.  We have been given another day in a world that doesn't deserve another day.  But, God has given it anyway!  If you and I will really hear that call to worship and stand boldly among the worshipers, we will be blessed!  God said it.  I believe it.  Do you?  Good.  Then lets be about worshipping Him today and everyday.  (Psalm 29:2)  "God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He's so good to me!"  (Psalm 31:19)  And you too!!  Sing it!  Exclaim it!  Shout it!!

The Lord had already given the Israelites the promised land.  He did it just the way He does everything else.  By His Word.  (Exodus 6:8)  He spoke then and He still speaks today.  He is always moving but never changing.  His plans and His mercy for us are new to us everyday but they have always been there in His heart.  (Lamentations 3:22-23)  Have you ever received a package in the mail that was really sealed up tight?  Or how about one of those electronic things we buy today that is in a package secure enough for a Mac truck to run over and not break?  That package is yours and that piece of equipment is yours but you can't know what's in the package or use your new electronic gadget until you open it.  When those things happen, do you just throw the package or the equipment into the trash because it seems too hard to get into it?  I've never met anyone who said they did that.  No, we find a tool or a way to get into the thing that is ours.  So it is with life.  God has spoken the promises but we have to open the Word and grasp it before we can use the promises.

Life is not always easy.  It is filled with temptations.  (James 1:2)  Some have said that it is easier just to take the low road or the downhill slope.  That sounds logical.  And, it may seem easier for a while.  The reason it seems easier is that the devil is a liar.  (John 8:44)  He is a deceiver.  That easy-looking road is His road and it leads straight to Hell.  (Proverbs 14:12)  If He can make us think that road will be the easier and tempt us to stay "fat and happy," he will have made his own work easier.  We will have become deceived and he can go look for somebody else to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)  Any of us who have taken the road of least resistance can testify to the fact that, though it looks easy, it is a treacherous road. It is more than filled with heartache and pain.  It is not easy!  There is no rest.  There is no peace.  Worst of all, God is not on that road and we are only working hard to reach a destination we will not enjoy!  The uphill road may look hard.  Because it is "uphill," we may want to stay right where we are or choose the easier looking downhill road.  Just as God had promised the Israelites the land, He has also made promises to you and me.  (2 Corinthians 1:20)  He has promised us eternal life.  (John 3:16)  He has promised us abundant life.  (John 10:10)  He has also placed individual promises in each of us as to where we belong in His Kingdom.  (Ephesians 2:10)  He has done this by speaking just as He spoke the light into place. (Genesis 1:3)  He has done it through His Word, both written and revelatory through the Holy Spirit.  That Word works in us as long as we continue to believe.  (1 Thessalonians 2:13) 

Yes, you and I have many promises spoken to us by God just as the Israelites had many promises.  All spoken by His Word.  He is faithful to make good on every one of them!  (Joshua 23:14)  While it is good to wait on the Lord, sometimes He is waiting on us.  (Isaiah 30:18)  We need to get the balance.  As we wait on Him, we need to wait in His Word.  If we want to drive up that upward hill toward His Light, we have to have fuel to do it.  Waiting on the Lord will allow Him to fill our tank so we can make the trip that looks hard but will be easy if we have waited, prepared and refueled.  Would you start out on a long trip up a mountain in your car with a close to empty gas tank?  Neither can we start the journey to walk in all the promises God has spoken until we are fueled with His Word and His Spirit.  Once that happens, when we step on the gas, we will move.  If we have not done that, we can tromp on the gas pedal until our foot goes through the floor board but we won't go any place.  If we're on the uphill climb, we'll start to drift backward.  That's treacherous on a mountain road in a car and it's even more treacherous in life.  There are seasons for pit-stops and there are seasons for staying in the race.  After sitting in the presence of His Word and Spirit, when God tells us to get up and go, we need to obey. When God moves, we need to move just as the Israelites did when He was leading them by His presence in the cloud and pillar of fire.  (Numbers 9:21)  God is moving mightily in our day, right now.  Are you fueled and ready to go?  (Exodus 14:15)    It's time to move with Him and conquer the land.  Joshua 21:44 says that, after they conquered the land God gave them, He gave them rest on every side just as He had promised.  None of their enemies could stand against them because the Lord helped them conquer all their enemies. That is exactly what He wants to do for you and me!  He wants to settle us in Him, in His love and in His promises.  Let's go with the Heavenly flow!

Here's a small list of the things that are available to us this morning.  We can have safety in our mind, body and estate.  We can be complete.  We can be at peace.  We can prosper.  We can be restored.  These are among the things implied by and meant by the word, "rewarded."  Do you see anything in that list that you want or need?  I'll take some of each please!  The word, "reward," seems to imply that we have done something for which to be rewarded.  Wouldn't you agree?  God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  (Hebrews 11:6)  The very first thing we need to do is believe that God is and that He is a rewarder.  Our part then is, not only to diligently seek Him, but to obey Him when He reveals Himself to us.  That's when the reward will come.  (Genesis 17:9).  It started that way when God made a covenant with Abraham and it continues that way today under the New Covenant.  (John 14:15,  John 15:10)

We do have a choice though.  We can choose to despise the word (either God's direct word or that from those He has placed over us).  If we make this very poor choice, there are a few choice things that we will have to endure which are much different than the rewards we just looked at.  The word, "destroyed," has within its meaning, "to be bound."  Wow!  Are you bound this morning?  By anything??  Then you are a captive.  Remember Jesus came to set the captive free.  (Luke 4:18)  God does not want His children to be bound.  He sent His Son so that we could be free.  When Jesus sets you free, you are truly free!  (John 8:36)  But now, let us remember that Jesus said, "If you love me, obey my commandments."  There's where the choice comes in.  Do we want safety?  Do we want completeness?  Do we want all those other rewards?  Then our choice needs to be that of reverence and obedience to the commands of the Commander!  God will also set us in places where there is Godly authority over us.  We are to obey those commands also so long as they do not violate His Word.  The version of this verse that I read this morning reads this way.  "The people who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed."  Are you following the Godly advice of those in Godly leadership over you?  Are you seeking Godly counsel and advice when there are things in life that you cannot figure out by yourself?  (Proverbs 15:22)  Or are you asking for trouble?   

For those of us who have a problem submitting to authority (that would be me!), there is a principle involved here that should make it somewhat easier.  The word, "commandment," in the above verse means both human and divine commandment.  It is a precept, law or ordinance.  So far, that doesn't sound all that great does it?  However, I was really rather awe stricken when I found that it also means, "to put in order."  The obedience of a Godly commandment will cause our lives to be put in order!  No wonder obedience brings peace, safety, restoration, etc.  The anointing flows from the head.  God is our head and those He has placed as pastors and leaders are under Him.  Just as the anointing oil flowed from Aaron the priest's head down to the hem of his garment (Psalm 133:2), the anointing from God through His leaders over us will flow down to us.  If we are in order.  If we're not in order, we won't be in line for the blessing!! Ouch.  I really hate to work in a cluttered area.  How about you?  It causes me to lose focus on what I am doing.  Even if I like the particular task at hand, I do not enjoy it because I am so distracted by all the out-of-order things around me.  I probably will not do the job as efficiently and swiftly as I would if I was working in an orderly environment.  Since we are made in God's image and God is a God of order, this should probably not have been such a great revelation to me -  but it really was.  When things work in order, things work.  Where there is no order, things may work after a time or after a struggle but not without a loss of peace and not without the feeling of being bound.  So, who is our Commander this morning?  Are we in order?  If not, let's get in order and enjoy the Rewarder!  God first, Godly leadership next - then sweet, peaceful success!  

Oh, we have a good Shepherd this morning!  If you have never made Jesus the Shepherd of your life, go ahead and do it now. There is safety in the fold!!  He has promised that His sheep will recognize His voice so they can follow Him.  (John 10:27)  He knows us and is very well acquainted with our lives, even to the number of hairs on our heads!  (Matthew 10:30)  When He speaks, we do hear.  But often we get the wrong perception of what He is saying.  Does that mean that it wasn't really Jesus speaking to us?  Not really.  Does that mean that we didn't hear His voice?  Not at all!  As Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, almost to the place where He would be crucified, He began to tell the crowd a story.  He did this because they believed what they had heard Him say.  They believed that He was going to usher in the Kingdom of God.  But they were hearing His words from their own perspective.  They thought it was going to be right away and they weren't prepared to see their hope look like it was hanging dead on a Roman cross.  They were absolutely right in believing that every word he had spoken to them was true.  They just didn't quite have all the details in place.  They weren't aware of the pain involved in the process.  When Jesus speaks something into our lives, we get overjoyed at His voice and His promises.  And so it should be.  Many times, in our joy we forget that the Word given to us will probably be a process.  Most of the time, it is not a "microwave" miracle.  It is a "slow-roasted" wonderful work of God.  It is usually worked out with what seem like hills and valleys.  The blessings are mingled with the sorrows.  The promise to us usually has just as much to do with what He is doing in and through us as it does with what He is going to give us.  God has, indeed promised us that we have a Heavenly home.  Can we see it with our natural eyes?  Obviously not.  Have we walked the golden streets?  I haven't.......... Yet.  Does that mean that His Word is not true?  Of course not!  We are being processed so that we will be able to handle what He is about to give us and function in the Word He already gave us.  Heaven IS ours and we will see it at the proper time, when God has made us ready.  Is the time in-between filled with things that we sometimes feel as though we cannot bear?  Yes, it most certainly is.  There are many trials and temptations in the process but we are also given His Word that He will not give us anything that we cannot bear if we are trusting in Him.  (1 Corinthians 10:13)   Once we have heard His Word, we must never give in or give up!  We can't lose with His Word in our heart.  In difficult times, He will either make a way for us to escape or He will strengthen us and make us stronger and more like Himself.

Are you in a difficult place this morning?  Maybe you're like the crowds who expected that Jesus was going to be crowned King at any moment and relieve them from their oppression.  Can you hear His voice this morning letting you know that you're in a process?  Not just a random process of circumstances that you face here on earth.  You're in a divine process.  Because you trust Jesus, you believe that all things are working for your good.  (Romans 8:28)  That's one of my favorite verses.  I have always clung to it when things did not go well.  It was only in recent years when a good friend reminded me that it goes with Romans 8:29.  Our good is not just the things that we need and long for on earth.  Our real good is that we are being conformed to the image of Jesus.  Listen to how the Amplified Bible puts it.  "For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand],  He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren."  For me, the question comes down to, "Do I want what is good for me or do I want what makes me feel good?"  I'm not always at the place where I want what God knows is good and best for me but I'm working on it and desire to be there.  I believe that He wants to conform me to the image of Jesus.  But, I'm not always comfortable with how He does it.  As the conforming process goes on, it gets harder.  When we struggle and kick at the process, it just slows it down.  Believe me, I know.  Some people seem to have more than their share of "processing."  It doesn't make any earthly sense.  But, we are never to lose heart.  God has promised that if we do not grow weary in well doing, we will reap a harvest in season!  (Galatians 6:9)  Your harvest is coming - just don't lose heart!!

When the Israelites were given their portions of the promised land, the descendants of Joseph were complaining because they didn't feel that they had enough land.  Remember, God had given them a word that all the land was theirs.  Joshua told them to clear out certain land where the Perizzites and the Rephaites lived.  (Joshua 17:15)  Are there strongholds in your life or in the lives of those around you that need to come down?  Do you need to partner with the Holy Spirit and "clear out the land?"  You have already heard a Word from the Lord but the enemy stands bigger than life in front of you looking as though he has the upper hand.  The descendants of Joseph were told by Joshua that they were to clear out the lowlands which were filled with a multitude of Perizzites who were farmers and peasants and scattered all over the place in villages without walls.  They also had to clear out the Rephaites who were giants with iron chariots.  God's Word was spoken.  This land already belonged to the descendants of Joseph but they had to take it.  It didn't look as though they could.  (Joshua 17:16)  But God spoke again through Joshua.  It was a hard word.  One version reads, "And you will drive out the Canaanites from the valleys, too, even though they are strong and have iron chariots."  (Joshua 17:18)  Joshua, translated, means, "Yeshuwa;" which, in the Greek, means, "Jesus."  Joshua gave a hard but encouraging word to the descendants of Joseph.  Has Jesus given you an encouraging but hard Word?  Does what He has said seem impossible?  That's okay.  That's just when He does His best work and that's just when you can bring Him the most glory.  What He has told you most probably is too hard for you but, is anything too hard for the Lord?   (Genesis 18:14)  No. No. No.  You and I are sometimes taken through some hard processing but we are also given the strength to go through and Jesus walks through with us.  (Philippians 4:13)  If you're feeling weak, praise God. That is exactly when He will show Himself strong in your life!  (2 Corinthians 12:10)  If you've already been through some valleys and had some victories, you're on a new level.  As Joyce Meyer sometimes says, "new level - new devil."  The devil is not ever new but, as you begin to prosper and become mature in the Lord, Satan seems to paint a bigger target on your back.  Never mind those giants!  Put on all the armor of God and take that land He has promised you.  (Ephesians 6:11)  Don't give up on the Word He has spoken to you.  Keep listening to that familiar voice of the Shepherd you know so well.  He who has said it will perform it!  Just look at what The Message says in Jeremiah 29:10-14:  ""This is God's Word on the subject: "As soon as Babylon's seventy years are up and not a day before, I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home.  I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.   "When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen.  "When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." God's Decree. "I'll turn things around for you. I'll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you"—God's Decree—"bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it.""

Count on it my friend!  God is the One who has you in the palm of His hand! (Isaiah 49:2) He knows what He is doing!  Just listen to His voice and don't give in or give up.  The future He has promised you will come in just the right season!

When I was a little girl in school, I actually made it to the seventh grade before I realized that I was not seeing clearly.  When my vision problem was identified by the school and my parents took me to an optometrist, I got my first pair of glasses.  The whole world looked different!  I realized that for years I had not been seeing what other people could see.  It had affected my perspective on life.  I didn't see the beauty they saw and sometimes I didn't see the danger they saw.  I was in a whole different world, so to speak, but I didn't know it and most of those around me didn't know it.  Two thousand years ago a blind man sat on the side of the road begging.  (Luke 18:35-37)  He heard the crowds gathering and asked what the commotion was all about.  They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.  He may not have been able to see with his natural eyes but His spiritual eyes saw very clearly.  His faith responded to what his spiritual eyes were seeing and he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"  (Luke 18:38)  His spiritual eyes were seeing so clearly that, when the crowds tried to hush him up, he only shouted louder!  (Luke 18:39)  Is there something you can't see with your natural eyes today?  Are you seeing Jesus with your spiritual eyes?  If so, you may be tempted to shout this morning too.  This blind man sitting by the side of the road was perhaps already seeing more clearly than many in the crowd.  He could "see" that Jesus was the only One that could help him.

There's not a cry for mercy that Jesus does not hear and respond to.  Although the crowd tried to stop the blind man from calling to Jesus, his cries were heard.  He didn't give up.  Jesus stopped.  He then ordered that the blind man be brought to Him.  Jesus came to save those who realize that they can't see.  He came to help those of us who know we have problems.  He receives us when we are blind and helpless.  He even orders our way so that we can get to Him at the proper time.  Is He passing by your house this morning?  Of course He is, if you are reading this and your heart is set on the things of Heaven.  Like the blind man, you can cry out, "Jesus, have mercy on me."  We all need mercy and compassion and Jesus has everything we need.  Have you prayed for a long time for something in God's will and not seen the physical evidence of it yet?  Are there things about Jesus and His Kingdom that you can't quite comprehend?  Do you need direction in life?  Then call out this morning, even as you are reading this.  He will hear you.  He will stop.  You will be in the presence of the One who can open your eyes.  Your spiritual eyes and your physical eyes.  

God has been working in your life.  He has heard your every prayer.  But there are certain things we cannot see except by faith.  We cannot see certain things until God opens our eyes.  Remember the story of Elijah and his servant?  (2 Kings 6:15-17) The servant was blind to the fact that God had sent horses and chariots of fire to fight what looked like a losing battle for Elisha and his servant.  This caused great fear.  When Elisha prayed that God would open the eyes of his servant, then and then only could the servant see what Elisha could see by faith.  Fear was gone and confidence in God's ability to change the situation took precedence.  God's ways are so high and His thoughts so much higher than ours, I don't think there's a one of us this morning that could not pray for more sight!  (Isaiah 55:9)  We might have read the Bible through every year for the last twenty years and we could still pray for clearer vision!  God's Word is living and there's something new for us every day!  Back to the story of the blind man.  When he was brought to Jesus, Jesus did not heal him immediately.  Jesus knew he was blind.  You would think it was fairly obvious what was needed here.  A man was blind and he needed to be able to see.  What seems like the obvious to us is not always what God considers necessary and obvious.  What appears to have been obvious to Jesus is that confession and faith was needed here.  So instead of healing the man's eyes, Jesus said, "What do you want me to do for you?"  The man was not proud.  He knew what he needed and was not afraid to say it.  "Lord," he pleaded, "I want to see!"  Are you wandering around in the dark about anything in your life at all today?  Have you been specific with Jesus about it?  Have you been specific in public as the blind man was, unafraid to call out to Jesus even though most around you may be blind to the fact that it is only Jesus who can save and heal?  There may be times when we feel afraid to call out specifically to Jesus.  But this morning let's be real.  Let's ask God to let us see as clearly as Elisha's servant did and as clearly as the blind beggar did.  Not only with our physical eyes but also with our spiritual eyes.  The blind man knew Jesus was passing by but not until he was healed, was he really able to see Jesus.  Jesus said, "All right, you can see!  Your faith has healed you."  Do you want to really see Jesus this morning?  Once you see Him, everything else becomes clear.  He is asking us right now, "What do you want me to do for you?"  He is looking for somebody with faith this morning.  It's going to be you and me - right??  "Open the eyes of our hearts Lord, we want to see Jesus!"     

Psalms 85:8 (New Living Translation)
^{8 (NLT)} I listen carefully to what God the LORD is saying, for he speaks peace to his people, his faithful ones. But let them not return to their foolish ways.

Are you listening this morning?  I don't mean to the TV or the radio or even the birds chirping outside your window.  The Psalmist said, "I listen carefully to what God is saying."  I've noticed that, unless I purpose to listen to God carefully, especially in the morning, I don't really hear Him.  There are other noises that seem to drown out His voice. There are other voices that distract me from listening carefully to Him.  My own inner voice bellows over the sound of His tender voice many times.  As soon as I wake up, if my husband does not have the TV on so that I can hear all the bad news of the world, my own voice begins to tell me very loudly about all the things I need to do for the day.  It yells at me that I don't have time to do it all.  I probably don't even have time to pick up my Bible for a few minutes and carefully listen to God.  I am tempted to listen to what the world has to say instead of maybe putting on a teaching or worship CD in order go get my thoughts directed toward God.  Have you ever been there?  It could even be good things that call out to you like your children or grandchildren seeking your attention.  We can't ignore the needs of others but we have to  be sensitive to our own need to hear the voice of God in order to adequately meet the needs of others.

The Psalmist listened carefully for what God was saying.  This word, "carefully," in the original language means to hear.  But not just to hear.  It means to hear intelligently with the implication of paying close attention and obeying.  It even means to tell, publish and proclaim.  How can we know what God wants and how can we testify to others of His will if we have not heard Him intelligently and understood His words?  How can we go about our daily business being a testimony to others if we have not first heard God ourselves and walked in obedience?  If we have not heard him, what do we have to tell others except for our own thoughts.  As we sit together this morning, let's listen carefully to what God will say.  Then, when we go out, we will recognize opportunities he puts in front of us to share what we have heard with those around us.

The really great thing that the psalmist found when he listened carefully to God's voice was that God spoke peace to His people.  Today, almost every sane person is seeking peace.  Even those who are not acting sanely need peace.  God is speaking peace to you and me this morning.  He spoke it in Old Testament times.  He spoke it through Jesus.  (John 20:21)  He continues to speak peace to us through His Holy Spirit.  (Romans 8:6)  He has also promised us a place, when we depart this world, where there will be perfect peace.  (John 14:1-4)  We will be forever with the Prince of Peace!  (Isaiah 9:6)  Peace is not an elusive word.  It is a word that gives us expectation, encouragement, and confidence.  Some have said that it means, "nothing missing, nothing broken."  What this portion of scripture is actually telling us is that God will declare His favor upon us.  You can't get anything better than God's favor!  Even when things don't seem to be right in our eyes, we are assured that they are all working for our good if we love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28).  When it's all said and done, even the uncomfortable things in life will have been for our good. They will have worked peace in our lives because we will finally be conformed to the image of Jesus!  (Romans 8:29)  As we used to sing, "Oh, that will be glory for me!"

As we drink in His peace this morning, let's not forget the last part of this passage.  It's so easy to get distracted.  The Message says in Colossians 1:23, "stay grounded and steady" and also,  "careful not to be distracted or diverted."   When we receive God's peace and prosperity, it's so easy to begin to glory in the gifts rather than the Giver.  This could lead to a slippery slope where we begin to use those God-given things to go back to our old, natural, sinful ways.  We are given great hope and encouragement this morning as we hear God speaking peace over us and into our lives.  But, we are also given fair warning.  He said, and still says, "don't return to your foolish ways."  One word for "foolish ways," is silliness.  The world's ways are silly compared with God's ways.  (1 Corinthians 3:18)  He doesn't want us to go back there.  No going back to self-confidence.  No going back to the works of the flesh. (Galatians 5:19-21)   Just a permanent confident dwelling in the peace that God speaks.  (Isaiah 26:3)  Our confidence can be in only one - and that is the God who speaks peace.  (Isaiah 32:17)  Let's listen this morning, carefully, together. Thank you, Lord, for speaking peace!

And there's even more!!  It's all inclusive.  God will not withhold any good thing from those who do what is right  The King James Version translates "do what is right", "walketh uprightly." This basically means walking in integrity and truth, without blemish.  Now we might have a bit of a problem here because we are all blemished by sin. (Romans 3:23)  At first glance, it would appear that none of us is eligible to receive any good thing.  But, no.  God gave His Son to cleanse us from all of our "un-rightness."  (1 John 1:19)  Now we can do what is right!  (Philippians 4:13)   Now we can walk in righteousness!  We are justified. (Romans 5:1)   God is looking at us just as if we had never sinned. (2 Corinthians 5:17)  Are you believing that this morning?  Have you been set free and cleansed of your sin by the blood of Jesus?  If not, receive Him today and be filled with every good thing.  If you're already walking in the Kingdom, start rejoicing.  Look around.  See the wonderful things God has given you and done for you.  Give Him glory.  There is an old hymn that says this:  "Oh, come to the Father through Jesus the Son and give Him the glory - great things He has done!"  Come on let's lift our hearts, hands and voices this morning and give Him some  exuberant "Hallelujah's"  He has done great things!  He continues to do great things!  He is a great God!!