Psalms 106, gives us a Condensed Version of the 40 years in the desert. 

They forgat God their saviour :

Those 5 words Condense it even further. 

Signs, wonders and miracles, they saw it all.  Yet, they arive at the Red sea, and “they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.”  (Psalms 106)  (Yeah but, what have you done for me, today?)

“Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.”

Isn’t it amazing,  He saved them, because of His promise, to make His mighty power known.

Why did He save me, or you?  Saints, it is simple, it is truth, it is misunderstood. 

“That he might make his mighty power to be known.”

When people see, a committed Christian, an upright, trustworthy, honest, stand up whosoever,  who was once, a lying, cheat and sinner.

His mighty power is known.  

What is even more powerful, more miraculous power, is available to those who believe. 

He parted the sea, they crossed on dry ground, He buried their enimies, under the serf.

“Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.   They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:   But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.”

His manna, wasn’t enough, their clothes and sandals, never wearing out…, not enough.

“And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.”   Why?

“They forgat God their saviour.” 

Saints,
“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”<i

I have written of this man before: Epaphras,  a man mentioned by Paul, three times.  

Nonetheless a man who stood apart.  An example for whosoever will, to learn of, and follow.  

We tend to think, the heroes of faith are beyond anything we can achieve.  Here is a real, live, everyman.  We can all aspire to be like, Epaphras. 

A Giant in the Kingdom.   What do we know?

He was:

   《  A fellowservant, with Paul of Christ so:

           ~  Paul and others, gave thanks to God, in prayers, since they, heard of your faith in Christ, and your love of the Saints.

He was:

    《  A faithful minister of Christ:

            ~  Who declared, your love of Christ in the Spirit, to us.

He was:

     《  A faithful Servant of Christ (as are you, at the Colossians Church)

            ~  He labours fervently, for you, in prayers:   That you might, stand perfect and complete, in all the will of God.

     《  Paul himself bears record, that Epaphras has great zeal towards the believers there and in the surrounding area.

He was:

     《  A fellow prisoner, with Paul,  for the Gospel 

Colossians 1:3-8 (KJV)

3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

Colossians 4:11-13 (KJV)

11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.
12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

Philemon 22-24 (KJV)

22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;
24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

I write this short post, to encourage us to write our memories for sure but what is much more important, is obituaries when people pass on.

When my brother died, we had one in the local MA. Papers.

When my nephew, (Scott Frenette),  Mother, (Dorothy Currier Cote), and Sister (Martha Cote Frenette, Florence), died, I don’t believe we had any, in any papers anywhere.

I have grown to regret these decisions.

We have public records of their births, little information on

their lives…

No record at all of their death, or that their lives meant something to anyone.

It really is like they never existed, other than on the birth certificate.

Friends, that is just too sad.  Everyone touched someone, was loved, is missed.

Please show them the respect, the courtesy of sharing your love, in words.

End of Sermon…. Amen

I realize I did not get this written on day 51 of 2017… that as I write this it will soon be day 54.

I cannot lay the blame anywhere, but at my own feet.

I would just skip it, but this Psalm has brought me through some rough times over the years.

Specifically verses 10-13.

Psalm 51:10-13 (KJV)

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.”

There have been times I have prayed these verses repeatedly over several days and even weeks.  Seeking Relief….

I think I am beginning to realize.  Why?  

After Bible School,  I was sure I was called to preach, yes, even to Pastor. 

When I worked as an Evangelist, we saw some people get saved, but I was no Billy Graham.   

So I tried my hand at being a Pastor.  Maybe my job was to train those already saved.

My first error…  I wasn’t ready.

It could be I wasn’t even called…  I had been a pretty good Worship Leader…  I just couldn’t understand people. 

I got saved and devoured the Bible, spent hours in my prayer language… one on one, with the Lord.

I really believed, everyone that has been saved sought Him, as I did.  That all knew the word, as I did.

I crashed and burned.  I quit the ministry and was miserable for many years.   I prayed those verses, often.

They never seemed to rise through the roof of my car.   

I was then asked to substitute for an ill piano player at Franklin Memorial United Methodist Church. 

The first time I sat at the piano….  I realized,I was back in the place of Grace.

Since, I have started teaching and preaching once more.

I have found, many Christians are ignorant of the word.  Whether in the Spiritual or Physical. 

In any case the Lord, restored the joy of Salvation to me, He upholds me.  

Now, it is easier to speak of Jesus.  To point the way and hope others follow.

Ask, keep on Asking,  Seek, keep on Seeking, Knock, keep on knocking…

Eventually, your request will be answered, what you seek will be found, the door will open.

Will you step through?    Amen

God the Judge of the Righteous and the Wicked.

A Psalm of [a]Asaph

50: 1

 “The mighty One, God, the Lord, has spoken,
And summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting [from east to west].”

The mighty One, God, the Lord: 

To those who believe,  that is who He Is. King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  The Creator and Ruler of the world.

He is speaking.

Yet, ears to hear and eyes that see, are few and far between. 
2
“Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God has shone forth.”

His light shines forth, it warms, comforts He makes it available:

“So that they may see and know,
And consider and understand together,
That the hand of the Lord has done this,
That the Holy One of Israel has created it.” Isaiah 41:20 (AMP)

3

“May our God come and not keep silent;
Fire devours before Him,
And around Him a mighty tempest rages.”

The Psalmist, is crying out for the day of judgment.   
4
“He summons the heavens above,
And the earth, to judge His people:”
5
“Gather My godly ones to Me,
Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”

He would speak to His people first:
6
“And the heavens declare His righteousness,
For God Himself is judge.

 Selah.”  (Stop and consider this)
7
“Hear, O My people, and I will speak;
O Israel, I will testify against you:
I am God, your God.”

He is speaking to His children, not to the world.
8
“I do not reprove you for your sacrifices;
Your burnt offerings are continually before Me.
9
“I will accept no young bull from your house
Nor male goat from your folds.
10
“For every beast of the forest is Mine,
And the cattle on a thousand hills.
11
“I know every bird of the mountains,
And everything that moves in the field is [b]Mine.”

You are only sacrificing to Me what is already Mine.  The Lord, instituted, the sacrificial system,  the people, like the people today did not understand what the Lord desires. 
12
“If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
For the world and all it contains are Mine.
13
“Shall I eat the flesh of bulls
Or drink the blood of male goats?
14
“Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving
And pay your vows to the Most High;”

He doesn’t need those things.  He desires, heartfelt Praise, true Worship, genuine Thanksgiving. 

Then He welcomes us to:

15
“Call on Me in the day of trouble;
I will rescue you, and you shall honor and glorify Me.”

Only then does He promise to rescue us out of the bondage of sin and shame.  Only then will we truly Honor and Glorify Him.

He now speaks to those who are not, (by their own decisions), His.
16
“But to the wicked God says:
“What right have you to recite My statutes
Or to take My covenant on your lips?
17
“For you hate instruction and discipline
And cast My words behind you [discarding them].
18
“When you see a thief, you are pleased with him and condone his behavior,
And you associate with adulterers.
19
“You give your mouth to evil
And your tongue frames deceit.
20
“You sit and speak against your brother;
You slander your own mother’s son.”

The world today, everything is upside down, evil is acceptable and expected.  The Righteous are feared, ridiculed, rebuked, shunned. 

Men act like Women, Women think they are Men.  

They train up their children to hate authority, to question their own sex, to disrespect themselves and each other. 

21
“These things you have done and I kept silent;
You thought that I was just like you.
Now I will reprimand and denounce you and state the case in order before your eyes.
22
“Now consider this, you who forget God,
Or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be no one to rescue [you].”

Here, once again… offering one more chance to change their way.  To turn to and accept His Gift of Mercy and Grace, Salvation…
23
“He who offers a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving honors Me;
And to him who orders his way rightly [who follows the way that I show him],
I shall show the salvation of God.”

This last verse, is a wonderful Praise song.  (In KJV).

We really should learn and lift it up to the Lord.

Psalm: 50. 23. 

“Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.”
Our Praise glorifies, lifts up, exalts the Lord.  Tells Him we know He is: “The mighty One, God, the Lord:“

Praise, and the word of our confession:

Revelation 12:11 (KJV)

” And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

Amen

Footnotes (Amp)

Psalm 50:1 

Asaph was a Levite and one of the leaders of David’s choir. He was the head of one of the three families permanently in charge of the temple music. 

His family formed a guild that bore his name and is frequently mentioned (2 Chr 20:14; 29:13, 30). Twelve psalms (50; 73-83) are attributed in the titles to the family of Asaph. 

A hundred and twenty-eight of Asaph’s family members, all singers, came back from Babylon and took part when the foundations of Zerubbabel’s temple were laid (Ezra 2:41; 3:10).
Psalm 50:11 Or in my mind; lit with Me.