The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

So my friends, we close out August and here comes September, ready or not! I can’t think of a better way to close August and welcome September than thinking of these precious words.

“Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and Thou art exalted as Head above all” (1 Chronicles 29:11).

David was a very old man. He was done fighting the battles of Israel. He knew that his time was short on the earth. King David presented his son Solomon as the one who would succeed him, rule as King and build the Temple of the Lord. A tremendous day of worship took place. David led the elders to give willingly (1 Chronicles 29:9), and weakened, elderly King David proclaimed the tremendous testimony of the Lord and Who He is as found in our verse today.

If this was good for David, Solomon, and for the people of Israel, how much more should we be praising the Lord for His greatness, power, glory, victory, and majesty that are His alone!

For today: May our hearts be full of praise and thanksgiving as we consider to Whom we belong today, dear Lord!

Have you ever been so discouraged that you didn’t know where to turn? Come and think about this with me for just a few minutes today.

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters; but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God” (1 Samuel 30:6).

It was a terrible moment in the life of David and his men. While they had gone out to battle, of all things the Amalekites raided their city, burned much of it, took their possessions and carried away their families. In their grief the men became furious.

How terrible that they turned on David! I have written all that to share what David did. Of course he sought the Lord. Of course he rallied the troops. Of course he set out in full-speed-ahead pursuit. But he did something else that is so profound. “He encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” Friends, there will be times in our lives that there is encouragement from nowhere else. David encouraged himself in the Lord. David must have thought of the Lord’s goodness, greatness, and glory. Are you overwhelmed? Throw yourself upon the grace and strength of the Lord. Watch Him encourage you.

For today: Lord, You are my source of encouragement. Please help me to trust in You today.

Talking to yourself! Here’s a thought or two about this.

“And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles” (Nehemiah 5:6-7).

Here comes a dynamic principle, my friends. Nehemiah invested much time and effort into the rebuilding of the walls. He had sacrificed to lead the people and provide protection and direction for them. Suddenly, a major problem surfaced. The people had to mortgage their property to purchase food from the nobles. These wealthy nobles were taking advantage of them and inflicting unnecessary hardships. Nehemiah was furious. But before he lost his temper and screamed unspiritual things at these nobles, he did a marvelous thing. Some might think it rather curious. I think it is marvelous. He “consulted with himself.” He talked himself through it. I just have to wonder how many very difficult situations could be avoided if we consulted ourselves rather than reacting in anger and unpleasant words.

Here’s a smile and a suggestion for today: Better talk to yourself throughout the day. Maybe it would be wise not to talk out loud. (You’ll scare people around you!) But indeed, talk with yourself before you react.

Recently I had the opportunity to preach from this wonderful text. Please allow me to share just a verse and together today we will rejoice in our awesome Savior.

“But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men” (Matthew 9:8).

The Lord Jesus came into the city, and rather quickly, it would seem, a very seriously ill man was brought to him on a stretcher. The Lord saw their faith and not only was about to heal the man, He was also going to forgive this man’s sins. Certain of the scribes were lurking nearby and immediately pronounced “blasphemy” over the situation. Powerfully and perfectly the Lord Jesus proclaimed, “But that you may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith He to the sick of the palsy,) ‘Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house” (Matthew 9: 6).

Immediately the sick man rose as a testimony of the Lord’s gracious power. I want to encourage you. Are you praying for someone and it seems nearly impossible for that person to come to know the Lord? Don’t give up. This same Lord Jesus has all power and authority still today.

One closing thought to take with you today:  As the people of long ago marveled at the Lord’s amazing work, may we still today!

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart. I will set no wicked thing before my eyes” (Jeremiah 17:9; Psalm 101:3).

Though the names are changed,  the circumstances are repeated more often that you can imagine.

Jake was shocked to discover pornography on Lara, his wife’s computer. Speaking with his pastor he said, “I thought pornography was a problem for men. But it’s on her computer. How can this be?” Carefully and tenderly Pastor Kenward explained that pornography still targets men predominately, but in the last few years pornographers have started targeting women. “How could she do this, Pastor? How?” Jake asked with a broken heart.

Pastor replied, “It starts with a heart issue, Jake. The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. Lara professes to be a believer, but even believers can sin, seriously sin. Today pornography is a major problem for both men and women.” The Pastor assured Jake that he would work with them as a couple to see them through this time. They had a lot of work to do and a lot of healing, restoration, and growth to take place. in the months ahead.

How about you? Oh my friends, you and I both need to be on guard. Our heart issues can be just as serious!

This will be good for us today: Oh, how I need to walk closely with the Lord and not to set any wicked thing before my eyes. How about you?