The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what He hath done for my soul” (Psalm 66:16).

The Psalmist declares that he is on a great mission and this is no April Fools’ Day joke! Typically today will be a day of tricks and pranks trying to catch each other. I was reading recently on-line of one of the greatest tricks pulled on this day. It was by Burger King and their “Left-handed Whopper.” In 1998 Burger King advertised that they were making a Whopper just for left-handed people with the condiments rotated 180 degrees. Many fell for it. Today we need to be telling the truth about our great God. The Psalmist was determined to declare what the Lord has done for him personally. Can you imagine that if the Psalmist, under the harsh conditions of the Old Testament economy, wants to declare what the Lord is doing for him, surely it is good for us today. Who can you tell about what God has done for you?

For today: Tell someone about what the Lord has done for you!

“O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of His praise to be heard” (Psalm 66:8).

I hope that you enjoy the Daily Prescriptions when we turn to the Psalms. I enjoy writing about the grand verses throughout God’s Word. However there is something special to me about the Psalms. The principles and applications from the Psalms truly bless my life. Speaking of blessings, the Psalmist reminded us about praising and blessing our God. Praising the Lord is a great privilege as well as great responsibility. We are not to simply praise the Lord in the good times. If He’s God when you’re on the mountain top, then He’s still God when you’re in the valley. A good way to check on how you are doing with this is to think back over your own prayers. How much praise is being lifted to the Lord? The idea of praise is proclaiming the wonderful things we know about our great God and offering thanksgiving to Him.

For today: Even in the most difficult day I want to praise the Lord because He is awesome!

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord” (James 5:7).

The book of James is one of those books of the Bible that as soon as I turn to a passage I know I am going to be challenged and blessed. It’s not that other books are less inspired. It is just that James is so practical and yet so pointed. James puts it right where we believers are living today. We need to ask the Lord to help us to be much more longsuffering with people. The telemarketer that calls just as you begin to eat supper; the person who pulls out in front of you on the highway when there is no one behind you; or the person who comes to your door to convince you to lower your gas prices by signing up with them today. All of these and many more are people I do not have to endorse. But I will need the Lord to keep me patient. What will help me? The answer is in the rest of the verse, “the coming of the Lord.” What a blessed event for me to focus upon. This brings everything into the right perspective. Karen and I do thank you for your prayers. We truly need them and so appreciate your friendship.

For today: While I am not going to ask the Lord to give me patience, I am going to ask Him to help me not to be so quick to respond and so easily perturbed with people. Even the annoying ones!

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16).

It is hard to read. My eyes still well up with tears as I read of the heroic measures some took the day that the Twin Towers were struck by the airplanes. Recently I was reading of a man who went from floor to floor seeking survivors, pulling them from under the wreckage, leading them to the exit, and even helping them get started down the long stairwell. As they were going down, he would turn around and go back up to help others out of the building. He died in the collapse of the World Trade Center Tower. He is a hero, and because of him, many were rescued. But a greater sacrifice was made on our behalf. The Lord Jesus took our place, and in the will of His Father became our Savior. It is the greatest sacrifice and the greatest expression of love that has ever taken place. As you celebrate Palm Sunday today, rejoice in our great and awesome Savior. Someday He will rule and reign forever and ever! I am so glad that I belong to Him. How about you?

For today: In our place the Savior stood. On him was placed our awful sin. Can we ever understand such love for us? I want to thank Him often today. How about you?

“Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men” (2 Corinthians 8:21).

It is great to be back on-line with you once again. Many of you seemed to miss “Dr. Mike’s Daily Prescriptions” while my website was down. That’s great!

Honesty is so important. I am convinced that being honest with the Lord, honest with others, and honest with ourselves characterizes a believer that walks with the Lord. Paul was speaking to the church at Corinth about the ministry. Paul’s ministry at this time demanded that he carry the gift that had been collected by the believers. Being very careful of his reputation, Paul had men of highest reputation accompany him. They would testify of Paul’s financial integrity and ministry. He wanted to be honest in every area of his life. There would be no cutting corners, no taking short cuts, and certainly nothing that would be dishonoring to the Lord. Come to think of it, that sounds just right for us today, doesn’t it? Let’s go the extra mile to be sure that we are honest in every area of our lives.

For today: “Lord, please help me as well as all my friends to be honest in every way.”