Thoughts for Life: JOY FOR THE JOURNEY

JOY FOR THE JOURNEY

Facts for the Journey- Mary Southerland

“The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1 NIV)

"When it comes to the resources that we need for life, this promise from the 23^rd Psalm is staggeringly important to remember because it holds the promise of contentment in our lives. A famous actor was once the guest of honor at a social gathering where he was asked to recite favorite excerpts from various literary works. An old preacher who happened to be there asked the actor to recite the twenty-third Psalm. The actor agreed on the condition that the preacher would also recite it. The actor's recitation was beautifully intoned with great dramatic emphasis for which he received lengthy applause.

The preacher's voice was rough and broken from many years of preaching, and his diction was anything but polished. But when he finished, there was not a dry eye in the room. When someone asked the actor what made the difference, he replied, 'I know the psalm, but he knows the Shepherd.'

When we know Him, we have everything that we need. An amazing strength and unshakable contentment comes from a source that is not our own. It comes from an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

Knowing God makes all of His resources available to us – resources like wisdom, guidance, power, peace, love, patience and self-control. In other words, knowing God provides strength for every area of life. Strength is fertile soil for peace and will bring a harvest of contentment. God did not come to give us human strength. He came to give us His strength.

Psalm 29:11 “The LORD gives his people strength. The LORD blesses them with peace.”

Isaiah 12: 2 "The LORD GOD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."

When we count on His resources instead of our own, we will experience true contentment. There is no limit to His power and there is no end to His strength. In fact, our weakness is the perfect showcase for His strength. According to the American Holistic Health Federation, people who are not satisfied with their lives and seem to have no contentment increase their risk of premature death by at least ten percent. Hudson Taylor once noted, "God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on Him."

Paul writes in another letter to the church at Corinth, 'My [Christ's] power works best in your weakness.' (2 Corinthians 12:19) Today, right now, exchange your weak resources for His by giving up your rights, your plans and solutions. Lay them at His feet and choose His plan instead. Then you will find contentment."

Prayer for the Journey

"Father, it seems that a seed of discontent has taken root in my life. I have tried so many things, hoping they would fill that 'hole' in my soul. I have looked to so many people to make me happy. I now realize the only source of contentment is You. Right now, I lay down every lifeless resource and submit to You, Your plan and Your perfect provision in my life. Thank You, Lord, for being everything I need.

In Jesus’s name,

Amen."

#107 Testimony- W. A. Maxwell Whyte

"Within a very short time after I had this radical [salvation] operation, my language changed. My mouth became filled with praise instead of swearing and off-color jokes. Any desire for liquor instantly disappeared, and my binding habit of tobacco smoking was miraculously broken when I prayed by myself in all simplicity.

I felt the unclean habit, which was like a smothering sack, literally lifted off me. This was a miracle. My renewed heart no longer had any evil things to pump into my brain, and so a corresponding change naturally occurred in my body, which now obeyed my new heart. A complete transformation of character took place.

The first one to notice this change was my wife, and later she also found Jesus Christ as her Savior and the One who baptized her in the Holy Spirit; then she found herself a stranger in her church! No one ever spoke of the new birth in her staid denominational congregation. I was a member of another established church, but I had never heard anything about a radical surgical change in the heart. . . .

In the Welsh Revival of 1904-06, crime largely disappeared. The police had nothing to do. The bars closed down; the theaters had no patrons. This can happen again, and I believe it is beginning to happen in this great charismatic restoration of the church."

1571-1575 One-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted-

1571- Is. 44:21c "You will never be forgotten by me."

1572- Ps. 147:14a "He maketh peace in thy borders."

1573- Esther 9:19b "Of sending portions one to another."

1574- Neh. 2:18a "Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me."

1575- Ps. 103:7a "He made known his ways."

#107 Hymn- Count Your Blessings

The information about this song, is taken from the book by Robert J. Morgan, THEN SINGS MY SOUL (p. 243)

Johnson Oatman wanted to teach young people in his song, "Count Your Blessings." It was published in a song book for young people in 1897. It reflected Johnson's optimistic faith, and has been a lesson to many ever since.

Some encouraging words-

Wesley Duewell- "Rejoice in Him, worship Him, and give thanks. The more we comprehend the greatness and goodness of the Lord, the more we will break forth in praise and thanksgiving.

Ps. 145:1-5 "I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works."

Church Notes:

The Gospel works anytime, place, and for every need.

God's watching wherever we are, for godly character, for others are watching. Instead of rash words, we're to have holy conversations.

We're to lay down fleshly desires, as we're chosen, adopted, forgiven, and have eternal inheritance, peace, and access to Christ's citizenship.

What we're full of overflows. There's practical instructions in the Bible to live God's way. We're to be obedient to Him for His glory and our good.

Upcoming posts:

10/18th- CHOICES- Radice Banks

25th- PROMPTED TO PRAY- Katara Patten

11/1st- MIND-BLOWING TEACHING- Tom Felten