DELIVER US FROM EVIL

Posted on March 2, 2021 by randscallawayffm

There is a reason Jesus taught us to pray, “deliver us from evil”.  We live in a broken world full of desperate people who use lies to make themselves look better when they have failed.  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, writes Paul.  (Romans 3:23) We use gossip to put others down in efforts to make ourselves feel significant and worthy.  We use manipulation, smoke and mirrors, “fake it ‘til you make it” tricks to get ahead in life for we feel that is the only way to be made known.  These are the age-old tricks of Satan, the opposite of living God’s Way. 

The psalm begins with distress, concludes with war, and in between deals with deception and slander.  When we find ourselves experiencing distress and disappointment, there are three ways to turn our burdens into blessings.

  1.  We Pray.  The writer had prayed in a previous time of trouble, and the Lord had answered him, so now he had confidence to pray again. Instead of complaining about his situation, he shared it with the Lord and, in this psalm, shared it with us. His problem was that people were lying about him and slandering his name. He went to God first.
  2. Trust God.  The writer did not need to attack the enemy, because the Lord would do it for him. There is so much godless speech in our world today that believers must be careful what they hear and how it affects them. We must not only turn away our eyes from self-centeredness but also turn away our ears from hearing foolish, demeaning talk. When we are slandered and lied about, we must leave the matter with the Lord and trust Him to work.
  3. Endure with Patience.  I hear you.  We probably have the most difficulties with these words.  We don’t like to wait for God to act against our enemy.  We don’t like to endure much of anything.  But James tells us that endurance produces maturity.  He writes, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”  James 1:2-5, NIV

Warren Wiersby, Bible scholar and Commentator, gives us this wisdom, “The psalmist was a peacemaker and tried to encourage his godless Jewish neighbors to be peaceable, but they were more intent on making war. His loving words only made them more and more angry. After over fifty years of ministry, I am convinced that most of the problems in families and churches are caused by professed Christians who do not have a real and vital relationship to Jesus Christ. They are not humble peacemakers but arrogant troublemakers. Until God changes them or they decide to go elsewhere, the dedicated believers must be patient and prayerful. This is the way Joseph dealt with his brothers in Canaan and his false accusers in Egypt. It is also the way David dealt with King Saul and Jesus dealt with His enemies.”

If we profess, we must confess our own sin. Jesus said “pray for your enemies, do good to them.”  Think about this:  We might be the enemy of someone else because of our arrogant behavior!  So, be careful to acknowledge the evil one as the true enemy who delights in lying to us about life and how to live it.  Jesus also prayed to God the Father, “Deliver us from evil” because Jesus knew the Liar well.  Pray, Trust God, Endure while God works.

Worship and Wisdom, Psalm and Proverbs

Psalm 120, The Message

 1-2 I’m in trouble. I cry to God,
    desperate for an answer:
“Deliver me from the liars, God!
    They smile so sweetly but lie through their teeth.”

3-4 Do you know what’s next, can you see what’s coming,
    all you bold-faced liars?
Pointed arrows and burning coals
    will be your reward.

5-7 I’m doomed to live in Meshech,
    cursed with a home in Kedar,
My whole life lived camping
    among quarreling neighbors.
I’m all for peace, but the minute
    I tell them so, they go to war!

TRUTH:  I cry out to God and He answers.

Proverb 22:1, The Message

WISDOM:  A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich; a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Hallowed be Your Name.  May Your Kingdom come and reign in us and all around us, recognized by us.  May Your will be done in every detail of our lives here as it is in heaven.  Give us all you know we will need to live in well with wisdom for this journey called Today.  Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.  Lead us not into temptations, but DELIVER us from all evil and evil’s schemes to distract us from you.  For you have all power, to you be all glory.  Thank you for always working in us, helping us up when we stumble or fall for the tricks of evil’s trade.  Thank you for giving us strength to endure while we wait on You.  Keep us from doing harm but to live in peace with others.  Yes, You are God and we are not.  We need you every hour.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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HIS VOICE

Posted on March 1, 2021 by randscallawayffm

Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me
You have been so, so good to me
Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me
You have been so so kind to me

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the 99
And I couldn’t earn it
I don’t deserve it, still You give yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

Jesus told stories to help us understand who loves us best, wants the best is us because of the love God has for us.  Jesus uses this particular story to tell us that as “His sheep”, we who follow Him through mountains and valleys, will know His voice.  When we stray, He leaves the flock to come and find us because of His great love for us.  He is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for ours.

When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me
You have been so, so good to me
When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me
You have been so, so kind to me

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the 99
And I couldn’t earn it
I don’t deserve it, still You give yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God

“The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won’t follow a stranger’s voice but will scatter because they aren’t used to the sound of it.”

“Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. So, he tried again. “I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep rustlers, every one of them. But the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”

“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary.” –Jesus (John 10, the Message)

“I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me. In the same way, the Father knows me and I know the Father.”-Jesus (John 10, MSG)

There’s no shadow You won’t light up
Mountain You won’t climb up
Coming after me
There’s no wall You won’t kick down
Lie You won’t tear down
Coming after me

I am reminded of what Jesus told us about knowing Him and hearing His voice above all others as I read this last passage of Psalm 119.  Because of Jesus, we can “come right into God’s presence”, make our requests known, asking for anything in Jesus Name.  God will listen to our prayers for wisdom, protection, healing, provisions according to His promises to always be with us and help us.  “And should I wander off like a lost sheep”, like the Psalmist prays, we will recognize the Voice of the Shepherd who comes to find us and bring us back all because of His love, mercy and grace!  Wow.

Yes, the song ringing in the background of my mind this morning is Reckless Love by Cory Asbury…

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the 99
I couldn’t earn it, I don’t deserve it, still You give yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Part 22 – Psalm 119, The Message

169-176 Let my cry come right into your presence, God;
    provide me with the insight that comes only from your Word.
Give my request your personal attention,
    rescue me on the terms of your promise.
Let praise cascade off my lips;
    after all, you’ve taught me the truth about life!
And let your promises ring from my tongue;
    every order you’ve given is right.
Put your hand out and steady me
    since I’ve chosen to live by your counsel.
I’m homesick, God, for your salvation;
    I love it when you show yourself!
Invigorate my soul so I can praise you well,
    use your decrees to put iron in my soul.
And should I wander off like a lost sheep—seek me!
    I’ll recognize the sound of your voice.

TRUTH:  And should we wander off, He will seek us if we ask.  We will find and follow Him because we will recognize the sound of His voice! 

EPILOGUE

This is the last stanza of Psalm 119.  It is good that we can revisit it often because of the gift of God’s Word to us.  During the spiritual journey recorded in this psalm, the psalmist had experienced his ups and downs, but he had always stayed himself on the Word of God, and he did this to the very end. He opened the psalm with a benediction, but he closed it with a warning, and both are important to the balanced believer’s life.

God gives us promises and assurances so we will not despair, but He gives us warnings that we might not presume. He was still the servant of God and not the servant of sin, and he still remembered God’s Word, so he would not stray for long. The Good Shepherd would find him and lead him back to the fold. He would anoint his wounds with healing oil and give him a long, refreshing drink of water all because he could hear His Voice and follow Him.

Proverb 2, The Message

Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom;
    set your heart on a life of Understanding.
That’s right—if you make Insight your priority,
    and won’t take no for an answer,
Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold,
    like an adventurer on a treasure hunt,
Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours;
    you’ll have come upon the Knowledge of God.

WISDOM: 

And here’s why: God gives out Wisdom free,
    is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding.
He’s a rich mine of Common Sense for those who live well,
    a personal bodyguard to the candid and sincere.
He keeps his eye on all who live honestly,
    and pays special attention to his loyally committed ones.

Abba, Father,

We are the sheep of Your Pasture.  We hear Your Voice when you call us.  Help us to listen and obey when you call.  There has never been I time when I trusted You completely that You failed me.  Thank you, Lord for leaving the flock to come and find me.  Thank you for loving all of us the way you do.

In Jesus Name, Amen.  I believe. 

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TRUTH, NO LIE!

Posted on February 28, 2021 by randscallawayffm

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Part 21 – Psalm 119, The Message

161-168 I’ve been slandered unmercifully by the politicians,
    but my awe at your words keeps me stable.
I’m ecstatic over what you say,
    like one who strikes it rich.
I hate lies—can’t stand them!—
    but I love what you have revealed.
Seven times each day I stop and shout praises
    for the way you keep everything running right.
For those who love what you reveal, everything fits—
    no stumbling around in the dark for them.
I wait expectantly for your salvation;
    God, I do what you tell me.
My soul guards and keeps all your instructions—
    oh, how much I love them!
I follow your directions, abide by your counsel;
    my life’s an open book before you.

TRUTH:  My life is an open book before God.  God knows.  God provides what we need to live life according to His Word and Ways.  Expect God to help.  God will—Always.

Proverb 12:22, The Message

“God can’t stomach liars; he loves the company of those who keep their word.”

WISDOM:  Don’t lie, especially to God!  God knows.  God knows our hearts and the motivation of our minds.  God is Truth and hangs out we believers who are truthful.

Abba, Father,

My life is an open book to you, too, like the Psalmist wrote about himself. You made me.   You know my thoughts before I do.  There is nothing to hide for Your knowing.  So, why try?  Help me to know Truth and live it out loud every day of my life.  And when I stumble, take my hand and lead back on the path of Truth.  I will follow you.  I trust you.  You are always Truth.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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TAKE A GOOD LOOK!

Posted on February 27, 2021 by randscallawayffm

“Lord, have you taken a good look at my troubles lately?”  Do we find ourselves crying out to God in this way when we are frustrated beyond what we think we can handle?  We still love God, still believe in God and even trust God but we, like the Psalmist, feel the need to shout, “Hey God, over here, take a good look at what is going on in MY life—a little help here…”  For me, when I come to the end of the rope I have been clinging to, come to the tail end of the last knot to hang on to with my overthinking, God says, “Hey, take a good at Me”.  “Look up at Me”.  “Follow Me”.  Jesus, His Son and our Advocate to the Father, reminds me through His Holy Spirit, “I am the Way, Truth and Life.”  The Spirit living in us bring peace in trouble and says, “take a good look in My direction, turning neither left or right.”  “Focus on my love for you.”  “Know I AM with you always, through good times and bad.”

Look for Strength in the Journey

Have you noticed that the songwriter becomes more urgent as he draws near the end of Psalm 119? We are coming to the end of the Hebrew alphabet, but his trials would continue, and he needed the help of the Lord. The last three stanzas all speak of persecution and trials, yet the writer still trusted the Lord. 

The key phrase in this stanza is “give me back my life”.  In other words, lift me up, and keep me going. He had prayed this prayer before, and the Lord had answered. The psalmist not only prayed but also gave reasons why the Lord should answer:

You are my Redeemer!  (Jesus)  In our troubles, it is comforting to know that the Son of God intercedes for us, hears our prayers, and meets our needs.

You are Merciful!  If we prayed on the basis of our own merit, God could never answer, but we come to the Father in the name of the Son and with the help of the Spirit. God in His grace gives us what we do not deserve. In His mercy He does not give us what we do deserve. The psalmist was still disgusted with the way the unbelievers lived, but their bad example did not change his own convictions.

Your Word can be Trusted! “The sum of Your word is truth”, and this means all of it can be trusted. The totality of God’s written revelation is not just true–it is Truth. To love the Word is to obey it, and to obey it is to receive life from it. 

The Bible is not a magic book that conveys divine life to anyone who picks it up and reads it. God’s living Word communicates His life and power to those who read it, meditate on it, and obey it because they love God and His Word. When Jesus raised the dead, it was through speaking the Word (Luke 7:11-17), and His Word gives us life today when we find ourselves in the dust trying to get back up. 

Take a good look at the Savior and follow Him as Lord. 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Part 20 – Psalm 119, The Message

153-160 Take a good look at my trouble, and help me—
    I haven’t forgotten your revelation.
Take my side and get me out of this;
    give me back my life, just as you promised.
“Salvation” is only gibberish to the wicked
    because they’ve never looked it up in your dictionary.
Your mercies, God, run into the billions;
    following your guidelines, revive me.
My antagonists are too many to count,
    but I don’t swerve from the directions you gave.
I took one look at the quitters and was filled with loathing;
    they walked away from your promises so casually!
Take note of how I love what you tell me;
    out of your life of love, prolong my life.
Your words all add up to the sum total: Truth.
    Your righteous decisions are eternal.

TRUTH: “Your words all add up to the sum total: Truth. Your righteous decisions are eternal.”

Proverb 3:5-6, The Message

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
    don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
    he’s the one who will keep you on track.

WISDOM:  Trust God.  Look and Listen for God.

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Lord, God of all and in all, I look to you for redemption with your divine mercy and grace.  Your love is amazing, relentless, unconditional and unchanging in a changing fickle world.  Thank you for loving me the way you do through good times and bad, over hills and in the valleys, on the brief journey here on earth.  Thank you for listening, healing, providing and protecting.  Thank you for saving my soul.  I will always look to You each morning.  You are my life.  You are my hope.  I trust in You alone.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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PRAYER – BASIC TRAINING

Posted on February 26, 2021 by randscallawayffm

I learned a long time ago that it was helpful for me to write down my prayers to God, my Father, each day.  This journal exercise keeps me focused on what I want to say to God without wondering in the “weeds” of whatever thoughts come to my unfocused mind.  My attention span is short, very short, so I do this to stay focused on God and less on me and what I want.  When I write the words down, it is almost as if I am shouting, “God, help me!” 

So, I totally understand the thinking of the Psalmist in this passage today which is his prayer to God.  He is anxiously asking, like me many times, for answers to his troubles, repentance for his soul with clarity for God’s will be done minus the confusion of this world’s thinking.  We get it, don’t we?  The writer prayed throughout this entire psalm, but in these verses, he concentrated on prayer and cried out to God day and night. From his experience, we receive some basic instructions about effective prayer.

Pray wholeHEARTedly

 We must seek God with our whole hearts and obey Him with our whole hearts. “In prayer, it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart” (John Bunyan).

In the Old Testament sanctuary, the golden altar of incense represented intercessory prayer (Ex. 30:1-10). The special incense was burned on the altar, and the fragrant smoke rising heavenward pictured prayer going up to the Lord. The devotion of the heart is what “ignites” our prayers and enables us to present our requests to the Lord. The phrase “and I will keep” may be translated “that I may keep.” The psalmist was not bargaining with God (“Answer my prayers and I will obey You”) but dedicating himself to God to obey Him no matter how He answered his prayers.  “God!  Answer! I’ll do whatever you say.”  This is a prayer that asks for the Holy Spirit to bring clarity to what God wants.  We know that what God wants for us is always best.

Pray without ceasing

Two important elements of effective, reverent prayer are involved here. The first is that we constantly cultivate an attitude of prayer and remain in communion with the Lord all day long and into the night.  We consistently have him on “speaker” as if he were speaking to us on our mobile phones so that nothing comes between the Father and us!

The second element in effective prayer is the Word of God, for apart from God’s Word, we cannot know God’s will. Each verse in this passage mentions the Scriptures and the writer’s devotion to God’s Word. We must balance the Word and prayer in our devotional lives and ministry.  The spiritual leaders in the early church gave themselves to prayer and the Word (Acts 6:4). When we meditate on the Word, the Father speaks to us; and when we pray, we speak to the Father. We need both instruction and intercession if we are to be balanced children of God.  We all seek “balance” in this life, right?

Pray as an act of love

This passage combines both love and law, for if we love the Lord, we will keep His commandments. Too often we think of prayer as an emergency measure, rushing into God’s presence and crying for help. But what would you think of children who spoke to their parents only when they needed something? Prayer is more than asking; prayer is loving. 

If we love the Word of God, we must also love the God of the Word and express that love to Him. To tell Him we love Him only because we want to receive something is to practice prayer on a juvenile level. When we share our love with the Lord, we receive new life from Him.

Pray with your eyes open

As he prayed, the psalmist saw his enemies drawing near, so he asked for God to draw near to help him. The familiar phrase “watch and pray” goes back to when Nehemiah was leading the people in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and restoring the gates. The enemy did not want the Holy City to be rebuilt, so they used fear, deceit, and every kind of ruse to hinder the work. What was Nehemiah’s defense? “Nevertheless, we made our prayer to our God, and because of them [the enemy] we set a watch against them day and night.”

Jesus (Matt. 26:41; Mark 13:33), Paul (Col. 4:2), and Peter (1 Peter 4:7) commanded God’s people to “watch and pray,” to be on guard and pray with intelligence and alertness. We are soldiers in a battle and we dare not go to sleep while on duty!

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Part 19 – Psalm 119, The Message

145-152 I call out at the top of my lungs,
    “God! Answer! I’ll do whatever you say.”
I called to you, “Save me
    so I can carry out all your instructions.”
I was up before sunrise,
    crying for help, hoping for a word from you.
I stayed awake all night,
    prayerfully pondering your promise.
In your love, listen to me;
    in your justice, God, keep me alive.
As those out to get me come closer and closer,
    they go farther and farther from the truth you reveal;
But you’re the closest of all to me, God,
    and all your judgments true.
I’ve known all along from the evidence of your words
    that you meant them to last forever.

TRUTH:  Prayerfully ponder God’s promises as He restores the joy of His salvation in our hearts, minds and souls.  God never changes, backs away or backs down.  He never gives up on us!  God is forever.  God is the One and Only we stay in close communication with for all of life.

Proverb 8:34-35, The Message

WISDOM: “Blessed the man, blessed the woman, who listens to me, awake and ready for me each morning, alert and responsive as I start my day’s work. When you find me, you find life, real life, to say nothing of God’s good pleasure.”

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Thank you for bending low to hear our prayers to You.  Hallowed be Your Name!  May Your Kingdom come and reign in us and your glory seen all around us and give you praise!  May Your Will be done in every detail of our lives here on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us your daily manna, all we need to know, for today’s part of a life long journey with You.  Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who hurt or offend us.  Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from all evil and evil’s schemes to distract us from you.  Nothing is too hard for you.  My hope and life is in You.  I love you, Lord with all that is in me.  To YOU be all glory, honor and praise forevermore.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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ALWAYS PERFECTLY RIGHT

Posted on February 25, 2021 by randscallawayffm

As a young adult, nothing exasperated me more than to find out at the end of a challenging task or situation that didn’t go well, to realize that what momma said to do in the first place was the right way.  She had an uncanny way of being right.  She wasn’t perfect but she tried to be for the sake of her family.  I seemed to be consistently compelled to try my own way because she also taught me to be independent, or maybe that is just in my created by God mix of genes.  Mom didn’t have to say, “I told you so…” when things didn’t go well because I could feel the aura and see the look that explicitly said it all. 

Potters Hands

Before doing anything significant today, I can still hear Mom’s words of advice.  “Have you thought about…” because that was the way she would begin her advice.   Mom raised me with “warning labels”.  (Smiling) I learned, years later, that her wisdom came from doing it wrong herself until she, too, learned to do things God’s Way.  Experience is a great teacher when we learn from our mistakes.

God also has warning labels for us to consider as we live Life to the full in His ways.  His Word is full of “Have you thought this through and considered My way?”  However God is driven by thoughts greater than ours.  God’s Ways are driven by extreme, unconditional love.  His Way is always right and good for us because of this relentless love.  God is perfect, so His ways are perfect.  We are not perfect.  We are not expected to be perfect.  So, God, in His love for us, gave us The Way to be perfectly forgiven. 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

God knows we don’t have the ability to think or behave exactly like He does so He gives us His Word to refer to and be fed from daily…like manna from heaven.  God spoke through the prophet Isaiah and said,

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:8-9

Yes, He is God…and we are not.  God’s ways are perfect, so why not trust Him and cry out (pray) for HIS wisdom (skills for living life in His ways), insight and understanding before doing anything?  Why?  The Psalmist tells us exactly why; 

“You ARE right and you DO right, God; Your decisions are right on target.”

We live life well when we follow God’s perfect ways as closely as our imperfect lives can.  We live well knowing God wants what is best for us.  He made us.  He is with us.  He loves us more than anyone on earth has the ability to love.  He protects us.  He nourishes us.  He provides what He knows we need when we need it.  All this and more, because God knows us better than we know ourselves, He created us.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”  Psalm 139:13-16, NIV

Why trust anyone else?  God is always perfectly right!

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Part 18, Psalm 119, The Message

137-144 You are right and you do right, God;
    your decisions are right on target.
You rightly instruct us in how to live
    ever faithful to you.
My rivals nearly did me in,
    they persistently ignored your commandments.
Your promise has been tested through and through,
    and I, your servant, love it dearly.
I’m too young to be important,
    but I don’t forget what you tell me.
Your righteousness is eternally right,
    your revelation is the only truth.
Even though troubles came down on me hard,
    your commands always gave me delight.
The way you tell me to live is always right;
    help me understand it so I can live to the fullest.

TRUTH:  The way God tells us to live is ALWAYS right.  Always.

Proverb 3:5-8, NIV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.[a]

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
    and nourishment to your bones.

WISDOM:  Trust God with all that is in you.  Submit and surrender to God.

Abba, Father,

It’s hard for us to give up our independence for dependency on You but we find that your way is always the right way.  Your love is always to way to real, abundant living.  Thank you for your grace and mercy, lessons learned, with more growing and maturing to do until we meet you face to face.  You are such a loving and caring Father.  Thank you for bending down to listen to our prayers for your wisdom, insight and understanding for living this life here until we get there.  Thank you for your perfect forgiveness for our imperfect lives.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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GOD SPEAKS MIRACLE WORDS INTO OUR LIVES

Posted on February 24, 2021 by randscallawayffm

God said, “Let there be Light!”  And there was Light.  And it was good and perfect.  All God says and does is Good, Right and Perfect.  “How could we help but obey?”  Centuries later, God sent His Son to be Light in the dark.  This darkness was caused by selfish sin, forgetting about Him and turning inward to self-survival.  The Psalmist is crying out to God for help.  He sings while crying a river of tears for a world gone to self without God. 

The Singer remains with God, knowing God will teach him, help him, provide for his needs and give him courage in the world he is living with hate all around him.  “Steady my steps with your Word of promise”, he prays, “so nothing gets the best of me”.  What a great prayer to pray today, right?

Pray this psalm as if you wrote it to God.  I have and will probably pray this prayer all day long today.

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Part 17 – Psalm 119, The Message

129-136 Every word you give me is a miracle word—
    how could I help but obey?
Break open your words, let the light shine out,
    let ordinary people see the meaning.
Mouth open and panting,
    I wanted your commands more than anything.
Turn my way, look kindly on me,
    as you always do to those who personally love you.
Steady my steps with your Word of promise
    so nothing malign gets the better of me.
Rescue me from the grip of bad men and women
    so I can live life your way.
Smile on me, your servant;
    teach me the right way to live.
I cry rivers of tears
    because nobody’s living by your book!

TRUTH:  God will smile on those who humbly come to him with a desire to learn and mature in His character traits, wanting what He wants—which is all that is His best for us!

Proverb 2, The Message

1-5 Good friend, take to heart what I’m telling you;
    collect my counsels and guard them with your life.
Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom;
    set your heart on a life of Understanding.
That’s right—if you make Insight your priority,
    and won’t take no for an answer,
Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold,
    like an adventurer on a treasure hunt,
Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours;
    you’ll have come upon the Knowledge of God.

WISDOM: “Set your heart”, “Tune your ears” to wisdom, insight and understanding from God who knows best.

Abba, Father,

You are always at work in our lives and in the lives of all who believe and follow You.  Thank you for Your Holy Presence.  Thank you for the wisdom you give when we ask.  Thank you for helping us understand your ways so that we can follow obediently without reserve.  Thank you for listening to our cries for help and then providing the care and teaching we need.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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I AM THE WAY, TRUTH AND LIFE

Posted on February 23, 2021 by randscallawayffm

The Lord is our Assurance.  No matter how many promises we might make to the Lord, we can never fulfill them. But in His death on the cross, Jesus has paid the debt for us, and in His ministry of intercession at the throne in heaven, He is our living, blessed assurance. As long as He lives, our salvation is secure, and He lives by “the power of an endless life” (Heb. 7:16). So, no matter what people do to us and no matter how we feel, our blessed assurance is secure and we remain in the family of God. Jesus has taken the responsibility for our salvation, and He will never fail.  This is blessed assurance.  This is true justice.  Jesus is the Way.

The Lord is our Master (vv. 123-125). Whenever people attack us, they also attack the Lord, for we belong to Him. When Saul of Tarsus persecuted Christians on earth, He also persecuted their Lord in heaven (Acts 9:1-5). God cares for His servants. He does not always prevent us from being oppressed, but He always has a good reason for permitting it to happen. He is a loving Master who teaches us His will and gives us the discernment we need to handle the problems of life. Even more, He gives us promises that we can claim and thereby find the strength and wisdom we need. God’s servants do not live by explanations; they live by promises.  Jesus is the Truth.

The Lord is the Final Judge (vv. 126-128). In our impatience, we sometimes want God to work immediately and set everything right, but His ways and times are not always the same as ours. Faith and patience go together (Heb. 6:12), and God’s delays are not God’s denials. The day will come when the truth will be revealed and sin will be judged; meanwhile, instead of complaining about what we have paid or lost, let us rejoice in the wealth that we have in God’s Word, wealth that can never be taken from us. All of God’s precepts concerning all things are always right, so we can depend on the Scriptures and have the guidance that we need. If we love the Word, we will hate the wrong paths of sinners and stay away from them. We do not even put one foot on the path of the wicked (Prov. 1:15)!  We avoid the deceitful path that leads to death.  Jesus is Life!

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” –Jesus (John 14:6)

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Part 16 – Psalm 119

121-128 I stood up for justice and the right;
    don’t leave me to the mercy of my oppressors.
Take the side of your servant, good God;
    don’t let the godless take advantage of me.
I can’t keep my eyes open any longer, waiting for you
    to keep your promise to set everything right.
Let your love dictate how you deal with me;
    teach me from your textbook on life.
I’m your servant—help me understand what that means,
    the inner meaning of your instructions.
It’s time to act, God;
    they’ve made a shambles of your revelation!
Yea-Saying God, I love what you command,
    I love it better than gold and gemstones;
Yea-Saying God, I honor everything you tell me,
    I despise every deceitful detour.

TRUTH: “God, I honor everything you tell me, I despise every deceitful detour.”  Deceitful detours from the path God lays before us looks easy and delightful, tempting our senses but soon become hard, rocky, full of dangerous pitfalls that lead to death.  Taking the road God has for us isn’t easy either, but on this road, God takes us by the hand and walks with us, pointing out all the obstacles that cause us to stumble.  Both roads are hard, but I choose the path God chooses for me.  He knows what is best.  I choose the Way, Truth and Life.  I choose Jesus.

Proverbs 1, The Message

A Manual (Wisdom) for Living

1 1-6 These are the wise sayings of Solomon,
    David’s son, Israel’s king—
Written down so we’ll know how to live well and right,
    to understand what life means and where it’s going;
A manual for living,
    for learning what’s right and just and fair;
To teach the inexperienced the ropes
    and give our young people a grasp on reality.
There’s something here also for seasoned men and women,
    still a thing or two for the experienced to learn—
Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate,
    the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women.

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Hallowed be Your Name.  Your Kingdom come and reign in us and all around us.  May Your Will be done in every detail of my life today as it is done in heaven.  Give us this day all YOU know we will need, what we need to avoid and what path to follow.  Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from all evil and evil’s schemes to bring us down and destroy us.  For you have all power, to you be all glory, honor and praise.  Nothing is too hard for you.  No one is like you.  You are the Way, Truth and Life!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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BUT I SAY UNTO YOU…

Posted on February 22, 2021 by randscallawayffm

Our psalm today are words from a mind that seeks truth in a world of people who lie to get by.  Lies are always found out.  Lies are as destructive as physical blows.  Lies destroy relationships.  Lies are deception.  Satan is the “Father of lies”, so says the Word of God in warning to His people.  Lies are part of the arsenal used by evil to get us to avoid truth so we will be part of evil’s team.

God’s people added to His commandments with “laws” that give the priest man-produced power over those who were deemed “less than” they were.  The religious elite misused God’s Law, His Word to them, and turned Truth to lies.  But did evil win?  No!  Truth came down from heaven to set the world straight.  Truth is a Person.  His Name is Jesus. 

Many times, while speaking, Jesus would open his teaching statements with “You have heard it said, but I say to you…”  then Truth would be told, explained and understood with who God is, what He wants (which is always for our best life) with how He wants us to think and behave in this world.  Matthew 5: 27-28—is only part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, and one in a series of examples he uses to emphasize the new dimension of spiritual awareness demonstrates:
 
“You have heard it said ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
 
In this and other passages with the same structure (“You have heard it said … but I say to you …”), Jesus seeks to move us from simple, fear-based obedience to the law upward to a higher dimension of spiritual awareness in relationship with God. This higher dimension does not abolish the law, but rather fulfils it (Matthew 5:17) by allowing us to understand the spiritual Truth of which the law is a temporal expression.

Jesus is Truth.  Satan is not.  Don’t get confused.  Think more like Jesus!

The Psalmist is seeking Truth in all of Life.  He finds it in quiet retreat with God.  “Stick with me and I’ll be all right; I’ll give total allegiance to your definitions of life”, sings the Psalmist.  I love this statement and I think God loves it, too.  Stick with me says God to us daily.  So, I’m sure when we ask Him to stick with us, He will!

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Part 15, Psalm 119, The Message

113-120 I hate the two-faced,
    but I love your clear-cut revelation.
You’re my place of quiet retreat;
    I wait for your Word to renew me.
Get out of my life, evildoers,
    so I can keep my God’s commands.
Take my side as you promised; I’ll live then for sure.
    Don’t disappoint all my grand hopes.
Stick with me and I’ll be all right;
    I’ll give total allegiance to your definitions of life.
Expose all who drift away from your sayings;
    their casual idolatry is lethal.
You reject earth’s wicked as so much rubbish;
    therefore I lovingly embrace everything you say.
I shiver in awe before you;
    your decisions leave me speechless with reverence.

TRUTH: “Expose all who drift away from your sayings; their casual idolatry is lethal.”  Jesus exposed the drifters and revealed the Truth…” but I say unto you…”  Pray that God would reveal the drifters of truth so we avoid falling for lies.

Proverb 12:22, The Message

“God can’t stomach liars; he loves the company of those who keep their word.”

WISDOM:  Know lies, avoid lying.  Seek Truth.  Follow Truth. Truth is Jesus.

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Thank you for revealing Truth this morning in this quiet time with You.  Thank you for speaking to my heart about the extreme importance of avoiding lies to get by for a moment.  You hate lying!  Lying is the tool of evil to destroy our relationship with You and those you have put in our lives!  Please continue to reveal the lies of evil placed in the hearts of people that surround me.  Remove all that offends you that is in me.  Help me to discern Truth and what is a lie.  Help me to be honest and full of Truth in my walk always.  And when I am not, correct me. 

In Jesus Name, Amen

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LIGHT WALKING

Posted on February 20, 2021 by randscallawayffm

When our kids were young our “vacations” consisted of camping trips by various lakes of Oklahoma.  It was all fun and games, sunburn and laughter, until you had to get up in the middle of the night to take one or two of the kids to the bathroom.  With tent camping, you had to walk a dark path through the woods to the community bath house.  The kids, though sleepy with a pressing desire to get there quickly, would ask if they could hold the flashlight.  Sleepily, I would give in but I knew I would probably have to take back control of the light that guided us so we could get where we were going without injury!  Whoever held the flashlight wouldn’t hold it to the path for us to see where to walk, instead they would point it up or around at the trees, wondering what was in the woods in the dark.  After a few stumbles over rocks in the darkness, I would ask, “Are you ready for me to guide us with the light now?” 

After stumbling through the darkness of this world, are we ready to give back control to God to guides us with His astonishing Light into all things good and right for us?

God asks, “Are you ready for Me to guide you with My Light on your journey?”

As I read this psalm of truth, I remember a song I learned as a young adult that still plays in the background of my mind.  I remember the many times I had to give up control to let God throw His beam of Light on His path so I could finally see where He wanted me to go. 

Jesus is The Word made flesh who came to earth to throw the beam of God’s Light on the darkness.  Jesus brought God’s clarity of intention to the written Word of God.  The Word we read today is God’s Light for our path on the journey called “Life to the Full” as Jesus described;    

“I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”  –Jesus  (John 10,10, MSG) 

Turning to Jesus, believing and asking for forgiveness is the beginning or real life.  This is the beginning of Light Walking!

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12, NIV

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path

When I feel afraid
Think I’ve lost my way
Still you’re there right beside me
And nothing will I fear
As long as you are near
Please be near me to the end…

Are you ready for some Light Walking?  Let God’s Light guide your path.

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Part 14 – Psalm 119

105-112 By your words I can see where I’m going;
    they throw a beam of light on my dark path.
I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back
    from living by your righteous order.
Everything’s falling apart on me, God;
    put me together again with your Word.
Adorn me with your finest sayings, God;
    teach me your holy rules.
My life is as close as my own hands,
    but I don’t forget what you have revealed.
The wicked do their best to throw me off track,
    but I don’t swerve an inch from your course.
I inherited your book on living; it’s mine forever—
    what a gift! And how happy it makes me!
I concentrate on doing exactly what you say—
    I always have and always will.

TRUTH: “By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path.”

I will not forget
Your love for me and yet
My heart forever is wandering
Jesus be my guide
And hold me to your side
I will love you to the end

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path

Proverb 6:23, NIV

WISDOM: “For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life.”

Abba, Father,

Thank you for Your Light that illuminates Truth.  Thank you for Your Light that dispels darkness so Your path is easily seen.  Help me continue Light Walking on life’s journey.  Your Word is a lamp to light my way to Your Path of salvation and right living.  Your Light shines a beam on those things that make we stumble in the dark.  Thank you, Lord.  You hold the Light, that’s not my task.  You are God and I am not. To you be all glory, honor and praise!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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