HIS LOVE NEVER QUITS!

Posted on February 6, 2021 by randscallawayffm

Playing in the background of our psalm today is the current song, One Thing Remains reminding us of God’s love which is like no other love on earth!  God’s love is perfect, holy and true.  God’s love never has conditions.  God’s love never runs out.  God’s love never quits.  God’s love goes on and on for eternity.  In fact, “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.”  John 3:16-17, The Message

Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant through the trial and the change
One thing remains, yes, one thing remains

Your love never fails
It never gives up
It never runs out on me

Your love never fails
It never gives up
It never runs out on me…

We are also reminded of Paul’s “Love Chapter”, that we quote often in marriage ceremonies, but do we fully understand the intent of God’s message of how love behaves when it is HIS love in us in action towards each other? 

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.  1 Corinthians 13:4-8

If we want to love like God loves us, then this is it!  As His love for us never fails and never gives up so should our love be for each other!  Jesus gave the extreme example of God’s love for us when he left heaven to come to earth to lay down his life for ours.

Your love never fails
It never gives up
It never runs out on me

Your love never fails
It never gives up
It never runs out on me

In death, in life
I’m confident and covered by
The power of Your great love

My debt is paid
There’s nothing that can separate
My heart from Your great love

Your love never fails
It never gives up
It never runs out on me

Your love never fails
It never gives up
It never runs out on me

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 118, The Message

1-4 Thank God because he’s good,
    because his love never quits.
Tell the world, Israel,
    “His love never quits.”
And you, clan of Aaron, tell the world,
    “His love never quits.”
And you who fear God, join in,
    “His love never quits.”

5-16 Pushed to the wall, I called to God;
    from the wide open spaces, he answered.
God’s now at my side and I’m not afraid;
    who would dare lay a hand on me?
God’s my strong champion;
    I flick off my enemies like flies.
Far better to take refuge in God
    than trust in people;
Far better to take refuge in God
    than trust in celebrities.
Hemmed in by barbarians,
    in God’s name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;
Hemmed in and with no way out,
    in God’s name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;
Like swarming bees, like wild prairie fire, they hemmed me in;
    in God’s name I rubbed their faces in the dirt.
I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall,
    when God grabbed and held me.
God’s my strength, he’s also my song,
    and now he’s my salvation.
Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs
    in the camp of the saved?
        “The hand of God has turned the tide!
        The hand of God is raised in victory!
        The hand of God has turned the tide!”

17-20 I didn’t die. I lived!
    And now I’m telling the world what God did.
God tested me, he pushed me hard,
    but he didn’t hand me over to Death.
Swing wide the city gates—the righteous gates!
    I’ll walk right through and thank God!
This Temple Gate belongs to God,
    so the victors can enter and praise.

21-25 Thank you for responding to me;
    you’ve truly become my salvation!
The stone the masons discarded as flawed
    is now the capstone!
This is God’s work.
    We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!
This is the very day God acted—
    let’s celebrate and be festive!
Salvation now, God. Salvation now!
    Oh yes, God—a free and full life!

26-29 Blessed are you who enter in God’s name—
    from God’s house we bless you!
God is God,
    he has bathed us in light.
Adorn the shrine with garlands,
    hang colored banners above the altar!
You’re my God, and I thank you.
    O my God, I lift high your praise.
Thank God—he’s so good.
    His love never quits!

TRUTH:  God’s love never fails and never quits for believers who love Him back as their God, the One and Only God. 

Proverb 8:17, NIV

WISDOM:  I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

Abba Father,

Thank you for your love that never quits and never gives up on me.  I may give up on me from time to time but it is your extreme love that pulls me up and gives me courage to carry on.  It is your love in me that makes me love others as if my life depended on it…and it does.  For if I don’t love like you love then I act as if I don’t know you.  So, I love you, Lord with all that is in me and my desire is to love others like you love me.  Help me to love no matter what.

In Jesus Name, Amen

“My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love.” 1 John 4:7-8, The Message

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EVERYBODY!

Posted on February 5, 2021 by randscallawayffm

Psalm 117 begins in verse one with a command to praise the Lord. But the command isn’t just for the original Jewish reader. The psalmist specifically commands Gentiles to also praise Him. This is called a Global Invitation, and it means God is indicating His salvation goes beyond the borders of Israel.

The shortest psalm in the book of songs packs a big punch.  An anonymous writer composed the psalm and in three brief sentences encompassed the whole world. The psalm is an invitation to people everywhere to turn to the Lord and join with believers everywhere in praising Him. A proper understanding of this psalm will help us appreciate at least four privileges that belong to God’s people:  Worship, Share, Love, Assurance.

WORSHIP – The psalm opens and closes with “praise the Lord,” for praising the Lord ought to be a mark of every believer today as it was of the new Christians in the early church (Acts 2:47). The first “praise” translates the familiar Hebrew word hallel, which gives us “hallelujah–praise the Lord.” The second “praise” is shavah, which means “to boast, to extol and laud.” When we praise the Lord, we not only tell Him of His greatness, but we also “brag on Him” to those who hear our songs. Worship and praise are the highest occupations to which we can dedicate our voices, the activities that will occupy us for all eternity!

SHARE – The word translated “nations” is often translated “Gentiles,” that is, all people who are not of Semitic origin. The Hebrew word translated “peoples” refers to the diverse nationalities in the world (Rev. 7:9). You find the phrases “all the earth” and “all peoples” frequently in the book of Psalms.  The Jewish people were supposed to be separated from the Gentiles but not isolated from them, for God called Abraham to found a nation that would bring blessing to all the earth. However, Israel failed and became guilty of imitating the Gentiles instead of illuminating the Gentiles with the light of God’s truth (Isa. 42:6; 49:6). “Salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22; Luke 2:32), for God chose the Jewish people to give the world the knowledge of the true God, the Scriptures, and the Savior.

The church today needs to carry the light of the gospel to the whole world (Acts 13:47). Paul quoted this verse in Romans 15:11 as part of his explanation of the relationship of the church to Israel. The apostles and other early Jewish Christians praised the Lord among both Jews and Gentiles (Rom. 15:9) as recorded in the book of Acts. Through this expanding witness, many Gentiles trusted Christ and praised God with the Jewish believers, for believing Jews and Gentiles were one body in Christ (Eph. 2:11-22).

If we are a worshipping people, praising the Lord, then we will be a witnessing people, telling others how wonderful He is. Like the lepers outside the gates of Samaria, believers today must confess, “We are not doing right. This is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent” (2 Kings 7:9 nasb). May we imitate the apostles who said, “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20 nkjv).  We must SHARE the Good News of Jesus and His salvation!  “For God so loved the WORLD…that means everybody is included!

LOVE – We depend on God and His love to us.  Have we forgotten that “it is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed” (Lam. 3:22)? We have been saved by grace, not by our good works (Eph. 2:8-9), and were it not for God’s merciful lovingkindness, we would still be in darkness and death.

How unfortunate that some of the Jewish leaders became proud of being God’s chosen people and began to look down upon others. They even called the Gentiles “dogs.” But God’s people today are guilty of the same sin. “His lovingkindness is great toward us” (v. 2a nasb) so we have nothing to boast about. “Not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph. 2:9 nkjv).

If we are humble before the Lord, He can use us to reach others, but if we are proud, He will reject us. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5 nkjv). We are saved by grace and we live by grace, depending wholly on the Lord’s generosity in Jesus Christ. A proud church is a weak church. To enjoy the praise of men is to lose the blessing of God.

DIVINE ASSURANCE – Yes, All God’s people are saved by faith and live by faith, but our faith would mean nothing were it not for His faithfulness that “endures forever.” The word translated “truth” or “faithfulness” means in Hebrew “to be firm, to be unshakable.” 

God’s character cannot change, and His promises will not change, so why are we fretting about the feelings within us and the circumstances around us? Why do we hesitate to obey Him when He abounds in faithfulness (Ex. 34:6)? 

If God calls us to do something, He is faithful to help us do it (1 Thess. 5:24). To rely on our faith is to put faith in faith, but to rely on God’s faithfulness is to put faith in the Lord. Our assurance is in the Word of God and the God of the Word.  He never changes in his love for us and his faithfulness to us.  Never. 

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 117, The Message


1-2 Praise God, everybody!
Applaud God, all people!
His love has taken over our lives;
God’s faithful ways are eternal.
    Hallelujah!

TRUTH:  EVERYBODY is included for God so loved the world—that He sent His Son to save ALL who believe.  So, praise God, everybody!

Proverb 28:13, The Message

WISDOM: “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

Abba Father,

Thank you for your word that causes us to dig deeper and deeper for the meaning of your wisdom, the depths of your love and the purpose for our existence.  Thank you for short passages to meditate on and be filled with the knowledge of your mercy and grace.  Thank you for saving our souls.  Thank you for saving the souls of everybody on this earth who believes in You and calls out to You for your salvation through Jesus.  Thank you, Jesus for completing the work on the cross so all who believe can be saved for eternity.  Thank you, Holy Spirit, for guiding us into all Truth this morning.  You have only made me more grateful for the privileges you have given to me.  Continue to grow and mature me until I meet you face to face.  I am yours.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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I LOVE GOD BECAUSE…

Posted on February 4, 2021 by randscallawayffm

What a motivational hymn of praise to the God we love!  The songwriter lists all the ways he loves God, all the ways God has provided with a promise to do what God tells him to be and do.  What would happen if this was our prayer of thanksgiving, praise with promises to God each morning?  What would God do in our lives if were fully committed to Him?  God looks over the earth His Word tells us, “God is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him. You were foolish to go for human help when you could have had God’s help. Now you’re in trouble—one round of war after another.” (2 Chronicles 16:9, The Message) 

What would happen if we were fully committed to God, seeking Him first each break of day, asking what HE wants and then doing it because we love Him back.  “We love God because He first loved us.”  (1 John 4:19)  Would it be possible with God and our commitment to Him to be a difference in our world?  Would wars cease?  Would His peace prevail?  Would differences dissolve?  Paul says that our faith, hope and love are keys to a committed life of love…God’s love.  He states that the most important is love. 

So, as an exercise of spiritual discipline, let us name all the reasons WE love God this morning.  The Psalmist provides examples with where to begin.  When we do this, our minds will change for the better, our behavior will reflect our faith and belief in God and His Love.  We’ll recognize God’s work of love in us and realize that because of realizing God’s love for us, we are loving others more passionately with less conditions.  We are beginning to love like He loves us.

I love God because…

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 116, The Message


1-6 I love God because he listened to me,
    listened as I begged for mercy.
He listened so intently
    as I laid out my case before him.
Death stared me in the face,
    hell was hard on my heels.
Up against it, I didn’t know which way to turn;
    then I called out to God for help:
“Please, God!” I cried out.
    “Save my life!”
God is gracious—it is he who makes things right,
    our most compassionate God.
God takes the side of the helpless;
    when I was at the end of my rope, he saved me.

7-8     I said to myself, “Relax and rest.
    God has showered you with blessings.
    Soul, you’ve been rescued from death;
    Eye, you’ve been rescued from tears;
    And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling.”

9-11 I’m striding in the presence of God,
    alive in the land of the living!
I stayed faithful, though overwhelmed,
    and despite a ton of bad luck,
Despite giving up on the human race,
    saying, “They’re all liars and cheats.”

12-19 What can I give back to God
    for the blessings he’s poured out on me?
I’ll lift high the cup of salvation—a toast to God!
    I’ll pray in the name of God;
I’ll complete what I promised God I’d do,
    and I’ll do it together with his people.
When they arrive at the gates of death,
    God welcomes those who love him.
Oh, God, here I am, your servant,
    your faithful servant: set me free for your service!
I’m ready to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice
    and pray in the name of God.
I’ll complete what I promised God I’d do,
    and I’ll do it in company with his people,
In the place of worship, in God’s house,
    in Jerusalem, God’s city.
Hallelujah!

TRUTH: “What can I give back to God for the blessings he’s poured out on me?”  I can love others like He loves me.

Proverb 3:3-4, The Message

WISDOM: “Don’t lose your grip on Love and Loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart.”

Abba Father,

Teach us to love like you love us.  Help us daily to realize the depth of your love and live gratefully expectant because your love never changes, never holds back and always without conditions. Knowing your love for us helps our love for others do deeper still.  Thank you for the assurance that we are, no matter what, loved.  You are Love.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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BLESS GOD!

Posted on February 3, 2021 by randscallawayffm

We ask God to bless us all the time in our prayers.  We want his favor because we want to be His “favorites”, giving us all we want in our lives.  We become doubtful of God when He doesn’t deliver the goods of our fickle desires.  That is the thinking of our tiny human minds that think only of ourselves.  We get ourselves into messes emotionally, mentally, financially and physically because we trust only in ourselves, other people, working hard to obtain the idols of our day.  Wait, what?!  Idols? 

Truly our bank accounts tell the story of what we worship, work hard to get, store, polish and clean.  Our walk reflects our talk.  Our habitual behavior reflects our true belief, especially when backed into corners of frustration of not getting our own way.  What drives us to think and behave the way we do?

The Psalmist is very clear to the people of his day.  “Not for our sake, but for God…”  The idols of our day cannot walk or talk with all the human senses we have but yet we are so proud of them that we talk mostly about the glory of having them.  What if all that attention given to our idols was given solely to God for his glory to be seen by all?  What if our prays for “blessings” were prayers for growing in His character?  To be blessed is to be continually trusting and growing in the ways of the Lord as if our lives depended on it.  Wait, our eternal lives DO depend on his love, mercy and grace!  Think about it.  Take all the time you need. 

“You shall have no other gods before me.” –God  (Exodus 20:3)

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 115, The Message


1-2 Not for our sake, God, no, not for our sake,
    but for your name’s sake, show your glory.
Do it on account of your merciful love,
    do it on account of your faithful ways.
Do it so none of the nations can say,
    “Where now, oh where is their God?”

3-8 Our God is in heaven
    doing whatever he wants to do.
Their gods are metal and wood,
    handmade in a basement shop:
Carved mouths that can’t talk,
    painted eyes that can’t see,
Tin ears that can’t hear,
    molded noses that can’t smell,
Hands that can’t grasp, feet that can’t walk or run,
    throats that never utter a sound.
Those who make them have become just like them,
    have become just like the gods they trust.

9-11 But you, Israel: put your trust in God!
    —trust your Helper! trust your Ruler!
Clan of Aaron, trust in God!
    —trust your Helper! trust your Ruler!
You who fear God, trust in God!
    —trust your Helper! trust your Ruler!

12-16 O God, remember us and bless us,
    bless the families of Israel and Aaron.
And let God bless all who fear God—
    bless the small, bless the great.
Oh, let God enlarge your families—
    giving growth to you, growth to your children.
May you be blessed by God,
    by God, who made heaven and earth.
The heaven of heavens is for God,
    but he put us in charge of the earth.

17-18 Dead people can’t praise God—
    not a word to be heard from those buried in the ground.
But we bless God, oh yes—
    we bless him now, we bless him always!
Hallelujah!

TRUTH:  Bless God!  “You who fear God, trust in God!
    —trust your Helper! trust your Ruler!”

Proverb 3:5-6, NIV

WISDOM:  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.

Abba Father,

How much I think about You and honor You with my life is a question of reflection for today.  I am convinced I need to “clean house” of all that offends you, all that distracts me from you and all that stunts my growth of your maturing character in me.  Show me your ways and I will walk in them is my prayer for today and always.  When I am distracted, snap your fingers so I will turn back to you quickly.  I’m yours, Lord.  All that I am, warts and all, messes and mess ups, I’m yours.  Mold and shape me as a blessing of all that is right and good back to you then to others for your glory.  Not to us, but for You…

In Jesus Name, Amen

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WE’RE IN THE LORD’S PRESENCE!

Posted on February 2, 2021 by randscallawayffm

If the pandemic has taught us anything, and it has if we took notice over whining, it is this:  The Lord never left us to fend for ourselves.  The Lord’s Presence is with us still!  As God’s people, we gather in His Name often and ask how will we cope with this?  We had to change our minds about what is normal and what is better.  We came closer to God as confusion set in.  We asked for wisdom more than ever before.  We humbled ourselves before God.  As God’s people who believe in Him, we have pivoted, adjusted, quarantined, created new strategies to keep people safe while still loving people with help through their troubles.  We never stopped proclaiming God’s Truth for their souls.  We stop what we are doing readily with listening ears, asking God to get through this “Red Sea” experience.  His Presence is with us.

The Lord Presence never left us.  His voice can still be heard if we stop to listen, really listen, with a humbled heart and open mind to hear His kind voice of reason and wisdom, comfort and peace. The Lord’s is Present right now as I write this.  I am reminded of His promise to never leave or forsake us.  I remember in the quiet of this hour that He never has and He never will.  God is like that.  That’s who God is.  Ever present.

My prayer for all of us this day:  May God rescue you, part the waters of your sea and allow you to walk on dry ground into His Holy Presence.  All it takes is a yes, a willing heart, an open mind with a soul eager to be filled…with His Presence.  Be still, let go, know that He is God.

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 114, The Message

1-8 After Israel left Egypt,
    the clan of Jacob left those barbarians behind;
Judah became holy land for him,
    Israel the place of holy rule.
Sea took one look and ran the other way;
    River Jordan turned around and ran off.
The mountains turned playful and skipped like rams,
    the hills frolicked like spring lambs.
What’s wrong with you, Sea, that you ran away?
    and you, River Jordan, that you turned and ran off?
And mountains, why did you skip like rams?
    and you, hills, frolic like spring lambs?
Tremble, Earth! You’re in the Lord’s presence!
    in the presence of Jacob’s God.


He turned the rock into a pool of cool water,
    turned flint into fresh spring water.

TRUTH:  The Lord is Present.  There is no one like our God.  The earth trembles at the sound of His voice.  What is our response to the Lord’s Presence?

Proverb 30:5, The Message

“The believer replied, “Every promise of God proves true;
    he protects everyone who runs to him for help.”

Abba Father,

Thank you for your Holy Presence in this very room today.  Thank you for speaking to my broken heart and wondering mind while filling my soul with all of you in me.  I love you, Lord with all that is in me.  You know that and knowing you know is comforting and gives me peace.  Beyond all that is going on in our world, You are near.  You are Present.  You are God.  Thank you for saving my soul, refreshing my spirit and restoring the joy of your salvation in me today.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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“YOU WHO SERVE GOD, PRAISE GOD!”

Posted on February 1, 2021 by randscallawayffm

It was traditional for the Jewish people to sing 113-114 before they ate their Passover meal, and they closed the meal by singing 115-118 (Matt. 26:30; Mark 14:26). These psalms were also sung in celebration of Pentecost, Tabernacles, the new moon festivals, and the Feast of Dedication. The psalm opens and closes with “hallelujah” (“praise Jehovah”) and gives us three wonderful reasons for praising the Lord:

God’s name is the greatest! 

The psalmwriter addressed the entire nation of Israel, which is often called “God’s servant” (34:22; 69:36; 136:22; Isa. 41:8-9; 54:17). They had the privilege and responsibility of sharing the true and living God with their Gentile neighbors (Isa. 42:6), and Paul applied that verse to his own ministry and the ministry of the church (Acts 13:47; 26:26; and see Luke 2:32).  We are all servants of God and praise His Name for He alone is worthy to be honored and worshiped.

God’s throne is the highest!

Most ancient kings were inaccessible to their people, but our God sees us and knows our every need (138:6; Isa. 57:15). For the believer, God’s throne is not only a throne of glory and authority, but it is also a throne of grace, a topic the psalmist explained in the next three verses.

God’s love is the kindest!

The Lord in His grace not only sees us but also cares for us and helps us. He “stoops down” and condescends to work on our behalf. The picture in verses 7-8 comes from verses 7 and 8 of the song of Hannah (1 Sam. 2:1-10), part of which was borrowed by Mary in her song of praise to God (Luke 1:46-55). Hannah was a barren wife to whom God gave a son, Samuel the judge and prophet. 

The ash heap (“dirt of the poor”) was the gathering place of the outcasts of the city, the unwanted poor, and the diseased (Job 2:8). The sun would warm the ashes during the day and the ashes would keep the people warm at night. It was the one place that people avoided going near, but our God visits rejected people and changes their lives!

The love of God and the grace of God made our God stoop to our level, especially when He sent Jesus Christ to become one of us and die for us on the cross (Phil. 2:1-11). In John 8:6 and 8 and 13:1-11, Jesus stooped to forgive a sinful woman and to wash His disciples’ feet. But His greatest demonstration of grace was when He died for us on the cross. He condescended to become like us that we might become like Him (1 Cor. 1:26-29; Eph. 2:1-10). There can be no greater love (John 15:13). Only Jesus Christ can lift sinners out of the ash heap and put them on the throne! (Eph. 2:1-10). 

No matter how dark the day or impossible the circumstances, our God is able to do the impossible (Eph. 3:19-20)!

Hallelujah! 

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 113, The Message


1-3 Hallelujah!
You who serve God, praise God!
    Just to speak his name is praise!
Just to remember God is a blessing—
    now and tomorrow and always.
From east to west, from dawn to dusk,
    keep lifting all your praises to God!

4-9 God is higher than anything and anyone,
    outshining everything you can see in the skies.
Who can compare with God, our God,
    so majestically enthroned,
Surveying his magnificent
    heavens and earth?
He picks up the poor from out of the dirt,
    rescues the forgotten who’ve been thrown out with the trash,
Seats them among the honored guests,
    a place of honor among the brightest and best.
He gives childless couples a family,
    gives them joy as the parents of children.
Hallelujah!

TRUTH:  God is our rescue.  For God SO loved, He sent His One and Only Son to die for our sins.  Jesus reconciled us to God by believing in Him.  Forever changed life is a life built on Jesus love and righteousness.

Proverb 30:32-33, The Message

 “If you’re dumb enough to call attention to yourself by offending people and making rude gestures, Don’t be surprised if someone bloodies your nose.  Churned milk turns into butter; riled emotions turn into fist fights.”

WISDOM:  Find and follow Jesus.  Hear the voice of the Shepherd who is King of kings and Lord of lords and do what He says for it is the best way for life eternal.

Our Father in Heaven,

We praise your Name!  We praise you for who you are and all you have done for us, in us and through us for your glory, honor and praise!  Thank you, dear Jesus, for completing the mission to save us.  Thank you, Holy Spirit for guiding, correcting, comforting, encouraging and challenging us to obey quickly because of our love for God.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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BLESSED

Posted on January 31, 2021 by randscallawayffm

What does it mean to be blessed?  Too many times we think that blessed means God giving us more than we need, gives us what we want and shows favor to us as believers.  In His Kingdom reality, being blessed is fundamentally growing in God’s character.  God is giving, so we give.  God is merciful, so believers show mercy in their walk humbly knowing that God alone is the ultimate giver of mercy.  God is love.  Because of his love in us we love.  God is generous and full of grace, so we pray to be full of grace and generosity with honors.  God is patient with us so we are patient with others who are learning His character.  God is gentle with us as we learn and grow, so we are gentle with others learning and growing with us.

How do we know this?  Jesus.

Jesus came to earth on a mission to seek and to save the lost of whom there were many.  While on earth He also taught who God is and how we should live in God’s ways.  He was very explicit, giving clarity to his new followers who want to be like Jesus in every way.  This is what He told them about being “blessed”.

Matthew 5, The Message

1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

3 “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

4 “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

5 “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

6 “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

7 “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.

8 “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

9 “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

10 “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

11-12 “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

Wow, right?  We are blessed when our lifestyle is consistent with what we say we believe and matches the way God has clearly shown us to live.  Maturity in growing Godly character comes when we do what God wants without thinking about how it looks to mankind, what we can get from doing right, or seeking recognition or a “good feeling” or “vibe”.  We live this way because we are fully committed to God.  Nothing held back.

Our Psalmist sings, “Blessed man, blessed woman, who fear God and cherish and relish his commandments…”.  To be blessed is to keep growing in His character and love.  THIS is being blessed.  Being blessed and honored by God is to consistently mature in the unforced flow and rhythm of God’s love and grace.  When we do, we ARE blessed to be a blessing back to God and others.

“An honored life.  A beautiful life!” –A blessed life.

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 112, The Message

1-10 Hallelujah!
Blessed man, blessed woman, who fear God,
Who cherish and relish his commandments,
Their children robust on the earth,

And the homes of the upright—how blessed!
Their houses brim with wealth
And a generosity that never runs dry.

Sunrise breaks through the darkness for good people—
God’s grace and mercy and justice!
The good person is generous and lends lavishly;
No shuffling or stumbling around for this one,
But a sterling and solid and lasting reputation.

Unfazed by rumor and gossip,
Heart ready, trusting in God,
Spirit firm, unperturbed,
Ever blessed, relaxed among enemies,
They lavish gifts on the poor—
A generosity that goes on, and on, and on.

An honored life! A beautiful life!
Someone wicked takes one look and rages,
Blusters away but ends up speechless.
There’s nothing to the dreams of the wicked. Nothing.

TRUTH:  Believers are blessed when they walk with God “Unfazed by rumor and gossip, Heart ready, trusting in God, Spirit firm, unperturbed, Ever blessed, relaxed among enemies…Yes, and Amen!

Proverb 30:7-9, The Message

And then he prayed, “God, I’m asking for two things
    before I die; don’t refuse me—
Banish lies from my lips
    and liars from my presence.
Give me enough food to live on,
    neither too much nor too little.
If I’m too full, I might get independent,
    saying, ‘God? Who needs him?’
If I’m poor, I might steal
    and dishonor the name of my God.”

WISDOM:  Pray to grow in Godly character.

Abba Father,

You are blessing me but I still have a long way to go in growing and mature your character traits.  Make me more like you from the inside out and less like my natural self.  I want to be more like Jesus taught is to be.  Thank you for working out your salvation in me.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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HALLELUJAHS THAT LAST A LIFETIME!

Posted on January 30, 2021 by randscallawayffm

I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me

I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me
I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee
I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery
I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!

There is always and forever something to thank God for when we forget about ourselves and what we think we need to have.  We need only to watch social media, television or a movie for a few minutes to be commanded, “you NEED this” or “have it your own way” and “think about yourself first and pamper your inner self.”   Our hallelujahs fade quickly with that kind of thinking and behaving. 

Our minds form a hardening spiritual dementia of forgetfulness when self becomes the center of our attention, pushing God and all He has done for us to the side.  Jesus becomes a compartment we go to only when in trouble or when it is time to worship for an hour with others on any given Sunday.  God doesn’t just do one thing for us, isn’t there to only relieve our troubles for a moment, or to be thought of as a mere temporary rescue when we decide to call on him as the last resort when we get tired or can’t handle life. 

God is SO much more!  Living in tandem with God is living life to the full!  It is knowing that God is in the lead, in control, pointing out the pits and helping us avoid falling.  It is knowing God’s created purpose for us and learning to live out that purpose with His wisdom and teaching all along the way.  It is knowing Jesus died to save us from death to rising to real life forever with Him!  It is knowing we are loved and cherished as one of God’s children.  Because of Jesus’ work on the cross, we can approach God in awe on our own.  God listens to us and if we pause after prayer, God speaks to us.  It is a relationship with our Abba Father, God that is intimate and precious, full of unconditional love, grace and mercy.

The Psalmist sets us straight!  “God’s works are so great, worth a LIFETIME of study—endless enjoyment!”  As my favorite hymn reminds me this morning, playing in the background of this hallelujah time, God is truly great!  Yes, and Amen!  “Great is your faithfulness, O God my Father”!  God proves over and over what only He can do out of a love for us that is beyond our human thinking!  Love God back because He first loved us.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be

Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 111, The Message

1-10 Hallelujah!
I give thanks to God with everything I’ve got—
Wherever good people gather, and in the congregation.
God’s works are so great, worth
A lifetime of study—endless enjoyment!

Splendor and beauty mark his craft;
His generosity never gives out.
His miracles are his memorial—This God of Grace, This God of Love.


He gave food to those who fear him,
He remembered to keep his ancient promise.

He proved to his people that he could do what he said:
Hand them the nations on a platter—a gift!
He manufactures truth and justice;
All his products are guaranteed to last—
Never out-of-date, never obsolete, rust-proof.

All that he makes and does is honest and true:
He paid the ransom for his people,
He ordered his Covenant kept forever.
He’s so personal and holy, worthy of our respect.

The good life begins in the fear of God—
Do that and you’ll know the blessing of God.
His Hallelujah lasts forever!

TRUTH:  God paid the ransom for his people then and Jesus paid the ransom for us now.  Never out-of-date, never obsolete…great is His faithfulness to those who believe and love him back.  He keeps his promises.  He always has and always will be God.

Proverb 30:12-16, The Message

Don’t imagine yourself to be quite presentable
    when you haven’t had a bath in weeks.

13 Don’t be stuck-up
    and think you’re better than everyone else.

14 Don’t be greedy,
    merciless and cruel as wolves,
Tearing into the poor and feasting on them,
    shredding the needy to pieces only to discard them.

15-16 A freeloader has twin daughters
    named “Gimme” and “Gimme more.”

WISDOM:  The above wisdom is how not to be living in God’s kingdom!  Avoid thinking only of self.  God first.  Others second.  Self last.

Abba Father,

Great is your faithfulness to us every single day!  Your manna of mercy is fresh each morning.  Each day is a new opportunity to love and live for you here while we prepare our hearts, minds and souls to live with you there forever!  Continue to teach us to live in your rhythm and flow.  Help us to love others like you love us, nothing held back, unconditional and full of mercy and grace.  Help us to live our lives with you in the lead for your ways are always the best way!  Guide our thought-life with wisdom to solve dilemmas not be one who creates bigger messes.  Yes, you are God and we are not.  To you be all glory for all that you are and all that you do that no one else can do!  I raise a hallelujah forever to you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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JESUS IS KING OF OUR LIVES FOREVER!

Posted on January 29, 2021 by randscallawayffm

As we read Psalm 110, which is all about Jesus, immediately this song is playing in the background of our minds this morning!  “Only King Forever” by Elevation Worship…

Our God, a firm foundation
Our rock, the only solid ground
As nations rise and fall
Kingdoms once strong now shaken
But we trust forever in Your name
The name of Jesus
We trust the name of Jesus

You are the only King forever
Almighty God we lift You higher
You are the only King forever
Forevermore, You are victorious

Unmatched in all Your wisdom
In love and justice You will reign
And every knee will bow
We bring our expectations
Our hope is anchored in Your name
The name of Jesus
Oh-oh, we trust the name of Jesus

You are the only King forever
Almighty God we lift You higher
You are the only King forever
Forevermore, You are victorious

We lift our banner high
We lift the name of Jesus
From age to age You reign
Your kingdom has no end

You are the only King forever
Almighty God we lift You higher
You are the only King forever
Forevermore, You are victorious…

Colossians. Hebrews. 1 Peter. Psalm 110.

THIS psalm of all songs is prophetic and proclaims Jesus, Son of God, sitting at God’s right hand on the throne.  Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords will rule forever!   Jesus and Peter both stated that David wrote this psalm (Matt. 22:43; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:42; Acts 2:33-35), and since David was a prophet, he wrote it about the Messiah (Acts 2:30; 2 Sam. 23:2). He certainly did not write about any of his own descendants, for no Jewish king was ever a priest, let alone a priest forever (v. 4; 2 Chron. 26:16-23). Also, no Jewish king ever conquered all the rulers of the whole earth (v. 6).

This psalm is quoted or alluded to in the New Testament more than any other psalm, verse 1 at least twenty-five times and verse 4 another five times. Ten of these quotations or allusions are in the book of Hebrews alone. Jesus used verse 1 to prove His deity and silence the Pharisees (Matt. 22:41-46) and also to answer the high priest during His trial (Matt. 26:64).

The psalm presents two pictures of Messiah from the past–His exaltation as King (vv. 1-3) and His consecration as Priest (v. 4)–and a third picture from the future, His victory over the enemies of God (vv. 5-7).

Jesus IS coming back, you know…

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 110, The Message

1-3 The word of God to my Lord:
    “Sit alongside me here on my throne
    until I make your enemies a stool for your feet.”
You were forged a strong scepter by God of Zion;
    now rule, though surrounded by enemies!
Your people will freely join you, resplendent in holy armor
    on the great day of your conquest,
Join you at the fresh break of day,
    join you with all the vigor of youth.

4-7 God gave his word and he won’t take it back:
    you’re the permanent priest, the Melchizedek priest.
The Lord stands true at your side,
    crushing kings in his terrible wrath,
Bringing judgment on the nations,
    handing out convictions wholesale,
    crushing opposition across the wide earth.
The King-Maker put his King on the throne;
    the True King rules with head held high!

TRUTH:  God gave the Word and He won’t take it back.  God’s promises are true.  Jesus is coming back one more time to claim his own and set up His Kingdom forever.  Are we ready?  I am!! 

Proverb 30:1-6, The Message

1-2 The skeptic swore, “There is no God!
    No God!—I can do anything I want!
I’m more animal than human;
    so-called human intelligence escapes me.

3-4 “I flunked ‘wisdom.’
    I see no evidence of a holy God.
Has anyone ever seen Anyone
    climb into Heaven and take charge?
    grab the winds and control them?
    gather the rains in his bucket?
    stake out the ends of the earth?
Just tell me his name, tell me the names of his sons.
    Come on now—tell me!”

WISDOM:  The believer replied, “Every promise of God proves true;
    he protects everyone who runs to him for help.
So don’t second-guess him; he might take you to task and show up your lies.”

Abba Father,

You have shown your glory so many times in our lives.  You have protected us from our enemies.  You have provided for our needs enough to share.  You have given us Your Word of assurance and promises that come to realization before our eyes and before those who came before us.  Your Word is truth.  You are Truth.  You are also love, mercy and grace.  You are healer.  You are sustainer of life.  You are God and we are not.  Thank you, Jesus for leaving your throne of heaven to save us.  Thank you for your promise to come back again to bring all believers in you to where you live forever as King of kings and Lord of lords!  Continue to teach us and prepare us here for life forever there.

In Jesus Name, Amen

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.…”John 14:1-3

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RESCUE PRAYER

Posted on January 28, 2021 by randscallawayffm

Lord, do something!  How many times have we been in yet another overwhelming circumstance, with seemingly no way out to us, and prayed this quick prayer?  Lord, we need you to act!  Lord, bring justice!  How many times have we been in situations where people are telling lies about us so we will be blamed for a project gone wrong?  You want justice and you want it now!  Lord, it’s unfair, is our cry for mercy.  Then, at the end of our ropes, when we are at the end of our rants, we pray, “Lord, save me”.  This is the order of human thinking.  Maybe our prayers should begin with Lord, save me. 

This psalm is about David.  David is being harassed by Saul for Saul is jealous of David.  David is being lied about and chased down by Saul’s officers who are loyal to their King.  David cries out to God for rescue, judgement of his enemy and for his help to live.  But he closes with,

“Help me, oh help me, God, my God,
    save me through your wonderful love;
Then they’ll know that your hand is in this,
    that you, God, have been at work.”

“Save me”, David asks of God.  Not only save him physically but in all other ways as well for David wants what God wants in the end…for others to know God.  Do we?

Had we been in this situation with David, we might have prayed as he did! There was terrible injustice in the land, and only God could remove Saul and put the rightful king on the throne. David did not avenge himself but put the matter in the hands of the Lord (Rom. 12:17-21). Do we?

GOING DEEPER INTO THE MEANING…

The silence of God indicated that the Lord was not answering prayer and working on David’s behalf. Often, we cry out to Him but nothing seems to happen. David reminded the Lord that he did not pray only when he needed help, for he praised the Lord often and thanked Him for His mercies. In fact, in the Hebrew text, “O God of my praise” opens the psalm. God was silent, but the enemy was vocal, speaking hateful, lying words and accusing David of crimes he had never committed. The word translated “adversaries” or “accusers” gives us the English word “Satan,” one of the names of the Devil. Satan is the accuser (Rev. 12:10) and the adversary of believers (1 Peter 5:8), and he uses people to accomplish this work. Like our Savior who was falsely accused, David was innocent of the charges. God’s people return good for evil, most people return good for good and evil for evil, but Satan’s crowd returns evil for good. David responded to God’s silence and to the enemy’s attacks by praying to the Lord. His faith did not waver.

Knowing God’s covenant, David was predicting what would happen because of the sins his enemy had committed. (See Lev. 26:14-39.)  Jewish tradition states that the “sins of the father” be visited sins on future generations!   All of this evil would come right back on David’s enemy’s own head and penetrate his very being, for sinners hurt themselves far more than they hurt their victims.

“Lord, help me!”  As a faithful son of the covenant, David had a right to ask God for the help he needed. His desire was that God might be glorified by showing mercy to His servant (vv. 21, 27). He wanted God to do some wonderful thing that only He could do, and this would tell his enemies that Jehovah was fighting David’s battles.  “Magnify your mercy!” was David’s cry at the end of his song. He wanted the Lord to be mindful of his needs, for he was “poor and needy”. He had a broken heart, and he felt as if his life was fading away like the shadows of evening.  Raise you hand if you have ever felt this way!

Finally, David promised to praise the Lord and give glory to Him when all these trials were ended, and he did. After David had been made king over all Israel, he brought the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem and sought to honor the Lord (2 Sam. 5-6). God did help David, in His own time and His own way, and so He will do for us. 

God’s promises are true.  God is our rescue. 

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 109, The Message

1-5 My God, don’t turn a deaf ear to my hallelujah prayer.
    Liars are pouring out invective on me;
Their lying tongues are like a pack of dogs out to get me,
    barking their hate, nipping my heels—and for no reason!
I loved them and now they slander me—yes, me!—
    and treat my prayer like a crime;
They return my good with evil,
    they return my love with hate.

6-20 Send the Evil One to accuse my accusing judge;
    dispatch Satan to prosecute him.
When he’s judged, let the verdict be “Guilty,”
    and when he prays, let his prayer turn to sin.
Give him a short life,
    and give his job to somebody else.
Make orphans of his children,
    dress his wife in widow’s black;
Turn his children into begging street urchins,
    evicted from their homes—homeless.
May the bank foreclose and wipe him out,
    and strangers, like vultures, pick him clean.
May there be no one around to help him out,
    no one willing to give his orphans a break.
Chop down his family tree
    so that nobody even remembers his name.
But erect a memorial to the sin of his father,
    and make sure his mother’s name is there, too—
Their sins recorded forever before God,
    but they themselves sunk in oblivion.
That’s all he deserves since he was never once kind,
    hounded the afflicted and heartbroken to their graves.
Since he loved cursing so much,
    let curses rain down;
Since he had no taste for blessing,
    let blessings flee far from him.
He dressed up in curses like a fine suit of clothes;
    he drank curses, took his baths in curses.
So give him a gift—a costume of curses;
    he can wear curses every day of the week!
That’s what they’ll get, those out to get me—
    an avalanche of just deserts from God.

21-25 Oh, God, my Lord, step in;
    work a miracle for me—you can do it!
Get me out of here—your love is so great!—
    I’m at the end of my rope, my life in ruins.
I’m fading away to nothing, passing away,
    my youth gone, old before my time.
I’m weak from hunger and can hardly stand up,
    my body a rack of skin and bones.
I’m a joke in poor taste to those who see me;
    they take one look and shake their heads.

26-29 Help me, oh help me, God, my God,
    save me through your wonderful love;
Then they’ll know that your hand is in this,
    that you, God, have been at work.
Let them curse all they want;
    you do the blessing.
Let them be jeered by the crowd when they stand up,
    followed by cheers for me, your servant.
Dress my accusers in clothes dirty with shame,
    discarded and humiliating old ragbag clothes.

30-31 My mouth’s full of great praise for God,
    I’m singing his hallelujahs surrounded by crowds,
For he’s always at hand to take the side of the needy,
    to rescue a life from the unjust judge.

TRUTH:  For God is always at hand to rescue us—in His time and in His way.  Always.

Proverb 30:5, The Message

WISDOM: “The believer replied, “Every promise of God proves true;
    he protects everyone who runs to him for help.”

Abba Father,

Thank you for rescuing me over and over again.  May others know you because of what you did for me and others who believe that you are really real.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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