Famous Words of Encouragement

They may be the most famous words in the Bible, besides John 3:16.  They are words which are quoted in funeral services, and written on Bible covers.  They hang on our walls as decoration, and are memorized by many saints.  I am speaking of Psalm 23.  These verses speak into many areas of our lives.  For this occasion, I just want us to consider the first 3 verses.
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters,
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."
Go with me for a few moment to the places described in this verses.  Close you eyes, and picture yourself lying down in a large, green meadow.  You lie down for a while, then, you rise, and go just a few steps to a calm stream nearby.  After some time there, you notice a path that has been worn, leading from the stream, and you follow it.  I don't know about you, but these images are relaxing, and soothing.  I picture stillness and tranquility.  Things we don't get much of in the hustle and bustle of life.  These are images that seem so far away from us.  Yet, they don't have to be.  In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, "I am the Good Shepherd..." (John 10:14).  If Jesus is the Shepherd of your life, notice something with me, He takes the lead!  Psalm 23 says, "He makes me lie down", "He leads", He restores"!  These are great words of comfort and encouragement.  Even when life is crazy, and you find yourself being pulled in very direction possible, it is good to know, that you can still find comfort and rest in Christ Jesus!  These verses also remind us that we must take time to come apart from the world.  You and I must allow Jesus to make us lie down!  We must allow Him time to lead us into stillness and solitude.  I heard Charles Swindoll say, "If you don't take time to come apart, you will come apart".  Such truth!  How can you follow the Shepherd, if you don't take time to look for Him? 
Find your rest in Christ Jesus!  Find peace for your spirit in His green pastures.  Find tranquility in His refreshing waters.  Find restoration in His forgiveness.  FInd righteousness in His cross!

In His Service, 
​Rev. Gene Nelson 

Preparation for the Battle
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It's something every believer faces, well, for that matter, it is something every human faces: Temptation.  Some fight to resist, some quickly give in, and others face it head on!  And, like any battle, preparations must be made in order to stand in the presence of temptation.  Paul writes in Ephesians 6:13, "Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."  So, how do we stand?  How do you and I go about being prepared for the temptations that we know Satan will throw before us?  

Joseph (Old Testament) shows every believer how to stand.  First, there must be a determination of spirit.  In Genesis 39:7-10, temptation is thrust upon Joseph, as Potiphar's wife attempts to seduce him.  However, verse 9-10 tell us Joseph's words to her; "There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife.  How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?  So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her."  Did you notice something.  Joseph did not say being with her would be a sin against her husband.  No, it was a sin against God.  Before the temptation even presented itself, Joseph had a determination that refused to sin against His God!  It's also called integrity!  It was Joseph's desire to not even be in the same room as Potiphar's wife, because he knew, in her presence, there was temptation to sin against God, and He wanted nothing to do with it!  There is a lesson for you and I.  You must be determined, knowing that temptation is on the way, that you will not sin against God!

Also in Joseph, there is the powerful presence of God.  In verse 3, the Bible tells us, "And his master saw that the Lord was with Him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand".  Did you notice that?  The presence of the Lord was seen in Joseph.  It wasn't just talked about, it was seen.  It wasn't just thought of, it was seen!  Even when falsely accused, and thrown into prison, verse 23 tells us, "...the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made to prosper."  See, Joseph's determination, preparation and personal integrity kept him from temptation, because the power and presence of God in His life! 

I wonder, in times of temptation, can the same be said of you and me?  Would people say "I see the Lord's presence with him", or "I see that the Lord is with her"?  So often, we stumble in times of temptation because we aren't prepared when the time comes.  May Joseph's thought be our thoughts: "How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God"!

"WOW"
There are few things that make me say "WOW!" out loud!  One such occasion occurred one evening as I was driving home from a hospital visit.  It was not a "Wow" of excitement, or a "Wow" of joy, but rather, it came from surprise and discouragement.  I was trying to find something on the radio to listen to during the drive (preferably a sporting event), so I was scanning the stations.  That's when I heard what caused my "Wow".  I won't mention the station or the program, but the show host was interviewing her guest, who is some kind of mediation guru, specifically "mindfulness".  Here is an answer to her question about what is mindfulness:

“Meditation tends to take you from the outside very deeply inward. Mindfulness does the same thing in it centers you, but you are aware of everything that's happening; it brings you ultimately right into what you're experiencing, from touching this table cloth to feeling my feet on the ground, to seeing you across the table. It is really being present to those things and it often uses the breath to do that.”
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She continued by referencing a pseudo-gospel account of a time when Jesus was in a cave, and lemmings were biting at his feet and ankles.  To combat that, Jesus exuded love, and calmed the lemmings, and they were at peace with Him.  That's where my "Wow" moment happened!   The guest spoke about exuding love in the midst of her "Walking meditation" with wild peacocks.  I'm thinking, "Wow, What is this I am listening to?"  

This, and other teachings, are the reality of what Paul spoke of in I Timothy 4:3-4, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn theirs ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."  I should not have been surprised, but I was.  

Mindfulness is not being centered on self, it is being centered on Christ Jesus.  That's why Paul tell us to have "the mind of Christ".  I remember the song sung as a child, "Oh be careful little eyes what you see"...."Oh be careful little ears what you hear".."For the Father up above is looking down in love, Oh be careful..." and so it goes.  Well, that is also true to all believers, young and old, little or big, mature or babes, be careful!  There is some crazy teaching in this world, that has nothing to do with God.  Be careful when you see, hear, do and say.  

My "Wow" moment was a wake up call, that this world has some very warped and strange thoughts and crazy philosophies.  My prayer for you, and for myself, is that ever "Wow" moment from now on will be a experience with God that causes me to be amazed by Him, and cause me to audibly say,  "Wow"!  

"I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."  Galatians 2:20

The middle phrase is the critical understanding that you must grasp out of this fabulous verse. The entire verse is beautiful and wonderful to understand, but the middle is crucial.  "And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God...."  Do you see it?  Your present, daily reality is to model faith in Jesus Christ.  This is not the "The life I live when I get to Heaven...".  It does not say "The life I live when I get everything together". No, it is the Life I NOW live!  Now, present!  The life you live while reading this e-mail is to display Jesus.  The life you live as you drive down the road is to demonstrate that Christ lives in you.  The music you listen to, the words you speak, the attitude you carry, the places you go, the people you associate with....All these are part of your NOW life!  April 28-May 1, 2019, at the Lakeway Area Go Tell Crusade, 700 people made either a first time profession in Christ or a re-dedication of faith in Christ.  This is 700 people who said, "I need Jesus to impact and change my Now"!  My guess, is that some of you need that also!  Live Jesus everywhere you go.  Not just at church, not just in the quietness of your home, not just when you are with Christian friends (and even that sometimes doesn't matter)!  Instead, Live Jesus NOW! 

                                        REFLECTIONS ON THANKFUL PRAYER, PHILIPPIANS 1: 4
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 Paul’s thanksgiving begins by expressing the privilege he has in praying for the church at Philippi. And he uses a couple of words that should reflect the thanksgiving we should all have in prayer.  In verse 4 he says, “always in every prayer…”.  His prayers for the people were marked by persistence, Not just Philippi, but all the churches.  Paul’s thankfulness never wavered, and neither did his prayers. Satan came after Paul and his ministry in a sundry of ways; From imprisonment to shipwrecks, snakebites, a thorn in the flesh, and civil unrest in the towns he visited.  Yet, Paul prayed

Let me tell you, a fervent, persistent praying child of God, who is consistently besieging the Throne of Grace day and night, is more dangerous to Satan than an active person encumbered with busyness!  I heard someone say the other day, “Just say a little prayer for me”.  Maybe you have heard that, or said that, "Just say a little prayer for me”.  Do you understand that there is no such thing as a “Little Prayer”.  Every prayer brought before the God of the Universe is Big!  This is an opportunity to approach the King of Kings and Lord of Lord.  This is making your petitions known unto the Sovereign God of History and Creation.  There is nothing little about each and every prayer brought before Him.  He takes each one seriously.  He hears the prayers of His people, and He answers them all!  Paul tells us later in the book, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with Thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”

 With that understanding Paul says at the end of the verse, "…with joy.”  Where is joy found?  “I got the joy, joy, joy, joy where?”  Down in my heart.  Verse 7 says, "because I have you in my heart...", so every time he prayed for the people, it was his highest joy and privilege because they were in His heart!  Who do you pray for the most?  Those who are in your heart  What requests come to your heart and mind first?  Those that consume your heart!  That is where joy is found!  Now, not every request is joyful.  Sometimes what grips your heart is a struggle, or a person who needs Jesus.  Maybe what consumes your heart is a situation or need.  But, in your heart, you know that you can bring that request before the Father and it will be heard.  Bringing that prayer to Him, you have the joy in knowing that is the best place, and the only place where God’s glory can shine in the situation!

 So, you and I have joy because, "seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  That’s where thanksgiving begins - The joy of the heart
      

Ten Disciplines of Grace
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Grace 1: “You shall have no other gods before Me”
God loves you so much, and He longs for you to have all of Him
 
Grace 2: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image…”
Multiplied mercy conforming you into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ
 
Grace 3: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain”
In Christ, you get to carry His name
 
Grace 4: “Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it Holy”
A grace in rest that refocuses toward holiness
 
Grace 5: “Honor your mother and father…”
Brings God’s blessing and a lasting legacy
 
Grace 6: “You shall not murder”
God is the lover and giver of life
 
Grace 7: “You shall not commit adultery”
The redeeming love of God blesses purity and faithfulness
 
Grace 8: “You shall not steal”
Man’s desire is to get, but God’s grace is that He gives
 
Grace 9: “You shall not bear false witness”
Living in truth brings growth
 
Grace 10: “You shall not covet…”
Covet properly, with a desire for more and more of Jesus

"Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: 'I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go.'"  Isaiah 48: 17

Read that verse again.......No really, go ahead and do it, I'll wait...........
Do you think God wanted them to know who He is?  You think He is wanting to get their attention as to who is speaking to them?
He used 4 different expressions to say who He is! 
1) The Lord, Jehovah, the National name of God for His people, meaning Eternal
2) Redeemer, meaning 'next of kin', 'to purchase or ransom', 
3)The Holy One of Israel, The Sanctuary
4) God, Elohim, the Supreme God
Put it together, God is reminding His people that He is their eternal God who redeemed them from Egypt, so that He, the Supreme God can be their Sanctuary, their dwelling place.  What does God have to do to get your attention?  Remember as a child, when your parents wanted to get your attention, they would call you by your full name!  Instead of God calling you by your full name, He calls us by His name, reminding us exactly who He is.  He is the Eternal God of the Universe, who purchased us by the shed blood of His son Jesus, so that you and I can find our security and rest in the Only Supreme Authority of the Created Universe.  He reminds us who He is so that we will listen as He directs us in the way we should go!  Is God trying to get your attention?  Reflect on the many different ways God has shown Himself in your life the past couple of weeks. 
Now, pause, and take time to reflect and listen to Him......No, really, go ahead and do it.............
​He's waiting!

              "I will never forget your precepts, for by them You have given me life" 
Psalm 119:93

I want to invite you to read the entire chapter of Psalm 119, yes all 176 verses, and see what this tremendous chapter has to say about the Word of God, and what our response it to be to His Word!  I don't have time or space to give a detailed description, so I invite you to read it for yourself.  The chapter uses words like precepts, statutes, commandments, law and testimonies to describe the Word of God.  This morning, in my personal Bible reading time, this chapter was part of my reading plan, and now, the verse above is the Verse of the Day on my Bible app!  What is God trying to tell me?  Yes, I need to be in His Word more and more!  For me, it's easy to spend time in the Word, I do it every day.  But, in confession, sometimes it's just for sermon preparation and not in personal mediation!  Or, I am spending time reading what others say about the Bible rather than reading the Bible itself!  The words of Psalm 119: 93, and the entire chapter, challenge me.  They challenge me to remember that life is found in the Word of God.  Remember, that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.  Hope is found in the Word of God.  Power is found in the Word of God.  Truth is found in the Word of God.  Strength against temptation is found in the Word of God.  Deliverance is found in the Word of God.  Do you need any of these?  How about this, "Thy Word I have hid in my heart that I may not sin against Thee". This, if for no other reason is cause for us to never forget the Word of God!

"Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have purposed to make my steps stumble." Psalm 140:4

I messed up this morning, but God had a word for me.  In my Bible daily reading, I read the wrong Scripture.  I jumped way ahead by accident and read the Scripture assigned to another day.  But, God knew just what I needed, and gave me the verse I have quoted above.  I have sensed for a couple of days now that Satan is bringing attack against our church and it's members.  Sickness, job situations, busyness, distraction, anxiety, frustrations, etc....  Attacks that hinder our worship and growth as individuals and a church.  Attacks that discourage us, and cause us to question.  Attacks that take our focus off of the main thing, and that is Jesus.  As I read this verse this morning I realized, even though it was meant for a different day, God meant for me to read it today! 

Maybe it's a word for you as well.  As you read it, realize that the "hands of the wicked" and "violent men" are the works of Satan.  His purpose?  To make you and I stumble.  To cause you and I to get frustrated and off-center from God.  When that happens, we allow the frustrations and distractions to lead us into making hasty decisions and cause us to get discouraged in our circumstances.  So, my prayer for myself today is: "Keep me, O Lord".  I invite you to read this chapter and see David's request.  It wasn't just "keep me", it is "Deliver me" (vs. 1), "Preserve me" (vs. 1), "Hear the voice of my supplication" (vs. 6), and more.  In the end, David has confidence that Satan's attacks of discouragement, frustration, and anxiety will not thwart God's power in the life of His children.  "I Know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the poor.  Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; The upright shall dwell in your presence" (vs. 12-13).  Attacks will come, but you must not flinch!  Instead, know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted!  To God be the Glory!!!!!!