While on vacation, I spent time in Psalm 30-36 finding hope, help, and hugs from God. God’s Word is sooo good – all the time! (remembering Janice Torgerson who died four years ago yesterday – she was a rich blessing)
3.1.1 (like 9-1-1) stood out to me. It is Psalm 31:1 which reads: In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame, deliver me in your righteousness. AMEN!!!
Add 31:2 to 31:1 and note the added words rescue and rock. So four “R” words: Refuge, Righteous, Rescue, Rock – aren’t those great compass points for each of us to help get and keep our bearings?
How about 3345 (Ps. 33:4-5)? For the word of the LORD is right and and true, He is faithful in all he does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love!
May we be given to these points and be driven to keep them to His glory!
I also noted afresh that over and over God’s people are in trouble, pain, despair, grief, persecution and loss – over and over. Yet, God is their God and their salvation. Take Psalm 34; v.4 delivered from fears, v.6 this poor man cried out, v.7 the angel of the LORD…delivers them, v.15 His ears are open to their cry, and v.17 delivers them out of all their troubles. Do you see God’s people in chaos? Do you see God? Trust Him!
For church on July 22, Janet and I attended TriValley Baptist Church outside of Bloomington, IL. It was small – very small, like 25 people – and good!
In SS we studied I Corinthians 5. Three things stood out:
- The church was not only accepting of sins, but actually rejoicing in their love, tolerance and numbers gained!
- Paul, like a DS, learned of wrong things not only being tolerated but approved and sent a strong message to the leadership to deal with the issue!
- A warning that sins metastasize and soon troubles abound, so radical action is necessary quickly.
The worship service was from 10:30 to after 12:00. The message was from John 8:12-24 focusing on verse 12 which reports that Jesus is the Light of the World and that in His light there is life.
On July 29 we attended University Baptist Church (another Southern Baptist church). The building sits just east of the University of Arkansas campus with a number of buildings and a sanctuary that probably seats 3,000. With classes not yet in session, the room was less than half full.
Sunday School was about the “fear of man”. We fear people because we fear rejection, we fear physical harm or we fear exposure – they might learn the truth about us and post it. The talk was about how we strive to escape our flaws or we seek to exploit the sins of others thus making us look better. Rather, we need to fear God and God alone. A good class!
Worship was similar to ours – Janet and I knew most of the songs. Their worship team was similar in make up. The message was about how to spot a genuine Christian taken from Ephesians 4:25-5:2. Three markers were presented: genuine Christians 1. live communal lives – that is, the church family is critical in their daily lives, 2. are changed – that is, they are givers, forgivers, truth tellers, and reject the ways of the world, and 3. sacrifice as did their Savior. Good markers for all of us.
In the Smoky Mountains we came on a group at the visitor’s center and I noted a girl with a Bible so I interrupted the leader to ask the girl if it was a Bible and she said, “Yes.” I then looked at them all and asked if they were Jesus people and they readily responded, “Yes.” I gave them an encouragement and a thumbs up. God is everywhere and He has people everywhere. Go, God!!
a PK Musing 
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