The Universal Praises of God!

Revelation Song
Revelation Song A song to JESUS CHRIST, the Lamb upon the throneAnd they sang a new song, saying:"You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals;For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your bloodOut of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice:"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" Rev 5:9-12 video from Gateway Church
Posted by Obet Awa-ao on Monday, October 19, 2015

No Good If Not Applied

About a month ago, I sat in the doctor's office with both of my sons for their annual check-ups and to check up on some issues they both are dealing with.  My youngest son has eczema in several places all over his body.  The doctor prescribed him with a topical steroid cream.  The instructions are: Apply the cream to the affected area two to three times daily. 

What exactly do they mean when they say "apply" the cream?  To apply means to make use of something; to put to use. 

While sitting at my desk I happened to notice the tube of cream laying there and the thought came to me, The solution to the problem is laying there not being applied.  This cream does no good to help relieve my son's problem as long as it lays there and never gets applied.  How often in life we go through a learning process or experience and fail to apply what we have learned to the problem we are dealing with.  Or how many times have we suffered with a problem, all the while having what was necessary to relieve the problem laying right before our eyes.  

When Jesus was tempted by Satan, He knew the Word, He is the Word, but He still had to apply the Word to the problem, and when He did, the problem (Satan) left!  

This past Sunday we finished a 10-week series in Children's Church on the 9 Fruits of the Spirit.  I explained to the kids that memorizing them/learning them is good, but just to know them doesn't do anything to better ourselves as Christians.  If we do not apply what we have learned, it remains useless to us the same way this cream is to my son's eczema.  

If you've been in church for a while, you have gained a lot of knowledge of the Word.  You've probably gained enough Word to apply to whatever problem it is you may be faced with.  Don't allow your problems to continually irritate you, apply the Word that you have access to, put it to use!  The Great Physician has a prescription for whatever ailment you may have.    

Oh How He Loves!

Sometimes when reading God's Word, I like to place my name in the scriptures in place of other names.  I know God's Word is His love letter to me.  As I was meditating upon this passage, I found great comfort in adding my name to it, making it personal to my current situation.  Whatever you may be going through today, allow God's Word to speak to you in a personal way. 

Isaiah 43: 1 But now, O (Rhonda) , listen to the Lord who created YOU.  O (Rhonda), the one who formed YOU says, “Rhonda, Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed YOU.  I have called YOU by name; YOU are mine. 2 Rhonda, When YOU go through deep waters, I will be with YOU. When YOU go through rivers of difficulty, YOU will not drown. When YOU walk through the fire of oppression, YOU will not be burned up; the flames will not consume YOU.  3 For Rhonda, I am the Lord, YOUR God, the Holy One of Israel, YOUR Savior. Rhonda, I gave Egypt as a ransom for YOUR freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in YOUR place.  4 Others were given in exchange for YOU.  I traded their lives for YOURS because Rhonda, YOU are precious to me.  Rhonda, YOU are honored, and I LOVE YOU!

Now you put your name where my name is and allow it to comfort and encourage you.