Great Faithfulness

PSALM 138 (King James Version)

Psalm 138

 ¹I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

 ²I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

 ³In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

 ⁴All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.

 ⁵Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.

 ⁶Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.

 ⁷Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

 ⁸The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20138%20&version=KJV 

SCRIPTURE READING  Numbers 11:10-25 (The Message)

 ¹⁰ Moses heard the whining, all those families whining in front of their tents. God's anger blazed up. Moses saw that things were in a bad way.

 ^11-15 Moses said to God, "Why are you treating me this way? What did I ever do to you to deserve this? Did I conceive them? Was I their mother? So why dump the responsibility of this people on me? Why tell me to carry them around like a nursing mother, carry them all the way to the land you promised to their ancestors? Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people who are whining to me, 'Give us meat; we want meat.' I can't do this by myself—it's too much, all these people. If this is how you intend to treat me, do me a favor and kill me. I've seen enough; I've had enough. Let me out of here."

 ^16-17 God said to Moses, "Gather together seventy men from among the leaders of Israel, men whom you know to be respected and responsible. Take them to the Tent of Meeting. I'll meet you there. I'll come down and speak with you. I'll take some of the Spirit that is on you and place it on them; they'll then be able to take some of the load of this people—you won't have to carry the whole thing alone.

 ^18-20 "Tell the people, Consecrate yourselves. Get ready for tomorrow when you're going to eat meat. You've been whining to God, 'We want meat; give us meat. We had a better life in Egypt.' God has heard your whining and he's going to give you meat. You're going to eat meat. And it's not just for a day that you'll eat meat, and not two days, or five or ten or twenty, but for a whole month. You're going to eat meat until it's coming out your nostrils. You're going to be so sick of meat that you'll throw up at the mere mention of it. And here's why: Because you have rejected God who is right here among you, whining to his face, 'Oh, why did we ever have to leave Egypt?'"

 ^21-22 Moses said, "I'm standing here surrounded by 600,000 men on foot and you say, 'I'll give them meat, meat every day for a month.' So where's it coming from? Even if all the flocks and herds were butchered, would that be enough? Even if all the fish in the sea were caught, would that be enough?"

 ²³ God answered Moses, "So, do you think I can't take care of you? You'll see soon enough whether what I say happens for you or not."

 ^24-25 So Moses went out and told the people what God had said. He called together seventy of the leaders and had them stand around the Tent. God came down in a cloud and spoke to Moses and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy leaders. When the Spirit rested on them they prophesied. But they didn't continue; it was a onetime event.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=num%2011:10-25&version=MSG

 

HYMN Great Is Thy Faithfulness 

Tune:  Faithfulness

1.       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.

CHORUS: 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!

2.       Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, sun, moon, and stars in their courses above, join with all nature in manifold witness to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

3.       Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide; strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! 

 

What a marvelous scene!!  People whining (something of course none of us would ever do), a leader who pleads the case to God, and God acts!!!  I wonder why that seems to be such a surprise.  As I think back over my life there are innumerable times when God has acted but sometimes we tend to forget that.  Our ancient brothers and sisters who were out in the wilderness did to.  When Moses went to the mountaintop, God’s spirit was poured out on the 70 leaders.  And they prophesied.  But, the scripture says, it was a one-time event.  Maybe therein lies part of the problem.  We expect things to be repeated and yet this life that God gives us is not repeatable.  Today is the only March 3, 2011 we’ll ever get.  We can’t go back and get more.  We can’t ever do again what we have the opportunity to do today.  How will we go about doing it?  Trusting that indeed God will provide and that God’s faithfulness knows no bounds or trusting in ourselves and our own understandings??  May we come to know the faithfulness of God.

Blessings on your journey, 

 

Blessing and Keeping

PSALM 138 (King James Version)

Psalm 138

 ¹I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

 ²I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

 ³In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

 ⁴All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.

 ⁵Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.

 ⁶Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.

 ⁷Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

 ⁸The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20138%20&version=KJV 

SCRIPTURE READING  
Numbers 6:22-27 (The Message) 

The Aaronic Blessing

^22-23 God spoke to Moses: "Tell Aaron and his sons, This is how you are to bless the People of Israel. Say to them, 

 ²⁴ God bless you and keep you, 

 ²⁵ God smile on you and gift you, 

 ²⁶ God look you full in the face 
      and make you prosper. 
²⁷ In so doing, they will place my name on the People of Israel— 
   I will confirm it by blessing them."

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Num%206:22-27&version=MSG

 

HYMN The Lord Bless You and Keep You 

Tune:  Benediction

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord lift his countenance upon you and give you peace, and give you peace. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious, and be gracious, the Lord be gracious, gracious unto you.  Amen.

 

  The Aaronic blessing – the blessing I offer most every Sunday at the end of worship.  This blessing seems especially appropriate on the day we are all dealing with the loss of our good friend and church member Bill Graham.  Bill passed away early yesterday morning.  His services will be at 10 am on Thursday here at the church.  It’s important at the end of worship to remember that the Lord bless and keep us as we leave to go out into our work week and it’s important to remember on a day when we struggle with the pain and reality of loss and grief to remember the good news of our faith – that even when the world says it’s all over and done the Lord will still bless and keep us.

   Tonight is our church’s Executive Committee meeting at 7:30 pm.  It’s scheduled to be a quiet day in the office (wonder how long that will last!)  It’s good to remember, whatever comes, that the Lord does bless and keep all who seek His face.

   Blessings on your journey

 

 

Where To Post???

PSALM 138 (King James Version)

Psalm 138

 ¹I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

 ²I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

 ³In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

 ⁴All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.

 ⁵Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.

 ⁶Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.

 ⁷Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

 ⁸The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20138%20&version=KJV

SCRIPTURE READING

Leviticus 19:1-2; Leviticus 19:9-18 (The Message)

The Message (MSG)

Leviticus 19:1-2 View commentary related to this passage Leviticus 19 "I Am God, Your God"  1-2 God spoke to Moses: "Speak to the congregation of Israel. Tell them, Be holy because I, God, your God, am holy. The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Leviticus 19:9-18  9-10 "When you harvest your land, don't harvest right up to the edges of your field or gather the gleanings from the harvest. Don't strip your vineyard bare or go back and pick up the fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am God, your God.  11 "Don't steal.    "Don't lie.    "Don't deceive anyone.  12 "Don't swear falsely using my name, violating the name of your God. I am God.  13 "Don't exploit your friend or rob him.    "Don't hold back the wages of a hired hand overnight.  14 "Don't curse the deaf; don't put a stumbling block in front of the blind; fear your God. I am God.  15 "Don't pervert justice. Don't show favoritism to either the poor or the great. Judge on the basis of what is right.  16 "Don't spread gossip and rumors.    "Don't just stand by when your neighbor's life is in danger. I am God.  17 "Don't secretly hate your neighbor. If you have something against him, get it out into the open; otherwise you are an accomplice in his guilt.  18 "Don't seek revenge or carry a grudge against any of your people.    "Love your neighbor as yourself. I am God.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lev%2019:1-2,%209-18&version=MSG

 

HYMN Take Time to Be Holy

Tune:  Holiness

 

1.       Take time to be holy, Speak oft with thy Lord; Abide in Him always, And feed on His Word. Make friends of God's children; Help those who are weak; Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

2.       Take time to be holy, The world rushes on; Much time spend in secret With Jesus alone; By looking to Jesus, Like Him thou shalt be; Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

3.       Take time to be holy, Let Him be thy guide, And run not before Him, Whatever betide; In joy or in sorrow, Still follow thy Lord, And, looking to Jesus, Still trust in His Word.

4.       Take time to be holy, Be calm in thy soul; Each thought and each motive Beneath His control; Thus led by His Spirit To fountains of love, Thou soon shalt be fitted For service above.

 

 

   There they are – the Ten Commandments. They cause so much ruckus in our society today prompting lawsuits by being posted in public places.  I’ve often wondered, if we made sure they were posted in our homes and on our hearts would it make much difference if they were posted in courthouses or schools? 

   We’re headed back to Ohio in a little bit.  Understand there’s quite a bit of flooding all over the area.  Know you’re all in our prayers – and a prayer for safe travel would certainly be appreciated!

   Blessings on your journey,

Those Things We Build

PSALM 138 (King James Version)

Psalm 138

 ¹I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

 ²I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

 ³In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

 ⁴All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.

 ⁵Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.

 ⁶Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.

 ⁷Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

 ⁸The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20138%20&version=KJV

SCRIPTURE READING Exodus 32:1-24 (The Message)

"Make Gods for Us"

 ¹ When the people realized that Moses was taking forever in coming down off the mountain, they rallied around Aaron and said, "Do something. Make gods for us who will lead us. That Moses, the man who got us out of Egypt—who knows what's happened to him?"

 ^2-4 So Aaron told them, "Take off the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters and bring them to me." They all did it; they removed the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from their hands and cast it in the form of a calf, shaping it with an engraving tool.

   The people responded with enthusiasm: "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from Egypt!"

 ⁵ Aaron, taking in the situation, built an altar before the calf.

   Aaron then announced, "Tomorrow is a feast day to God!"

 ⁶ Early the next morning, the people got up and offered Whole-Burnt-Offerings and brought Peace-Offerings. The people sat down to eat and drink and then began to party. It turned into a wild party!

 ^7-8 God spoke to Moses, "Go! Get down there! Your people whom you brought up from the land of Egypt have fallen to pieces. In no time at all they've turned away from the way I commanded them: They made a molten calf and worshiped it. They've sacrificed to it and said, 'These are the gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt!'"

 ^9-10 God said to Moses, "I look at this people—oh! what a stubborn, hard-headed people! Let me alone now, give my anger free reign to burst into flames and incinerate them. But I'll make a great nation out of you."

 ^11-13 Moses tried to calm his God down. He said, "Why, God, would you lose your temper with your people? Why, you brought them out of Egypt in a tremendous demonstration of power and strength. Why let the Egyptians say, 'He had it in for them—he brought them out so he could kill them in the mountains, wipe them right off the face of the Earth.' Stop your anger. Think twice about bringing evil against your people! Think of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants to whom you gave your word, telling them 'I will give you many children, as many as the stars in the sky, and I'll give this land to your children as their land forever.'"

 ¹⁴ And God did think twice. He decided not to do the evil he had threatened against his people.

 ^15-16 Moses turned around and came down from the mountain, carrying the two tablets of The Testimony. The tablets were written on both sides, front and back. God made the tablets and God wrote the tablets— engraved them.

 ¹⁷ When Joshua heard the sound of the people shouting noisily, he said to Moses, "That's the sound of war in the camp!"

 ¹⁸ But Moses said, 

      Those aren't songs of victory, 
      And those aren't songs of defeat, 
      I hear songs of people throwing a party.

 ^19-20 And that's what it was. When Moses came near to the camp and saw the calf and the people dancing, his anger flared. He threw down the tablets and smashed them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. He took the calf that they had made, melted it down with fire, pulverized it to powder, then scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it.

 ²¹ Moses said to Aaron, "What on Earth did these people ever do to you that you involved them in this huge sin?"

 ^22-23 Aaron said, "Master, don't be angry. You know this people and how set on evil they are. They said to me, 'Make us gods who will lead us. This Moses, the man who brought us out of Egypt, we don't know what's happened to him.'

 ²⁴ "So I said, 'Who has gold?' And they took off their jewelry and gave it to me. I threw it in the fire and out came this calf."

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ex%2032:1-24%20&version=MSG

HYMN Spirit

Tune:  Spirit

CHORUS:

Spirit, Spirit of gentleness blow through the wilderness calling and free, Spirit, Spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea.

1. You moved on the waters you called to the deep then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep and over the eons you called to each thing “Awake from your slumbers and rise on your wings”
2. You swept through the desert you stung with the sand and you gifted your people with a law and a land when they were confounded with idols and lies then you spoke through your prophets to open their eyes.
3. You sang in a stable you cried from a hill then you whispered in silence when the whole world was still and down in the city you called once again when you blew through your people on the rush of the wind
4. You call from tomorrow you break ancient schemes from the bondage of sorrow the captives dream dreams our women see visions our men clear their eyes. With bold new decisions your people arise.

I haven’t been able to find a good link to hear this tune!

  We always seem to be able to build our golden calf.  Things take longer than we think they should.  People don’t do what we’d like them to do when we want them to, so we take matters into our own hands and ‘fix’ the problem. And often times in fixing the problem we only make it worse.  This time it had gotten so bad that God was ready to wipe his hands of the whole thing – wipe out the people completely and start over with Moses.  But God heard Moses’ plea and that didn’t happen. 

    As I read this passage, I wonder who it is that I am in this story.  There are PLENTY of times when I’ve built my own Golden Calf.  But then there are times when others around me build a calf.  How do I respond to that?  Do I have the wisdom, insight, and grace of Moses?? Maybe we are called to go from those Golden Calf moments with the sentiments of the 4^th verse of the hymn of today – “with bold new decisions, your people arise.”  May our bold decisions be to tear down the Golden Calves we’ve made, to have patience with those who are working on their calves, and to remember that God and God alone is the one who is worthy of our worship.

   Rev. Engman is preaching this morning at both worship services at 8:00 and 10:30.  The choir will be singing an a cappella piece.  Penny and I are enjoying our time in North Carolina.  We had dinner Saturday night with two of our Farm Town friends on Facebook.  It was great to finally put faces (and accents) with MJ and Nunya!!!!

  Blessings on your journey!