Bad News and Good News

Posted on 2020-10-20 by Mirjam Fels

The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The LORD is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength.
Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.

Psalm 93:1

LORD Jesus, we praise You for You reign and remain in control. You are the everlasting and great God and above all. Forgive us whenever we are only looking to men for answers. Help our unbelief and make our faith in You grow. Enable us, O God we ask, to share and declare Your mighty works. Reveal to us in what ways we could possibly spread the Word — even in midst of this pandemic that has been going on for so long now. In Jesus’ powerful name we pray. Amen.

Starting tomorrow night, Ireland is moving to Level 5. The people on this isle are pretty much back to “lockdown” like it used to be at the beginning of the year.

Many people, in other parts of this world, are facing similar restrictions. Throughout 2020 we have been continually exposed to the statistics of Covid-19. Most of us know the symptoms and what we ought to do to protect ourselves. The social distancing is getting to us and we are feeling very much isolated. All of this seems so much out of control by now.

That’s the bad news. How can you not despair? It is high time to shift the focus.

Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

Psalm 34:3

You see, it is a matter of (willingly) keeping our focus, our eyes fixed on the LORD because:

The LORD on high is mightier
Than the noise of many waters,
Than the mighty waves of the sea.

Psalm 93:4

We don’t have to ignore the bad news, of course not; but if we will constantly dwell on them, keep on magnifying them, then they will eventually crush us. Collect only the very basic of information. Make a note of it and then move on.

We have to exalt the LORD Jesus and think on good things. As God’s Word says in Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Remember: God is good all the time; and, all the time God is good.

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The Work Of Our Hands

Posted on 2020-10-17 by Mirjam Fels

And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands.

Psalm 90:17

LORD Jesus, we praise You for You are our God and high above the earth. You’ve created all things. And all things were created through You and for You. Forgive us, O God we pray, whenever we want to do things our own way. Enable us to see Your beauty upon us and establish the work of our hands for us. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray. Amen.

It feels amazing when things work according to (our) plan, doesn’t it? The home was cleaned in a breeze, the cake came out of the oven looking like it had come from the cake shop around the corner, and our children are behaving like little angels.

Um, some days do go quite different, though. We are running late picking up the children from a sports event. O, uh! They are going to be grumpy and complaining all the way home. Dinner will have to wait because we have forgotten to prepare the potatoes ahead of time. What a day! Couldn’t it be bedtime yet?

Have you ever questioned yourself if God has forgotten to bless you with the necessary skills to get all the housework done? I have. Do you ever doubt that God has given you a specific talent but you are not able to make the right use of it? Well, I do. Or, have you asked yourself before if all that you are doing is in vain? I mean, housework is never finished, completed, done — there is always something (else) we could do.

Some may say that work is a curse of the fall. I disagree. Work is good and pleasing — if committed to the LORD. However, if we want to have it our own way, or if we seek to get all the credit for it, then we will labor in vain.

1 Corinthians 3:7 says:

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

That doesn’t mean that our work — our planting and watering — is worthless. It means that we need to build our work on the right foundation, Christ Jesus, and that it is God who causes things to happen. The credit is due to Him. He deserves the glory and praises.

Let’s look at Psalm 90:17 one more time:

And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands.

Listen to what F.B. Meyer writes on verses 13-17

Let us seek to do some good work before we go, and may our children be a nobler generation than ourselves! But all beauty of character and permanence of work must emanate [be issued, flow, proceed] from God.

May the LORD Jesus comfort your heart and establish you in every good word and work. Amen.

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Great is the LORD

Posted on 2020-10-15 by Mirjam Fels

For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD?
Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD?

Psalm 89:6

LORD Jesus, we praise You for Your Faithfulness. Help us to understand, O God we pray, that there is none like You, that You are above all, and that You remain in control no matter what happens. There is nothing that You could not do. You are able to turn around every situation. You are the One who reaches out to touch hearts and minds. Enable us to lift up our hands to sing praises You our God and our Redeemer. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray. Amen.

Who is mighty like our LORD, the God of hosts? Is there anyone beside Him who could still the rising waves of the sea? No! Whose are the heavens and the earth? They are His. Who has founded the world and all its fullness? He did. How about the north and the south — who created them? The LORD our God did. Hallelujah!

Praise His wonders and His faithfulness. Have faith in God!

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