Psalm 136

 

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords:

His love endures forever.

to him who alone does great wonders,

His love endures forever.

who by his understanding made the heavens,

His love endures forever.

who spread out the earth upon the waters,

His love endures forever.

who made the great lights—

His love endures forever.

the sun to govern the day,

His love endures forever.

the moon and stars to govern the night;

His love endures forever.

to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt

His love endures forever.

and brought Israel out from among them

His love endures forever.

with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;

His love endures forever. 

to him who divided the Red Sea asunder

His love endures forever.

and brought Israel through the midst of it,

His love endures forever.

but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;

His love endures forever.

to him who led his people through the wilderness;

His love endures forever.

to him who struck down great kings,

His love endures forever.

and killed mighty kings—

His love endures forever.

Sihon king of the Amorites

His love endures forever.

and Og king of Bashan—

His love endures forever.

and gave their land as an inheritance,

His love endures forever.

an inheritance to his servant Israel.

His love endures forever.

He remembered us in our low estate

His love endures forever.

and freed us from our enemies.

His love endures forever.

He gives food to every creature.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven.

His love endures forever. ~ Psalm 136

Words of Wisdom

"I'm a young man,

   and you are all old and experienced.

That's why I kept quiet

   and held back from joining the discussion.

I kept thinking, 'Experience will tell.

   The longer you live, the wiser you become.'

But I see I was wrong—it's God's Spirit in a person,

the breath of the Almighty One, that makes wise human insight possible.

The experts have no corner on wisdom;

   getting old doesn't guarantee good sense.” Job 32:7-10 (The Message) 

The words above were said by Elihu to Job. It’s probably true that becoming older does not guarantee becoming wiser. But if God’s spirit is in a person, wisdom follows.           

Whenever I’m asked to think of someone who is an example of a spiritual person, there are a couple of former members of Eastridge who come to mind. One is Myra Dickerson, who lived past the age of 100. To me, Myra was the epitome of a spiritual woman who exudes God’s love for everyone.           

And she demonstrates her wisdom. In one of her last Christmas letters, Myra said she had been encouraged to share some of her “wisdom,” and I’d like to share her thoughts.           

• Each person has the responsibility to relate to God, but don’t forget to talk to God all the time.        
• He is your personal friend and will understand.
• Love and forgive. Life is too short to waste it away by hating.
• See all the good things in people before you criticize them. The world is full of beautiful people.
• Let there be peace and love on earth, and let it begin with me. 

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for sending people like Myra to demonstrate your love. Everyone who knew her is a better person for having known her. Help us all to follow her words of wisdom and strive to become like her. Amen. 

Robin Hadfield

Your Forever Body

Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body; according to the working whereby he is able to even to subdue all things unto himself. Philippians 3:21

Our resurrection bodies will be like His someday, according to the Bible, “That power is like the working of his mighty power, which he exerted in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 1:19-20

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come to condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24

Henry Morris writes, “Hearing this message with believing minds and hearts means all the difference between heaven and hell.” This message is repeated multiple times as shown here in Philippians, Ephesians, and John in the Bible.

Jesus also said, my sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. John 10:27-28

If, by chance, as many people today believe, Jesus should come back during our lifetime, the following 1 John verse explains what will happen.

We know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

It pleases me to know that each of my family and friends, by commenting they know Christ Jesus is our Savior, will be in heaven with me! I believe! Will you believe with me? Then no one can snatch us out of the hand of Jesus.

Prayer: Thank you, our great Lord, for dying for my sins, and giving me eternal life with you. Amen.

Sandra Hilsabeck

Start 2024 with prayer

Start the New Year with prayer.

Some scripture on prayer: 

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:12

New Year, New Beginnings in 2024

 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

Look Around You

 

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23

Out my bedroom window in the morning I see a heart made with the limbs of a tree in the first picture. It seems to me that the Lord is greeting me with “I Love You” every morning. What tree grows in the shape of a heart?

Next there is the branch in the tree next to it that must have been broken off by a storm. I remember storms in my life. I remember when I thought I could not go on. Look at all the branches coming out of the stump where the branch broke off. God started me in various other directions just like the limbs. I could pick and choose from all those new starting branches. He was with me each day in the green pastures, he led me and restored my soul. Each of you can continue to grow, fear no evil, and be comforted by Jesus who is with you as your rod and your staff.

We are so fortunate to have Jesus’s love following us all the days of our lives. Look outside and see the sun God raises every day. Look for signs He loves you. Read what the Lord puts in front of you. Follow the new paths He gives you. I accepted the coaching tennis job at Nebraska Wesleyan which became a wonderful time of my life. I hesitated because I had never taught college kids and never coached male students, but taking that challenge, changed my life.

Prayer: Oh Lord, thank you for being with me, for guiding me in paths of righteousness. Because you are with me I will fear no evil, be comforted by you, and join you in heaven someday. Amen.                                            

Postscript: The surprise of my life happened when I looked out my window the morning after I crafted this devotion. God put a big checkmark in my window, meaning He is glad I finally finished this devotion. I understood it immediately and called Bryce to come see it.

Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders.

Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?

Do you know how the clouds hang poised,

those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge? Job 37:14-16

Sandra Hilsabeck

Happy New Year!

New Year, New Day and New Life in Christ. 

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