Lord's Day Devotional - Devotional Prayer - Word Became Flesh

Heavenly Father, You were there in the beginning because You are the Creator God.  The Word was there too, cuz "the Word was with God and the Word was God" so we now we can trace our humanity all the way back to the beginning where You started it all for us; actually, for You.  For You too have fellowship with Your created beings and so that they may give you glory.

We know and believe that all things were made,

 "...by you and without You nothing has been made..."  (John 1:1-3)

and that our life, our very life, comes from You; our Light.  Whatever Light we may have, is given by You.  The dark and the light that You have shines in the darkness even though the darkness doesn't understand it.  Therefore, You had to send Jesus to help explain it all to us human beings.  

You sent a man first though, John, to prepare the way for Jesus.  He came as a witness concerning that Light; the Light that would shine out to all mankind.  This in hopes that some of us might believe; that the Light would penetrate into our minds and our hearts.  In consequence, so we could understand about the true Light that comes from You, oh Father God.

This is available to every single person.  Jesus, the "Light of the World" is coming, proclaimed John.  He's coming to help us climb and claw our way out of the darkness.  Some of us human beings get into deep, deep darkness, but we praise You Father, Your Light can shine even there.

We know that Your Son Jesus,

 "...was in the world but He was not of the world" (John 1:910)

 Even though, Jesus, the Word, was there with You creating the world, the world did not recognize Him, their Maker.  We couldn't recognize our own Maker!

So, there were people, who did not receive Him.  Yet there was and still is, that group who have and will receive Him and believe in His precious Name, the name of Jesus Christ.  Due to this, we become Your children (John 1:12).

Heavenly Father, You are such a good, loving Maker.  You want to make a connection with us, want to commune with us!  Therefore, You've called us your "children". 

We have been born of God!

Born of God!

I know, Father, this does NOT make us divine.  Doesn't make us gods but it gives us Your Holy Spirit which we learn from the book of Acts and chapter 2.  He aids us in becoming more Christ-like in our actions, attitudes and character, and to generate more compassion, kindness, gentleness and goodness; all the fruit of Your Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

In Jesus, the One and Only who comes from You Father, is abundant grace and truth.  Grace and Truth came into this world of darkness, of no grace and mercy, together with this Light, shining in brilliance.  Your Word became flesh and dwelt among us so we could behold Your glory; the glory of the one true God.

We can now experience Your grace and truth firsthand.  

Thank-You for the faithfulness of Your servant John the Baptizer who cried out about your coming; of Your greatness and the need of the peoples' repentance.  He proclaimed of Your grace  that when we have already received one blessing after another.

We know Your laws that You gave to Moses to give to the children of Israel were good laws.  However, those laws glaringly showed up our flaws.  So when Jesus came with His grace and truth we get an inkling of that for our own life.  Jesus in His perfection of love, grace and truth, lends us a hand in comprehending a little of Your bigness, of Your Sovereignty and of Your Holiness.  Over all that, Your love enveloped us and proved to mankind how You felt about your human creatures, and so You sent Your One and Only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

I know that we have never actually seen You, Father God, but when we have seen Jesus Christ, Who is at Your side, then we know what You are like too.

I praise You for this and as we remember the Lord Jesus Christ, in His death, and the work He accomplished on the cross for the saving of our souls, flooding our hearts with His Light; and His resurrection.  We know we have a LIVING  GOD who is very, very interested in us and shows us grace and truth.  Help us to remember to praise You, adore You, to worship You.  

We partake then of the bread, and drink of the cup of wine, those symbols of Jesus' broken body and blood shed for the remission of our sins; of Your Light inundating our souls and hearts dispelling the darkness for ever; the indwelling of Your Holy Spirit, guaranteeing and securing our relationship with You,  making us Your children.  We give thanks with gratitude, for all You have done for us, in Jesus' Name.

                                                       ~ERC  May 2020~

Prayer based on John 1:1-18 NIV

The Word Became Flesh, Colin Buchanan

Prayer - Keep Your Oath

"You can cry.  You can scream, but you can't give up."

Saw that adage on a friend's facebook post.  

Then this morning (15 April 2020) I read Psalm 15 and when I hit verse 4,  I wanted to scream and some more.  The second part of the verse exhorts,

"...who keeps an oath even when it hurts..." (NIV)

That is one aspect that characterizes a person whose,

 "...walk is blameless" (Psalm 15:2 NIV)

Relationships, especially marital ones, will surely test your meddle and especially that wedding oath!

Many a time there will be other sorts of oaths uttered when the wedding oath is stretched beyond endurance.

Have you ever observed married couples looking placid and please with each other in public, only to find out they're paddling like mad "under the water" like a duck, in private?

It can be taxing for sure.  

Yet do you really mean those wedding vows said in the pathos of passion on nuptial day?

Maybe you've lost the passion due to abuse:  physical and/or emotional, or had the devastation upon learning your spouse has been unfaithful.  I have nothing to say on  that latter one, when we talk about not giving up.

Forgiveness seems like a bad joke.

You've been slapped in the face with betrayal and someone tells you to forgive?!  I cannot begin think of what to say to such a person wounded in such a manner.

"Forgive!"

"Don't give up!"

Those likely sound like mockery to someone who has kept their side of the oath.  

I'd highly respect the person who could humbly forgive though.  Who could continue in that marital alliance if the betrayer had mended his/her ways.  There is such a thing as repentance; one cannot rule that out of the equation.  It may take years to rebuild trust.  There may be slips.  Can the faithful one stand up under that?

Yet marriages do break up.  Sad, but true.  Perhaps the injured party has forgiven and kept as steady as possible, clinging onto Christ their Savior who will never leave them nor forsake them.

Years and years go by and they have not given up on Jesus.  Likely they've cried buckets and screamed a lot.  Nevertheless Jesus has gentled them and been their Savior and Comforter in more than one way.  They have been blameless in God's sight.  They have been shaken but not beyond the nth degree shake.

The effects of physical abuse can often be seen.  The emotional toll and abuse effects unseen indirectly but eventually may be seen directly in the person's health or manners or actions.  Perhaps the person becomes cowed; made to feel like nothing more than a piece of dirt, kicked and shoved around by someone who supposedly, loves them!?

Wouldn't you want to give up?!

If he/she is a person who believes in keeping a promise, they'd be hard put to keep the wedding one.  People stay in such relationships, for a variety of reasons.  If, however, the person's and/or their children's lives are in danger, getting away is not equal to giving up.  Protect yourself.

Emotional and verbal abuse are silent killers of ardor and any decent relationship.  When a spouse is "hacked at", constantly spoken to in harsh manner or as if one is a child, but is supposedly the equal in a relationship, well, wouldn't there be crying and screaming and a giant wanting to "give up"?  I should think there would be.

If you were constantly bombarded with negative speak, spoken to in a "more superior than thou" attitude, how would you feel?

Would you feel like "forgiving"?

Would you feel like "never giving up"?

Who can abide such rot?

Yet, those of us who belong to Jesus Christ are asked to forgive.  What did Jesus tell the disciples...til 70 x 7? ! 

Have you used up all the forgiveness credits yet?

But who's counting?

What would Jesus do?  Wow!?  Another psychological punt.

Guilt trip.

Which way can we turn?  Let the Holy Spirit minister to your poor torn hearts, souls, minds.  Seriously, we who belong to Christ do know what we should do.

If we do not let ourselves become irreparably shaken we will hang on to Jesus for dear life.  Let Him renew our minds, souls, and hearts.  Know that HE LOVES US to the core.  Let His presence surround you, envelop you.  You are of great worth to Him.  Tell Him your troubles.  Ask Him how to overcome.  Honor and fear the LORD.  He may not get you out of your personal predicament and persecution but He's there beside you, helping you to overcome your anger, your helplessness and to strive to keep your oath, like it or not.

He will cast no slur on you.  He does not despise you.  He keeps His oath to you.  He'll speak truth to your heart.  He is the faithful, righteous, blameless One.

Think on that!

It will help a body to "keep on, keeping on."

"Oh Father God, so many hearts are downcast, sore, feeling unloved, unwanted by the spouse who is supposed to be the one to love, honor and cherish them until death do them part.  Yes, many have been betrayed in their marriage relationships, even so-called, Christian ones, that are supposed to be examples of Your Son Christ and the Church!

This only goes to show, dear Father, that we must fix our total faith, hope and trust in You.  We change, You never do.  You never fail.  Thank-You for that!

You are the same yesterday and today and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8).

Father, I pray for those whose marriages have been broken and are beyond repair.  Only You could fix them but we know that many are not.  Comfort the one who has been injured to their foundations.  May they make their hope in You.

May we trust and cling to You so we will not be shaken beyond capacity while trying to keep our oaths even when it hurts.

In Jesus' Name, 

Amen

                                                        ~ERC  May 2020~
                                             (originally prayed 15 April 2020)


Based on Psalm 15 esp verse 4
"...who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind..."

Sing, Yesterday, Today, Forever, Jesus is the Same

Let Freedom Ring

The "sweet land of liberty" seems to be an unruly, disobedient lot, so very used to getting their own way.  What say you?

Look at them!  Just look at them!  Protesting restrictions, by NOT social distancing, in the streets; by still flocking to the beach and restaurants; that, if the media broadcasts can be believed.

And COVID cases continue to rise.  Oh, really?!  Isn't that all overblown?

Again, if the news can be believed, take the state of Georgia, for instance, that was one of the first states to "open up".  In just a short period of time, their case numbers shot up forty-some percent.

"Facts, facts, facts," cites Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York state.  Now there's a man with his head on right!

Look at the facts.  Look at the statistics.

Compare this to the more 'obedient' countries of the world where, yes, they have had their relatively fair share of the virus.  Those populaces generally followed the restricted movement orders without undue complaint, although human nature being what it is, wayward and stubborn at best, those temporary restrictive movement laws were strongly enforced by the police and army.  If you went out during the allotted hours of "essential" going out, you'd better have an awfully good reason to be out and be able to prove it.

This has worked.  New cases of COVID-19, although still happening, happen less often.  The statistics, if they are not being manipulated, look not too bad.  The corona tide is being stemmed, hopefully.

So what's all this about freedom?  Freedom to be stupid?  Or, freedom to choose wisely?

This reminds me of a few Bible verses a way back in the Old Testament times when Israel was under the leadership of Moses (Deuteronomy 30:15-20 ESV).  Here he presented a choice to the multitudes of Israelites,

"See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil...therefore choose life..."

(You can flip to the Scripture and read all the in between verses...)

Why would someone have to strongly suggest for another to choose life?  Most people, I thought, were afraid of death.  Granted in this situation, there was not a plague but one could have easily descended upon them if they hadn't obeyed God's command.   In fact, it did happen to them several times over when they didn't choose wisely.

I don't want to sound too 'sergeant-major-ish" or like an authoritarian dictator, but again, look at the facts and see.  Yes, nowadays much of the information we get is contradictory and/or confusing.  Nonetheless, we can take lessons from all the countries around the world who have been affected and see what they did and didn't do and the consequences thereof.  

On top of that, we can also take lessons from history.  The same "words of wisdom" during other such tragic plagues or viruses, eg. The Spanish Flu, etc, were much the same:  "Stay at Home;" "Wash your hands;" "social distance".  Those things seem to have worked to some degree.

Wouldn't folks rather "be safe than sorry"?

I think all of this is an excellent barometer to check ourselves.  How 'obedient' are we?  How submissive is our heart?  (NOTE:  'submissive' NOT 'subservient')  What is your 'submissive quotient' (SQ)?  Are your SQ and IQ inter-related?  Well, that's a subject for some other time.

The apostle Paul wrote, 

"...all things are lawful/permissible but all things are not helpful/expedient/beneficial" (1 Corinthians 10:23; 6:12) [depending on which version you use].

First Corinthians 10:23 extends to verse 24 which says,

"Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor" (ESV).

We bump into the freedom of choice idea here but does a person need to push their own agenda to the detriment of others?  As followers of Jesus Christ, we do have freedom of choice but we must lather that with God's wisdom, and our obedience to Him and so choose wisely.  This also not to mention, we are supposed to also obey the authorities of the land even in the restrictions for the good and benefit of all citizens whether they go along with our way of thinking or not.  

You can see that Governor Andrew Cuomo is really pulling out most of the stops, explaining things rather well to the New Yorkers; looking at the facts.  They are generally following the protocol too and slowly but surely, even at a snail's pace, they are seeing some positive results.  Ooops, I suppose I shouldn't use the word "positive" when speaking in virus terms.  However, results are looking up and paying off due to a more 'obedient' state populace and from someone who takes sensible, logical action.

Meanwhile, others elsewhere are 'throwing tantrums' in the streets and supermarkets and shops because they are barred entry due to having no mask, for example; choosing death instead of life.  One person even caustically stated something like "...forget about life after death, what about life after birth"?  

People who are not used to having their so-called "rights" incurred upon don't react so well.  Now they are getting a taste of how many others in other parts of the world live, with very few rights granted.  Perhaps they should be sent there to have that defining experience and see if they are so terribly bad off at present after all.

How about those who defy the "keep your businesses closed" order, instead of being jailed, be asked to do community service in the COVID wards.  How about that?!  Wouldn't that be poetical justice?

Enough of that sauce.

Let's swing the subject around to an even more vital choice.  The one that is set before us, to choose between everlasting life in Heaven in our after-earth life (speaking of life after death), or. an everlasting 'living' death in Hell.  To accept or reject salvation through Jesus Christ, that is the question, and that is the ultimate life's decision.

Choose everlasting life.

There'd be plenty of "life after new birth" life then.

Let the freedom of having sins forgiven, that "redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 1:6 ESV); of having been adopted by God, of knowing God's will and purpose, of obtaining our inheritance in Him; a gaining the Spirit of wisdom; access to God's immeasurable greatness and power and much, much more, ring in your heart and life (Ephesians 1).

Choose this freedom with an obedient, submission to God our Maker, heart and mind.  Truly then you will be headed to the for real 'sweet land of liberty"--to be with Christ, in Heavenly places--no matter what 'vehicle' takes you, be it COVID-19, any plethora of ailments or accidents, or the blessed Rapture.

May the grace of God be with Your submissive hearts 'til we meet again.

                                                       ~ERC  May 2020~

Prayer - Lord Build the House

Father, I know that whatever we do, whatever we try to do, we need to do it with Your help and strength because unless You are on board with us, or rather, we are on board, with You, the house will not get built and all our work will be in vain.  Why?  It's because we would be doing it in our own strength.

People who are watching out for us; the watchmen, those who pray for us will also be praying in vain; so to speak.  Father, we do not want that, prayers, that are in vain nor work that we think we're doing for You, to be in vain.  Lord help us to remember to go in Your strength, Your help.  Lead, guide and direct us as we seek Your grace to do what is right in Your eyes.

Lord, even those who go out to work, the breadwinners of families or of themselves, as they are at the job, engaging in their career, that they would do so for Your glory and honor.  May they not become workaholics, by the way they work.  May their attitudes, character and integrity on the job be in and of itself , a witness for You.

May these, Your children, have spent time with You, showing they are truly Your followers, and of Jesus Christ.  In consequence, as they work, their work will not be in vain.

May they not be toiling only for the sake of the money, yes, money is important, but working not from the impetus of greed, or promotion, but Father to be working for Your glory and honor.  They'll be working even among their colleagues or their staff.  They'll be working to gain treasure for You.

In so doing, Lord, You give Your people sleep.  You grant them sleep to those You love.  So Father, may we be aware that we do not become so engrossed in an all time-consuming manner, getting up so early and toiling into the night, so late that we neglect our sleep.  When we neglect our sleep we can become sick, have attitudes and reactions that do NOT glorify You.  Impatience.  Anger.  Words that are not guarded, especially after having asked You to set a watch over our lips and mouths.  How then, when we are tired, exhausted from our labor, how then can we partner with You to guard our lips and mouths?

You grant us sleep.  May we claim that grant and get the benefit of it, and sleep.

Father, we thank You for our children.  You say,

"...sons are a heritage from you, children are a reward."

Quite often we may believe that children are not the reward we had wanted.  Yet, You have given many of us children.  Help us to see that it is in love, You have given us our children.  Especially when they reach the terrible two's or the tempestuous teenage years.  Human nature is the same wherever we go and in every person that needs to be tamed by You.  Lord, help us to see our children as precious cuz they are so in Your sight.

We too, are Your children.  You are gracious and merciful to us.  Help us, in turn to be gracious and merciful to our sons and daughters.  

Lord, as we ourselves have spiritual children, rewards, and inheritance also for You.  As we gain this treasure for You in Heaven, You give us these rewards.  How gracious of You.  What a loving, caring, encouraging, and compassionate God You are!   Thank-you!

May we too watch out for our spiritual children as we do for our biological ones.  As we train our children to be like Your own, in the hands of a "warrior," may their aim be true.

Yes, as parents we often fail.  We get it wrong, because when the baby is born, there is no instruction manual included; expect for Your Holy Bible, if we would only turn to Your words, we could find wisdom.  If we don't then we can ask for it.  you will give it.  

Help us to train our children in the mighty ways of God.  in Your ways, Father and may they be strong and true for You.  When we release these "arrows" into the world, may they, in turn, make their arrows be true for You.

You say,

"Blessed is the one who has their quiver full."

Heavenly Father in this past couple of generations people have not wanted to have many children.  They see them as a burden, such a responsibility:  financial, physical, emotionally, etc.  Yet, Lord, change that mindset.  Yes, money's important.  We must look after our children well.  However Lord, You said You would supply our needs.  Supply them.  Prove Yourself to the faint of heart but stretch our faith too.

When we see that many of Your children have many of their own biological children, foster children and/or have even adopted some; their quivers are very full Lord.  There are stories of 10, 20, even 40 children!  This is a huge blessing and reward and inheritance!

Society balks at this and gets very suspicious as to what the couple is doing with so many children?!  What are they trying to do?!

Nevertheless, Lord, may Your people who have so many children, who indeed have quivers filled with little ones, may they ever rely on you in faith, in hope and with Your great depths and heights of wisdom, to bring up these children in Your wisdom and admonition.

Shine the love of Jesus upon these young ones, so they "in turn, will be able to show that same love of God to others, especially as they grow up and have families and lives of their own.

Bless parents, Father, bless them.  It's not an easy task!  It's not easy to raise a child, and its certainly NOT a job for sissies.  This is not just about the financial side of it.  It includes the emotional toll, the spiritual and mental sides.  When the children are young it's a lot of physical work; physically exhausting.  Then as they shoot up in age, older and more able to reason, embarking into the teenage years, its quite the mental exercise of calisthenics, keeping abreast of our offspring and the age they live in.

We know You had a time of it with the children of Israel and can understand all our emotions that often fluctuate between frustration, anger and then the times that bring hope and joy.  Father, we can only turn to You for wisdom and strength for our fixed hope is in You.  Let us not be put to shame, let not parents nor their children be put to shame especially when they go up against the enemy Satan and his minions.

Satan messed up Adam and Eve but You have used Your redeeming grace to rectify that havoc wrought by him.  Yet, he still persists and loves to rip families apart; family that is the nucleus of society, that family unit, that Satan tries his best to destroy.  However, Father, You set people in families (Psalm 68:6).  

You set Adam and Eve, in a family of their own and asked them to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28).  Similarly, may there be many more "Adam's and Eve's" coming together and obeying just such  a commandment.  Take away their fears, focus their hearts and minds upon You.  May they lean upon You and Your resources.

Add wisdom to bring their children up to fear You; the One True God and Your Son Jesus Christ.  May they come to salvation through Jesus Christ.  Continue to build Your House, Father God.

"May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars cut for the structure of a palace..." (Psalm 144:12 ESV).

I ask all this in the name of Jesus and by the power of His blood.

                                                           ~ERC  May 2020~
                                                 Originally prayed 24 April 2020


Prayer based on Psalm 127 and 144:12

Mother's Day 2020 - Mother's Shoes

Mother's Day...a day to honor one's mother...if you have one.

I've been a mother for nigh on to 30 years but I still forget I'm one.  The "real" mother is MY Mom!  Now, that's a mother!

Only she, is "Mother", right?

That's how most of us feel about our Mother.  There's only one of a kind in the whole wide world, and it's MY mother!

Mother's Day is an extra special day to honor such mothers and is intended to be joyous.  Nevertheless, some of us no longer have our Mom around.  In very recent years, like about a year and a half ago or so, I lost my Mom and since then several friends have had to go through the same painful experience of losing theirs.

Worst still if our Mom's have left us during this COVID-19 time where funerals are banned and so too, almost the burial!  "A non-event," a friend remarked.  That makes it all the more tragic.  At least some of us got to say a more "proper" good-bye before the "Stay-at-Home" sentence was conferred upon us.

Yes, the memories linger.  The impact of our Mother is a sweet fragrance scenting the air and remembrance of the relationship and person whom she was. No, we don't turn them into a goddess, but we still want to turn to her and feel her, and say, "Hey, do you know what?'.  Or, "guess what?"  Or, "Mom, what do you think of this, or you'll like this or that".  

But, hey, she's not there!

A mammoth vacuum and chasm has opened up and been left behind in her wake.

So, what can you do?

Who to turn to instead with your grief and tidings and questions?  Mom?  Oh no!  She's not there.  And your mind keeps on vaulting back and forth.

My  Mom would have turned to the Lord in prayer.  He's always there and you don't have to wait for a certain time of day to connect.  His ear is always open and attentive to our cry.

Godly mothers are treasures and the impact they've had on their offspring's life is priceless.  There is a saying by one Ron Lessin who postulates about the influence of one life;  he said the influence is like,

"... a series of ripples that broaden and reach across the water.."

Mom's life lived for Christ did leave behind an influence for good that did reach many lives over the years, and not just the lives of her own children. 

The best implant of my Mom's was to give me a love and respect for Jesus.  He was her best Friend and so became mine too.  

There were other facets of impact too such as always thinking the best of me (and others).  She was a good listener too.  

Now I realize.  

Now I realize how good a friend she was too.  No doubt we could all practically write a book about our Mom's.  Sure, they likely ticked us off now and again, but overall, they have been a blessed person in our lives.

May those of us who are mothers, pass on just such a legacy to our own children and grand-children and broaden our ripple effect wherever we go; being a Mother to the motherless to boot.  Let our future generations declare this epitaph, musing on our Mothers' most meaningful and monumental moments and memories of the far reaches of her mindful influence and impact.

It's an immense task to fill Mother's shoes but we mothers must carry that torch....

                                       HAPPY (sort of) MOTHER'S DAY 2020

                                                             ~ERC  2020~

P.S.  The image above is of the saying by Roy Lessin in its entirety and is entitled The Impact of One Life.

A Mother's Day Song by Bryant Oden

Continue to Praise

Eureka!  I've been hunting for just such a verse for a couple of years and have finally, "struck gold"!

Of course it's been there all along, nevertheless, it feels like a fresh revelation this morning.

Curious as to which verse?

Well, to satisfy that curiosity, here it is...

"Let this  be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD..." (Psalm 102:18 NIV).

That latter part, "a people not yet created" or in the good ole KJV,

"...the people which shall be created, shall praise the LORD."

So, what's so earth-shattering about that?

A couple of years ago I learned that Mormans believe that "heaven is full of millions of spirits awaiting an earthly body" (link:  Childbearing and Childrearing Practices in Mormanism)  This belief explains why this religious group has among the highest birth rates in the USA, according to the article.  They dutifully procreate bodies for all those waiting spirits.

Then there are those others who believe in reincarnation as do those of the Hindu belief where when one dies and the spirit of a person or creature from the animal/insect/reptile sector, re-incarnates into another person/animal/insect/or reptile.  It could go either way up or down the chain of dominance to a higher or lower state of being.  This is dependent on one's behavior in the current life or sometimes even in a past life.

Similarly, the Buddhists, who prefer to use the term "rebirth," believe that the "mental continuum" of a particular lifespan of a person or one of the other of God's creatures (actually, they don't believe in God), will be imputed into another upon the instant of death of the living creature and the corresponding, instant of conception, of the next creature to reap the cululative experiences, knowledge of life, and  to reap the consequences of good/bad deeds of the predecessors and pre-possessors it had once inhabited.   (Please check out this link for further explanation on this topic from my Burning Quest series; Burning Quest Part 9.)

So saying, these spirits would be considered eternal and definitely not created or kept in a vault for spirits prior to having a body prepared for it, according to the respective beliefs mentioned.  There may be other varying degrees of beliefs on this topic which will not be discussed herein.

Can you see my excitement upon my finding Psalm 102:18?

"...a person not yet created..."

A person who is "brand new".

Hadn't been created, yet.

It's helpful to connect with Genesis 2:7 where we read about God breathing the "breath of life" into Adam.  It was at that point that Adam became a living creature.  This, after all the rest of creation had been created.

That was Adam's moment of beginning to live:  spirit, soul and body.  The three belonged to each other, never to have waited in a heavenly reserve, never to have been used before nor to to be used again by anyone else nor by any creature.  It was the "breath of God" breathed into him that gave Adam, and subsequently, the rest of us, our 'being-ness'.

Each individual person has their own, "freshly minted", so to speak, spirit, soul and body; compliments of God's divine supernatural power.

Without delving too much further into technicalities of the Truth, what was the purpose for which God would continue to create new generations of people?  According to David the Psalmist, it was so they could "praise the LORD".  One generation praises and then teaches the next generation.  There is overlap and continuance; thus the praises never cease.

This is paramount to David.  He enjoyed praising God and wanted others to have that joy too.

Shall we all "praise God from whom all blessing flow"?  Don't forget to teach your next generation.

Continue to praise Him.

                                                          ~ERC  April 2020~

Based on Psalm 102:18

Sing along, Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow,  as sung by The Martins

Prayer - All May Praise You

Father God, be gracious unto us and bless us and make your face shine upon us.  We want Your ways to be made known unto us and Your salvation among all nations.  As harvesters go out among those nations may Your salvation be known to the peoples of the earth in ways that they can understand and culturally relate to.

I ask for many harvesters to go out into the field to gather the harvest that's already ripe.  Lord, while You are at it, may there also be that important  follow up discipleship, not just the gathering in of the harvest but the bringing Your newly adopted children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Ironically, the harvest needs to take root and to grow (Hmm, how do harvested plants root and grow?  You Father are in the miracle business), to expand their faith, to know what it is to revere You; adore You; to commune with You; build a relationship with You; to be blameless and righteous, not just in Your sight but in the sight of all men.

As they relinquish any addictions, bad habits they have, may they become more Christ-like and have their "cravings" be for You alone.  May all peoples praise You, oh Father God, being glad and rejoicing, singing for joy, that You have done this, in their lives.  Rejoicing too, that You are the Ruler of their lives, not the evil drink, or drugs or gambling or pornography or illegal money-making careers, or the hard-core lump of unforgiveness and bitterness against someone, that may have had a grip on their lives.  Loosen their shackles.

Now that these chains have been broken by You and Your Son Jesus Christ, may they be filled with Your Holy Spirit  instead.  May You be their ALL.  May they go back to You again and again when the temptations threaten to overtake.  Then they too will bring in other harvest because of their profoundly changed lives; that transformation honed by You.

May that potential "new harvest" be astonished at what has been effected in the lives of their family member, friend, neighbor, colleague, and so on, and, in turn, be drawn to You, not to that person but drawn to Jesus through them.

Oh Lord, bless us all to the ends of the Earth.  Those who fear You, whom You have chosen to be Your children; may we all praise You.

I ask in the Name of Jesus and by the power of Jesus' blood.

                                                            ~ERC  2020~

Prayer based on Psalm 67

Sing, Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow