Forget Not All His Benefits

 Don't you just love it when you have a definite answer to prayer in accordance to how you had asked?  I do.  It's euphoric.  For example, for about four years I prayed for a friend to find a dedicated-to-the-Lord husband.  Well, that husband-to-be found her, which is the more proper manner.  They are to be married in a couple of month's time, Lord willing.

Then there's the l - o - n - g term praying of more than thirty years for family members to come to Christ.  Recently, we learned that one did and she joins her son's family to church.  There was rejoicing in Heaven and on Earth over this good news for the Good News of salvation acceptance.

Not long ago, I learned from a Bible study*1 that Psalm 103 expresses the experience of salvation as opposed to the doctrine thereof.  Now, don't get upset, I know it's not all about the 'feeling' but in this case I want to explore what it feels like to be saved.  Humor me.

Having grown up in the very dedicated and devout Christian home, the salvation experience didn't seem to impact me much; the transition not clear cut.  I often felt like maybe I wasn't saved afterall.  It had been hounded into my siblings and I that  it is NOT a feeling but a decision of the heart and yes, there's rejoicing in heaven among the angels but we  are not to get too happy because, "it's NOT A FEELING"!  So, this is likely part of why the doubt and confusion as to one way or another regarding was I or was I not, saved.   Feeling had to be squelched and therefore, I did not feel.

In Psalm 103, I feel like the general expressions of David's salvation experience are one of relief, gratefulness, freedom and yes, joy!  Joyfulness.  Might I add, one of the characteristics of the  fruit of the Holy Spirit is joy, which should not be squelched.

Even the first and last sentences of this psalm are injunctions to praise,

"Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name!" [emphasis mine]

David give permission to his own soul to praise the LORD.  We can do the same when we have our own salvation experience.  Slaves to sin set free, rejoice!  Rejoice with them.  Enjoy the experience.

Look at the list of this wonderfully rich and complex salvation.  There's forgiveness from all our sins.  Like me, growing up and taught to behave in a 'good Christian' trainng manner.  I could not appreciate this as much as others who may have lived a very different life devoted to wickedness or even to ritualistic and legalistic beliefs that works save one instead of the mercy and grace of trust and faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

David acknowledged God's salvation healed all diseases.  I read that some people, like one Andrew Murray (1828-1917), a South African writer, who believed that believers should not ever be sick and if they were, it was God's judgment upon  that individual.  But even Jesus said, that that man who was born blind was to show God's glory and that no-one had sinned, not even his parents.  

Let me qualify that though, the blindness was not because of any particular sin but rather due to The Fall.  We are all sinners, except for Jesus.  The healing was to show the power of God in Jesus.  Yet, many people do get sick and die.  Confession of sins and healing do seem to have some correlation as seen in the book of James chapter 5 verse 14 if anyone is sick.  Confess sins, pray, then healing in the wake.  However, this is another topic for another time, suffice it to say, healing can be one of the benefits of salvation.

Furthermore, reading 1 Peter 4:1-2, we find that Peter tells his audience that even Jesus suffered and therefore we need to "arm ourselves" to let suffering help guide us to doing the will of God and not live according to human desires.  If we request healing and God grants it, give Him praise.  If He doesn't, like He once told the apostle Paul, "His grace is sufficient" for him to endure.  We can still rejoice in this aspect of the salvation 'package'.

There is joy in knowing God redeems our lives from the pit.  If that pit had been one of great iniquity, transgression, or of self-righteous living, of depression, addictions and so on, feel gladness of heart, soul and mind for His rescue operation on  your behalf.

We have been crowned with love and compassion and He also satisfies our desires with good things.  His every gift is perfect, stemming from His rich and complex salvation.  No wonder David could not contain his joy and  thankfulness and just had to start and end his psalm with "Praise the LORD"!  What an experience to experience!

Review this salvation list.  Which have you benefited from?  I was healed from COVID-19.  Hopefully all reading this have too.  I know God's love and compassion.  As a believer in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, my sins have been forgiven and so on.  Praise the Lord again and again for all His benefits.  FEEL the joy.  Go ahead.  Sing praises.

When we 'pray our salvation' we praise our saving God and Jesus, our Savior.  If human beings who've accepted Christ as Savior do not praise Him, at least we know the angels are and are doing God's bidding.  God's heavenly hosts and all His work everywhere in God's kingdom are praising Him.   Why not us too?   Call all your friends and neighbors, like when the shepherd who found his lost sheep #100; the woman who  lost one of her silver coins, searched and found it,  and the waiting father who's lost son returned.  Rejoice and celebrate your salvation!  Forget not all His benefits.  Praise the Lord.

"Make praise your priority"!*2

                                                      ~ERC  May 2022~

Based on Psalm 103.

*1 Based on Bible Study by Eugene H. Peterson, Psalms - Prayers of the Heart.

*2 Quotation from a sermon at my church.

Sing, Praise God FromWhom all Blessings Flow, along with 

East From West

 

"As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12 NIV).

How does one even comprehend how far east is from the west?  It's impossible!  To give yourself some idea of it though, take a flight from North America to Southeast Asia (or vise versa).  If you fly east to get to the east, or fly west to get east, still, once you've arrived after about 36 hours of travel, transit and travel, bleary-eyed and jetlagged, you'll discover west still hasn't found east, nor east, west.

Futile pursuit.

This is when one gets a snippet of an understanding of just how far our Heavenly Father has removed our sins from us upon our moment of salvation.  No wonder all David the psalmist could say was, 

"Praise the LORD, O my soul!"  He said it twice (Psalm 103:1, 22 NIV).

If you still have doubts whether you are "safe" and "saved," doubt no more.

"The blood of Jesus Christ cleans us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).

Also,

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus..." (Romans 8:1 NIV).

So we get the idea.  

As Rudyard Kipling's famous saying goes,

"East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet."

Just think on all of that.  You will not meet the eternal punishment for your sins because Jesus has taken it all upon Himself.  Our sins have been washed in the blood of Jesus and you'll never be condemed again for them, by God!   Praise the Lord for all  His love and mercy and compassion.  Tell yourself, "Praise the Lord!"

Make praise your priority.

                                                 ~ERC  May 2022~

Based on Psalm 103 NIV.

Sing, East to West, along with Casting Crowns.

Book Review - The Greenbrier Resort - By Joy Callaway - Publication Date: 17 May 2022

 

Sometimes while reading historical fiction accounts one discovers there is barely a whisper of history.  Not so this Greenbrier Resort.  The main characters Dorothy Draper, who became a renowned interior designer, and The Greenbrier, a wonderful summer resort edifice at which even presidents of the USA would be guests,  were both very real.   The Greenbrier still "lives" on to today, having withstood the winds of time since we are introduced in the story line of this book which begins in 1908.  The time line actually straddles those earlier Victorian times, and into the 1940's.  The  Victorian society rules that strictly governed what women could and could not do certainly is portrayed and how it overshadowed and affected them unjustly, especially in the upper eschelons of old-wealth families.  

What made this story perk along in a most intriquing, fictional manner was the unauthorized and unrequited cloak of romance between Dorothy and heart-throbbingly handsome Enzo, the Italian. Both were faint with love for each other but were torn apart; would they ever reunite?  

For those interested in learning more about that earlier era and the history of Dorothy Draper, her magnificent interior design work and of her protege, Carleton Varney, there is a list of further recommended reading in the addenda.

                                                 ~Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger~

                                                               January 2022

Disclaimer:  I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own based on this copy.

Read review on Goodreads.

A Psalm to Calm

 

If you need a Psalm to calm you today, read Psalm 33.  It starts out with an exclaimation to sing joyfully; to lift up our hearts in songs of praise.  This is not just aimless singing but to "praise the Lord..." and to play skillfully (if you have musical talent upon any given instrument).  The psalmist even says to "shout for joy" (vs 3).

The focus of the joy is upon the LORD's word which is right and true and upon Him for His faithfulness, righteous justice and unfailing love!  Most people want to be loved and have justice especially if it's for themselves. He loves and cares about each of us so we can praise and rejoice.  Focus on Him.

 Our God is just.  Rejoice.  Sing because of Him.  

Our God is righteous.  Rejoice.  Sing because of Him.

Our God is faithful.  Rejoice.  Sing because of Him.

Our God serves us with his unfailing love.  Rejoice.  Sing because of Him.

So much to sing about.

Even in light of current events in the Russian - Ukraine conflict.  My heart was actually saddened to the point of tears, yesterday.  I learned that missionary friends who formerly worked among the Mariupol people, have now lost connection with them.  Things are dark, quiet. Uncalm.

All that's left now is to beseech our faithful, loving Father on their behalf.  My friends said calmly that when the dust settles, brothers and sisters from a neighboring country will attempt to go in, if allowed, to see what has become of those dear saints. 

We all know our Heavenly Father, God, has the last say, no matter how much the nations dither and plan against one another.

"The Lord foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples but the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations" (Psalm 33:10-11 NIV).

Did those nations make the LORD, their God?  At least one of those current ones engaged in warfare denies existence of God while the other has a form of Christianity but maybe not faith in Jesus.  The psalm, of course, refers to the nation of Israel but this can be applied in some way now.  They all need our prayers that they will turn to the Lord in truth and faith and hope; that they will turn and see what the Lord's purposes are and bring peace to their hearts and lives and nations.

During David's time - led by him, Israel really did make the LORD their God.  The LORD's eyes were upon them and saw they feared Him and put their hope in Him.  No wonder they could be filled with joy, rejoicing, praise and song.  What a wonderously happy time that must have been!

We too can turn to our Heavenly Father, put our hope in Him, through Jesus our Savior and hang on to joy.  Depend upon Him.  Let His purposes be ours.  Sing a psalm.  Pray a psalm.

Let a psalm, calm.

                                                          ~ERC  May 2022

Based on Psalm 33 NIV.

Sing, You Are Faithful, along with Hillsong Worship.

Book Review - The Memory Keeper of Kyiv - By Erin Litteken - Publication Date: 16 May 2022

 

Many have heard of the Holocaust but not many have heard of the Holodomor.  I hadn't until I  read this Historical Fiction book which sticks very close to the facts of the matter.  Holodomor refers to Stalin's 1930's death-by-starvation strategy to subdue and coerce Ukrainians into accepting collectivism, via it's resulting depravations and horrors.  Survivors often became bereft of most of their family members and even villages from whence they had come.

Such was the fate of Katya, and Kolya and their dear little Halya.

This is a dual story line of the 1930's characters (Katya) and of present day (2004) descendants in the form of Kayta's daughter Anna, granddaughter Cassie and great-granddaughter Birdie.  All had  had some intense trauma and heartache from which they valiantly try to cope with and overcome.  As Kayta has some form of dementia, likely Alzheimer's, she relives the horrors of her younger years' past.  Katya never tells of her painful past but does have it written down, in Ukrainian.  Cassie, a journalist, is frustrated by this as she cannot read Ukrainian.  Yet, there comes a male someone who can translate and Cassie and Anna can then understand Katya better.  You may guess that there is romance in the mix as well.

It is always difficult to read stories of lives filled with horrendous abuse and tragedy but as we see how these protagonists hang on to life we can be encouraged and inspired towards the same ends.  Tender-hearted readers will likely weep as I did.

The Memory Keeper of Kyiv is such a fitting title, I believe, especially since tragedy and nightmares are happening in the Ukraine again at this time (2022).  The author Erin Litteken brings the past to life rather vividly - yes, this is a work of fiction so there's salt and pepper - however, one can Google facts of the 1930's from the Holodomor time and ferret out the facts for oneself, and judge the veracity of Litteken's work.

The  author is,  in fact, a granddaughter of a Ukrainian refugee from WWII, who still recalls happenings from those times before and during WWII lending further authentication to  the  narrative.  Littekin, adds some of the facts as addenda along with  her 'about the author' blurb.

                                                 ~Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger~

                                                                March 2022

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads.

Lord's Day Devotion - FAITH Which Sees

 

It is from the Bible we hear the stories of Jesus and learn of His love for each of us.  The Bible is God's Holy Word which helps us see the love of Jesus, God's own Son, that led Him  to die for us, providing the salvation we each so dreadfully needed.  It is from the Bible we read, meditate and obey, discovering the ways we are shown, that pleases Him - to walk in His way and not our own.

Most of us have been given two eyes, to look to God and if either of them are diminished, we can still see with the eyes of faith to look up to Him.  We have been given ears to hear His word to receive what our Father has to say.  Willing ears of faith listen well.  The obedience shows faith when we step out in faith to walk with our feet in His ways, which will energize our two lips to sing forth His praise, speaking with Him and of Him and all He has done and is doing in our lives and in the lives of others.  Our two hands represent the obedience, the action of faith to do His will, and with our one little heart that loves Him still - love because He first loved us.

How do we know we even have a heart?  It is by faith, that even though we  cannot see it, we see evidence of it by each breath we take, each song of praise we sing, each movement our body makes.

FAITH ... small word, big meaning.  

Followers of Jesus Christ have been justified by faith, giving us the peace with God, I'll say it again, we each so dreadfully needed. Now God's love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us through the death, resurrection and ascension of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).

It's like even trusting ourselves to a flight in an airplane.  Mostly we never see the pilot.  We board the plane, sit in our seat, buckle up and  prepare ourselves for the take off; pilot, sight unseen.  Does he or she even know how to get from Point A to Point B?  We trust they do!  Faith in another flawed human being and in one of their inventions!  How much more will we put our faith, hope and trust in Jesus and God our Heavenly Father!  They are perfect in every good way.

Jesus appeared to His disciples in that Upper Room after His resurrection.  Thomas wasn't there that first time.  When he was told by the other disciples that they had seen the Lord, Thomas staunchly wouldn't believe it.  He declared he had to literally see for himself and put his finger in the nailprints and in Jesus' side where the spearprint could be found.  He wanted to see before believing.

We all know what happened eight days later.  Thomas was there when Jesus returned.  Jesus, gracious as ever, bid Thomas do as he felt he needed.  I think Thomas could barely bear to do as he'd vowed to do.  Thomas proclaimed, 

"My Lord and my God" (John 20:28 NIV)!

Thomas saw and then believed.  Nowadays, we are among the blessed who...

"have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29 NIV). 

We are justified by our faith - believing before seeing - faith which sees.

Faith which is also a gift from God who only gives good and perfect gifts.  Let us all be encouraged to use our literal eyes, ears, feet, lips, hands, and heart, driven along in tandem with those of faith.  If any reading this do not have the literal body parts mentioned, then we use what we have in doing His will for us, still with those of faith, as do Joni Eareckson Tada and Nick Vujicic, who each have full lives of service to their Lord and God.

As we gather together to remember our Savior's death and resurrection this Lord's Day, ponder on what these nail and spear prints represent for us.  Pass the broken bread and cup of wine symbols of our dying Savior's love and risen Savior's victory - for each of us.  Praise Him for the faith we've been given to believe before we have seen.  Thank Him for all He has done for us, for you, and for me.

Thank Him in words and sacrifices of praise from our lips and obedient service for Him, with eyes, ears, feet, hands, and heart.  Thank Him too for leaving us His message of love which we learn of from the B - I - B - L - E!

Let us all have faith which sees.

                                                        ~ERC  May 2022~

Based on John 20:26-29 NIV and Sunday School songs: The B-I-B-L-E and Two Little Eyes to Look to God.

Good Book - Letta in China - By Connie Seaward Ong

 It is always wonderful to read testimonies of how a brother or sister-in-Christ gave long term service to the Lord.  This biography, written by a granddaughter, is about just such a single lady, who at the tender age of 22, left the USA for China in the early 1920's.  Little did she know what all would transpire but her love for the Lord and for the Chinese people shone out in her ministrations to one and all whom she encountered.  Her name was Letta Teuber.

She eventually married a fellow missionary and became Letta Hansen.  She and her husband Harold had several children who learned to speak Mandarin right along with their parents becoming fluent and even speaking with other missionary kids in Chinese. That tickled my fancy.  Although Letta keenly felt sadness, and the grief  of losing a very young child, the reader will eventually see how Letta dealt with that and overcame despite the lingering heart pain of such a loss even years afterwards.

This family, along with many other missionaries and expatriates were herded by the Japanese into concentration camps during WWII.  As you can imagine, conditions weren't great. Besides enduring the privations and cruelty, their food was mostly meager and rotten and children had to be forced to eat eggshells to get some calcium into their bodies and bones.  Eventually, due to a prisoner exchange, the Hansen family were shipped back to the USA.

There they recuperated but were not idle, serving in various Assemblies of God churches until Harold's death.  Letta was eventually led of the Lord to serve in Singapore along with her daughter Margie and her husband and children.

Any Christians who love to see how the Lord can work in our lives, of God's faithfulness throughout all those China years and beyond, and how one can have such a close relationship with the Lord will no doubt, I believe, enjoy reading this account of God's love and favor in His servants' lives.  What a legacy that passed down to their children, as well!

                                                        ~ERC  May 2022~