1) Psalm 40 (Ken Weliever)
2) Your Life is Like Grass (David McPherson)
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Psalm 40<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ken Weliever In Psalm 40 David speaks of three problems he was facing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can hear David\u2019s anguish as he admits and confesses his wrongs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me. (Ps. 40:12)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Human nature and the problem of sin hasn\u2019t changed in 3,000 years. Sin hurts. It brings emotional, mental and spiritual pain. Sometimes even physical pain. Sin blinds our minds. Overwhelms our feelings. And pierces the heart with sorrow and remorse. The guilt of sin is real. David knew it. And so do we.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In verse 14, he spoke of those who sought to destroy his life. And who desired to ruin him. In verse 15 David alludes to some who ridiculed and mocked him. Although he was praised by multitudes, others scorned him with taunts and disdain. Waiting is hard. And waiting with patience is even harder. But it\u2019s a continual theme throughout the Psalms. In Psalm 27:14, David wrote:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wait on the Lord; We sing the song, \u201cIn His Time.\u201d God\u2019s purpose and providence will be exercised by Divine order, not by a human time table. Furthermore, God may choose more than one method to soothe our hurts and solve our problems. In verses 4-10, David acknowledged God\u2019s righteousness, faithfulness and loving kindness. He further recognized that God is the source of salvation and the author of Truth. He deserves our praise and adoration. The Psalms teach us that prayer ought to be our response when we\u2019re hurting, facing trials, experiencing problems, and feeling weak. David\u2019s plea is for help, deliverance, and compassion. His example is one we ought to emulate. -2-<\/p>\n\n\n\n David McPherson \u201cBut when Jesus heard this, He said, \u2018It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: \u201cI DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,\u201d for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.\u2019\u201d 1) Hear <\/strong>the gospel — for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31). Tebeau Street “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).——————– Contents: 1) Psalm 40 (Ken Weliever)2) Your Life is Like Grass (David McPherson)——————– -1- Psalm 40 Ken Weliever An old Bits […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2952","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2952","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2952"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2952\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2957,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2952\/revisions\/2957"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2952"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2952"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2952"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
An old Bits and Pieces<\/em> magazine tells the story about an Ozark hound dog sitting in a country store howling as hounds do.
In comes a stranger and says to the storekeeper, \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter with the dog?\u201d
\u201cHe\u2019s sittin\u2019 on a cocklebur.\u201d
\u201cWhy doesn\u2019t he get off it?\u201d
\u201cHe\u2019d rather holler,\u201d the clerk replied.
Some folks are like the old hound dog, they\u2019d rather complain about their problems than do something to solve them. As therapist and author Virginia Satir once observed, \u201cProblems are not the problem; coping is the problem.\u201d
As most rational people come to realize, problems are a part of life\u2019s challenges. Unfortunately, some have preached a gospel that says, \u201cIf you become a Christian, God will remove all your troubles.\u201d Sadly, too many have swallowed that false notion. Then they\u2019re disillusioned when trials arise.
David, identified in Scripture as \u201ca man after God\u2019s own heart,\u201d enjoyed a special relationship with the Lord. But he was not exempt from the problems, pressures and heartaches of life. Many of his Psalms reveal these struggles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n#1 The guilt of sin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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#2 The hostility of his enemies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This began after David slew Goliath. King Saul in fits of rage and jealousy tried to kill David. Other enemies hounded him both prior to David taking the throne and afterward. The Philistines were a constant thorn in his flesh. Then his own son, Absalom, later led a rebellion against David and tried to overthrow the throne.
Just like David, when we serve the Lord, we will encounter opposition. It may be from those in positions of power. Or even from within our own family. Don\u2019t be surprised when you speak and stand for Truth that God\u2019s enemies seek to suppress you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n#3 The wound of contempt<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ridicule stings. It doesn\u2019t feel good. Especially when it\u2019s undeserved.
So, what did David do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n#1 He \u201cwaited patiently for the Lord.\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSometimes God calms the storm, but sometimes God lets the storm rage and calms His child,\u201d observed author Leslie Gould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n#2 David praised God.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Too often when problems arise, people skip worship. Stay home. And focus on their troubles. Instead, more than ever, you need to worship. See God\u2019s goodness. Trust in His promises. And join the great assembly in worship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n#3 David prayed (vs. 11-17)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEvery problem is an opportunity to prove God\u2019s power,\u201d wrote Chuck Swindoll. \u201cEvery day we encounter countless golden opportunities, brilliantly disguised as insurmountable problems.\u201d
When you struggle with life\u2019s problems, seek the Lord and apply David\u2019s solution. In the words of Corrie Ten Boom, \u201cLet God\u2019s promises shine on your problems.\u201d
\u2013 Via The Preachers Word, <\/em>March 8, 2023
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Throughout Scripture, God reminds us of the frailty of life. No matter how long we live, our life is but a speck compared to eternity. To emphasize our brevity, the image of grass is used.
Psalm 103:15 \u2013 \u201cAs for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes.\u201d
1 Peter 1:24 – because \u201call flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away.\u201d
Elsewhere, Jesus spoke of how grass is in the field one day and thrown into the oven the next (Luke 12:28)!
Just as the grass or flower soon loses its freshness; is withered or cut down, so it is with our physical life. This should not be viewed as depressing, but rather as motivation to honor and glorify God in what limited time we have. Also, for the faithful, it\u2019s a good reminder that the suffering and trials endured in this life won\u2019t last long.
Hang in there. Love life and see good days. Serve the Lord. And remember, your life is like grass.
\u2014 Via Articles<\/em> from the Knollwood church of Christ, December 2024
——————–<\/p>\n\n\n\nMatthew 9:12-13<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 NASB
——————–<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2) Believe <\/strong>in the deity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent <\/strong>of sins. For every accountable person has sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10), which causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Therefore, repentance of sin is necessary (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30). For whether the sin seems great or small, there will still be the same penalty for either (Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:10) — and even for a lie (Rev. 21:8).
4) Confess faith <\/strong>in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized <\/strong>in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27). For from that baptism, one is then raised as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), having all sins forgiven and beginning a new life as a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4). For the one being baptized does so \u201cthrough faith in the working of God\u201d (Col. 2:12). In other words, believing that God will keep His word and forgive after one submits to these necessary steps. And now as a Christian, we then need to\u2026
6) Continue in the faith <\/strong>by living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday:<\/strong> 9 a.m<\/strong>. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. <\/strong>Worship Service
Wednesday (all but the first):<\/strong> 7 p.m.<\/strong> Bible Classes
First Wednesday of the month: 7 p.m. <\/strong>Congregational Song Service (about 45 minutes of singing, followed by a short talk)
evangelist\/editor: <\/strong>Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/go\/all.htm<\/a> (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"