Did we forget something?

As I reread this journal entry I see it was long on witness and short on the word. I promise at the end of the entry to tackle an interpretive issue in the next few days. Looking ahead in my journal I see that there is a gap before the next entry but I fail to engage in the issue. It will take me several days before I respond to the issue at hand. Never-the-less my Worship and Witness times are full and sometimes lengthy. Some may ask why the subject matter of my witness section usually is not about the present study in the Psalms. You observe that my Worship portion usually is, so why not the Witness portion? My answer is that I already do that in my WORD portion. I use the Witness portion to share something the Lord is teaching me that day. It may be something I observed that day or thought about that day or sometimes even as I am journaling. 

Journal entry for

November 24, 2015

Worship: Dwell in Your House by Hillsong

You set me apart
Gave me a new heart
Filled with compassion
To share Your great love

Show me Your ways
I want to know You
Guide me in truth
My hope is in You

That I may dwell in Your house forever
Lifting up Your name
Dwell in Your house forever more(2X)

I’ll hold on to You
My strength and my refuge
Whom shall I fear?
I know You are near

All of my days
I live for You, Lord
Establish my path
There’s one thing I ask

That I may dwell in Your house forever
Lifting up Your name
Dwell in Your house forever more(2X)

Holy Spirit, have Your way
Sweet anointing teach our hearts
Our lives, we pray

That I may dwell in Your house forever
Lifting up Your name
Dwell in Your house forever more (3X)

Lyrics: http://www.songlyrics.com/hillsong/dwell-in-your-house-lyrics/#fEj04rr3aiSQr7Xz.99

Video:  https://youtu.be/aSqU6iLgXbk

Witness:

After yesterday’s great time in the Word, I am in, as it were, a valley again. Sleep evaded me again and when I did get up, my plans for getting to my quiet time early never came to fruition. It’s my own fault. I spent too much time at the store, unlike most men, I like to look around the store and end up spending more time and money than I planned on. I spent too much time on the internet trying to find a good deal on a computer. I need a new one because this one is about to go.  It has served me well for almost 10 years, but it’s time for a new one.

I am not feeling well but need to go to work. I could take off, but that wouldn’t be financially responsible. I have sick pay but don’t want to take the hit in my quarterly and annual attendance bonus. So I go, fighting the temptation to give up and call out. That’s the way we approach the Christian Life sometimes. We are feeling low, perhaps facing temptation, feeling like we are being pounded by life’s circumstances and we think, “I am going to give in this one time, after all, I have “grace time” don’t I? Yet we fail to remember that the Lord provides the strength to make it through this circumstance or temptation.

Do we forget His promise?

1 Cor 10:13

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

NIV

Do we forget His Power?

Eph 6:10-12

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

NIV

Do we forget His Presence?

Ps 23:4

Even though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me

NIV

Ps 23:6

Surely goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life

NIV

Think of the loss in fellowship with the Lord (not that God turns His back on us - He is the Shepherd that pursues us till He rescues us - but when we turn our back on God and the joy of fellowship with Him). Think of the stubble you are laying on the foundation of Christ in your life and the loss you will receive when you stand before the judgment seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Cor. 5:6-10). What does it say about your love for the Lord? Can you do this and say, “I am glorifying the Lord” (1 Cor. 10:31)”?

Those who fail in the immediate, do so because they have failed to see what the ramifications of their decisions are in the long run.

Finally, let us remember this Passage:

Gal 6:7-10

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

NIV

Ps 23:5-6 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. NIV

Ps 23:5-6 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. KJV

There is debate over what David is saying here. Does it apply to the afterlife or his present life? Looking at it as it is translated here, the former seems the case. However, many translate the word “forever” as “length of days” or a “long time” and see the house of the Lord as the Temple or Tabernacle. My alarm just went off saying it’s time to get ready for work. I will attempt to sort this out over the next few days. In the meantime, meditate on what I have said above in the witness portion.