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Church in with Issue

Christianity.com Find answers about Christianity   Christianity/ Wiki / Church / Is the Church Still the Church? Is the Church Still the Church? In many ways, the church has left the building, but incredibly positive things happened for the church during COVID-19, and the church is still the church, even more so when we eventually come to fellowship together again. Mel Walker The COVID-19 crisis may prove to be a great blessing for the church. Not being able to gather in church buildings for services or programs may turn out to be a long-term benefit for God’s work. Pastors and other church leaders have had to utilize creativity and initiative to effectively teach God’s Word and to make meaningful connections with their people. Plus, ministers have responded to the current stay-at-home order by going back to low-tech methods such as phone calls, personal letters or notes, and simple care packages to stay in touch with needy members. The church has risen to the occasion — and can emphatically say, “Yes, the church is still the church!” Priorities of Church Programming In recent years, it seems as if many churches have been focused on spectators who show up for weekend services, and not necessarily the participation of people in avenues of ministry. Members and seekers have gathered for weekend celebration services that feature programming from the stage as the main priority of the church. Next in importance has probably been the development and implementation of small groups for people to gather in smaller communities as a part of the larger church. Again, the current quarantine has driven small groups to also use technology, such as Zoom, to meet in online forums. Of course, peer ministries, such as youth groups and children’s ministries, have also had to scramble to make connections on the web with kids and their families. Now that all of those ministries (worship services, small groups, and age-group programming) have moved online, church leaders have had to learn to use internet-based technology, like Facebook Live, Google, and Zoom, to fulfill those aspects of their ministries. Positive Results of COVID-19 The current stay-at-home instructions from governmental leaders have had a huge impact on the church. In many ways, the church has left the building — and that has had many positive outcomes. 1. The church can communicate effectively online. Several churches have recently posted a new slogan or emphasis on a variety of social media sites, “Don’t just go to church — be the church.” Perhaps that is one of the positive results of this coronavirus. People attending services in person have morphed into a new practice of watching church services, instead, on the internet. Church members and potential visitors, especially younger generations, are already online and churches have now realized that weekend programming will need to stay online. Pastors have also accepted the new reality that social distancing may have a significant impact on the near future regarding how churches gather. Coffee stations, greeting teams or greeters, ministries (like Sunday school and ushering for instance), even church seating practices will need to be adjusted and changed. 2. Churches can connect with their people online. Small groups and peer ministries alike have also moved their programming to technological platforms. Ministry organizations and new industries have emerged to assist youth and children’s workers in how to use internet-based programs (like Zoom and Go-To-Meeting) to creatively connect with emerging generations. New Zoom games have been created, web-based curriculum has been written, and church members of all ages have learned to use newer technological means to stay in touch with each other. Utilizing social media for these purposes has also opened a new world of contacts for churches. The very nature of platforms such as Facebook and Instagram allows people to share their church’s feeds for worship and messages with their own personal networks of friends and neighbors. Not only does this practice give churches the opportunity to share the gospel online,  but it may also open a new door of evangelistic contacts for the church once the COVID-19 stay-at-home directive has been lifted. 3. Churches can meet needs in their communities through low-tech, but high-impact methods. Another significant outreach opportunity for the church has emerged from the pattern of social distancing. The church has reverted to ministries that can be accomplished through low-tech, but high impact ways to meet the needs of people in their communities. Churches have distributed groceries and meals to needy households, have helped elderly people with errands, have mailed out care packages to people in their neighborhoods, have asked church people to call other church members, and have offered counseling and other forms of aid for hurting people online. The current emphasis on using technology to communicate also helped fuel the occasion for churches to use other, more personal means to connect with people. Characteristics of The Church Being the Church There are some essential characteristics of the church that are quite difficult to accomplish effectively online, especially long term. Despite whatever circumstances are going on in culture, the church must still demonstrate these vital features in order to truly be the church. The Bible is clear that the following functions can only truly be accomplished by the church gathering together in community. 1. Teaching. The teaching ministry of the church has probably been the easiest function to accomplish online. Pastors moved to vacant auditoriums or empty offices to record or to live stream their weekend messages for a waiting audience of church members and others who watch on social media platforms or web sites. Certainly, the teaching ministry of the church is of the utmost importance. Ephesians 4:11-16 is clear that God’s goal for His people is growth toward spiritual maturity. In fact, helping believers grow in Christ is at the very core of what the scriptures are all about (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Perhaps other teaching ministries of the church (like children’s classes and adult Bible fellowships) have suffered somewhat during the days of social distancing. Pastors and other church leaders will need to strategize about how to ramp up these programs again once the coronavirus days of isolation are over. 2. Worship. One of the things many believers have missed immensely during the pandemic has been the practice of joining with others in musical worship. Many churches have purchased the licensing necessary to legally allow their worship teams to play some music on the internet. However, that is not the same as joining voices with others in vibrant and meaningful worship. Verses like Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 teach that a musical ministry between believers (“speaking to one another”) with Christ as the focus of worship (“making melody in your heart to the Lord”) was and is truly imperative for the church. 3. Fellowship. Meeting together with other believers has always been one of the major characteristics of the church (Hebrews 10:25; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34). God designed His followers to need fellowship with other believers in the community of a local church. This has been a major dilemma in a shelter-in-pace world when churches have not met physically in one location for several weeks. God’s people need to connect with each other. Both peer ministry and intergenerational relationships are crucial for the church. These human connections are nearly impossible to execute on the internet. 4. Service. COVID-19 has practically shut down a wide variety of local church ministries. Some programming has continued online to be sure, but other service opportunities have literally ceased. Churches can provide virtual Bible studies, but it’s much harder to mobilize people to serve the Lord and minister to others unless there is a physical connection. Passages such as Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Corinthians 12 emphasize the importance of God’s people using their God-given spiritual gifts in specific areas of ministry, most of which are very difficult to accomplish without getting together with others. 5. Evangelism. Several churches have figured out how to use social media to reach out to their communities during the days of isolation from others. These sites have given many believers ways to share the gospel electronically during times when they cannot have personal conversations with their neighbors, coworkers, and friends. Numerous churches have also organized innovative ways to meet some physical needs in their communities which has opened the door for other evangelistic contacts. These churches should be applauded for their initiative and creativity during a difficult cultural adversity, but effective evangelism requires personal contact with other people. Today’s church can follow the example of the Apostle Peter following Pentecost in Acts 2:14-47, Phillip’s evangelistic efforts with the Ethiopian in Acts 8:26-40, and Paul and Silas’ method of sharing Christ with the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:16-34. All these opportunities demanded personal contacts with the recipients of the gospel message.  6. Stewardship. The importance of giving to the Lord through the local church seemed to be a significant characteristic of the early church. This was true in 2 Corinthians 8 and Philippians 4:10-20 where giving through the local church is taught as a major emphasis in the New Testament church. Patterns of giving have fluctuated much already during the short duration of this pandemic. Initial reports indicated that giving to the local church was higher during the first few weeks of social distancing. However, recent statistics reveal that giving trends have turned down significantly over recent weeks. As things return to a sense of normalcy following the pandemic, the church is likely to face a new normal of giving and stewardship that will need to be evaluated then. 7. Leadership. God designed a leadership structure for His church, with clear roles for pastors or elders. Pastors can “feed the flock” (1 Peter 5:2) over the internet; but without personal connections and relationships, an online message is, in a sense, just a lecture. Pastors must also be about “equipping the saints for works of ministry” (Ephesians 4:14), and that too is difficult to achieve via social media. What Does This Mean? Incredibly positive things happened for the church during this coronavirus emergency, and the church is still the church. But, in many ways, it is time for the church to reconvene in person and as a community so that these grand and biblical functions can truly happen. An online church seems to be an artificial version of the real thing. Churches are to be commended for their effort and innovation during a very difficult time. However, God’s church is designed for His people to gather as He allows (Hebrews 10:25; Ephesians 4:16) to accomplish His purpose. ©SparrowStock Mel Walker is the president of Vision For Youth, Inc., an international network of youth ministry, and he is also is the youth pastor at Wyoming Valley Church in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Mel has been actively involved in various aspects of youth ministry for over 40 years. He is also an author, speaker, and a consultant with churches. More information about his speaking and writing ministry can be found at www.GoingOnForGod.com. Mel has written 12 books on various aspects of youth ministry, plus he speaks to hundreds of teenagers and parents each year. Mel & Peggy Walker are the parents of 3 adult children—all of whom are in vocational ministry. You can follow him on Twitter: @vfyouth. Originally published May 07, 2020. 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Submission

Living Light Daily Devotional The “S” Word By Touching Lives with Dr. James Merritt “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:22 In our culture there are certain “S” words that we should never use publicly or even privately. One such word is “submission.” Everyone submits to someone…privates to generals, citizens to policemen, employees to bosses, and students to teachers. Society could not function without authority and submission. Submission is for everyone. Within marriage, however, submission has gotten a bad rap. This is a shame, because submission, when understood biblically, is a beautiful thing. It was Christ’s submission to God the Father in going to the cross to die for our sins that paved the way for us to have a relationship with God. In the same way, the way to a harmonious and happy marriage is paved by the wife submitting to the authority of Jesus by placing herself under the leadership of her husband. Does this seem demeaning? If so, look to Christ as your example. If Jesus didn’t have a problem with submitting to the authority of the Father, wives should not have a problem with submitting to the authority of Jesus. The fact that Jesus tells us to do this shows that submission is not a social, philosophical, or intellectual issue. It is a spiritual issue. Both times that the Apostle Paul uses the word “submit” in Ephesians 5, he connects it to Jesus. Both husbands and wives are to submit to the authority of Jesus. The way this submission is fleshed out in the marriage roles is different. When wives voluntarily submit to the leadership of their husbands, it is because they are lovingly submitting to the authority of Jesus. Simply put, your relationship with your husband will flow out of your relationship with Christ. The bottom line is this: The primary command is to submit to the authority of Christ, who can always be trusted. When Christ is the head, everything else will fall into place in our lives. Dear Lord, thank you for giving me such a wonderful example of submission in Jesus Christ. Help me Lord to live my life submitted to your authority and your leadership. Help me trust you above all else and to submit to your will and your plan for my life. Amen. Read in browser » Recent Articles: Thoughtfulness Four Answers Nowhere to Hide Praying God’s Will The Foundation of Marriage Prayer Request Email TL Staff Donate Now Share Tweet Forward This email was sent to hopkinsanthony33@gmail.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Touching Lives, Inc. · 1800 Satellite Blvd · Duluth, GA 30097 · USA

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ALEXANDER HAMILTON TEACHINGS

Toggle navigation Search Browse The Bible Toggle Dropdown Search The Bible Find it! What Alexander Hamilton Can Teach Christians about Living in Faith Bible / Bible Study / Topical Studies / What Alexander Hamilton Can Teach Christians about Living in Faith Whitney Hopler | Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer Saturday, May 23, 2020 Share Tweet Save Standing in front of Redoubt 10 at Yorktown Battlefield in Virginia, I imagined how much courage it must have taken Alexander Hamilton to lead a battalion of soldiers in a charge there during the American Revolutionary War. They took British soldiers inside the fort by surprise in the middle of the night on October 14, 1781, charging forward with no ammunition (only bayonets to stay quiet), then rushing over logs with treacherous spikes to enter the fort and jump on the well-armed British. Hamilton, whose brave work as an American founding father is now celebrated in the hit Broadway show and soundtrack Hamilton, led his men to capture the fort for George Washington’s Continental Army.  In a matter of minutes, Hamilton’s soldiers overpowered the British, who were caught sleeping and unprepared – despite their ammunitions advantage. That critical achievement led to victory at Yorktown, which became the last major battle of the war to win American independence from Britain and create the USA. But Hamilton could have chosen not to fight at Yorktown. His wife Eliza was expecting their first child soon. Instead of staying at home in New York, he asked Washington to appoint him to lead the dangerous charge at Yorktown. He wrote to Eliza about his decision shortly before the battle: “I am going to do my duty. Our operations will be so conducted, as to economize the lives of men. Exert your fortitude and rely upon heaven.” Hamilton was confident that he could take on the challenge well, because of his faith in God’s help. Hamilton became known for taking all sorts of major risks to invest in our nation’s future. He created our nation’s first bank and formed much of its commercial laws – working diligently despite criticism from those who were suspicious of his new ideas. He wrote the majority of essays in The Federalist Papers to inspire divided Americans to unite behind the new US Constitution and learn how to work together to build our new country.  Today, we celebrate Hamilton for his remarkable, and even audacious, courage. He did what many others were afraid to do – and he did so without knowing how it would all turn out. Why? Hamilton made a lifelong habit of asking God one key question: “How can I be bolder?” Here’s how asking God that same question yourself can lead you to make your own great contributions to God’s work in America: Remember who you’re asking for courage.  God is all-powerful, and he wants the best for you. So you can be confident in trusting God when you take the risks he calls you to take. Like everyone else, you will encounter doubt in your life. But if you respond to your doubts by searching for a deeper faith, as Hamilton did, God will meet you where you are and help you grow. Hamilton, who was a lawyer as well as a military officer, looked for – and found – evidence that he could trust God. As he once wrote, “I have examined carefully the evidence of the Christian religion, and if I was sitting as a juror upon its authenticity, I should rather abruptly give my verdict in its favor.” When you ask for greater boldness, you’re asking your trustworthy Creator, who can reliably give you courage in any situation. Take a stand for what you believe in by taking action.  Hamilton was a man of action. He didn’t hesitate to work hard on causes that he believed God led him to pursue. Sometimes, Hamilton’s projects were controversial. He upset some people by acting on his beliefs – including political rivals Thomas Jefferson (who argued with Hamilton about federal versus states’ rights when they served in Washington’s administration together) and Aaron Burr (who ended up killing Hamilton in a duel). While God doesn’t want you to make enemies as Hamilton sometimes did, he does want you stand up for your convictions. The Bible story of three faithful young men (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) who faced a fiery furnace rather than back down from their convictions (Daniel, chapter 3) shows that God honors those who act on their beliefs. “Those who stand for nothing will fall for everything,” Hamilton once wrote. What convictions is God calling you to act on? How is he leading you to do so? Don’t be afraid to move forward. Be prepared to make sacrifices for a cause.  Too many great ideas die because people don’t invest time, money, and energy into following through on them. When God calls you to support a cause, he will provide what you need to do it – but not necessarily all that you want. Hamilton’s Yorktown experience exemplifies that. He and others in the Continental Army had to march hundreds of miles south from New York City to Yorktown, carrying heavy loads of supplies and equipment with them. Once they encamped at Yorktown, they sacrificed their comfort in order to fight for freedom. Hamilton and his colleagues endured separation from loved ones, hunger, exhaustion, and constant life-threatening danger. Some men were killed in combat; more (including Washington’s adopted son) died from camp diseases like typhus, typhoid fever, and malaria. In Luke chapter 14, Jesus advises counting the cost of the work you undertake for his kingdom, saying in verse 27: “… whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Trust God to do what you can’t.  Simply do your best, day by day, with the work God leads you to do. When you do your part faithfully, God will faithfully do his part. Philippians 1:6 says you can be “… confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Hamilton, who worked so hard for America’s liberty, said he did so with confidence that God’s power was at work even more. “The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records,” Hamilton wrote. “They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself, and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.” God created you – just as he did Hamilton – with a unique purpose to fulfill in our nation and the whole world. Let’s Hamilton’s life inspire you to boldly discover and fulfill that God-given purpose. The last song on the Hamilton soundtrack asks “Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?” You can be confident that your legacy will be great if you ask God how you can be bolder each day, and rely on the Holy Spirit to empower you!   Whitney Hopler works as Communications Coordinator at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Beingand has written for Crosswalk.com since 2001. She also writes for Thrive Global and blogs. Learn more on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus. Photo credit: ©Thinkstock/GeorgiosArt Promoted Stories Ads by Revcontent Signs of Lung Cancer (May Leave You Surprised) Cancer | Sponsored Links How Dogs Cry for Help: 3 Warning Signs Your Dogs is Crying for Help Dr. Marty Drink This Before Bed, Watch Your Body Fat Melt Like Crazy Healthier Living Club Lung Cancer Signs & Symptoms Lung Cancer | Sponsored Links Locate Anyone By Entering Their Name (This Is Addicting!) 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DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD

Toggle navigation Search Browse The Bible Toggle Dropdown Search The Bible Find it! How Do “the Heavens Declare the Glory of God”? Bible / Bible Study / Topical Studies / How Do “the Heavens Declare the Glory of God”? Share Tweet Save Pamela Palmer Sunday, May 24, 2020 Psalm 19 is one of my favorite Psalms to read, pray, and meditate on. It is full of striking truth and beautiful praises to the Lord. The words of this passage captivate and comfort its readers. The very first verse in Psalm 19 takes our attention. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1). This verse is profound, indeed, but what exactly does it mean? King David wrote the powerful words found in this chapter; it contains words that cause our minds to wonder and our hearts to consider what we really come to know about God from this Psalm. When David wrote the beginning of this Psalm, I can imagine him looking around, admiring the grandiosity of nature – the clear blue sky, the array of colors, and the vast night sky filled with hundreds and hundreds of glistening stars. What David meant in this verse is that the creation of God, the beauty and awe of nature, shows us the work of God and the existence of God. Nature unashamedly proclaims that God is real and He is our Creator. Photo credit: Unsplash/Greg Rakozy What Is Happening in Psalm 19? The Psalm itself doesn’t give any particular reason as to why David wrote it. Though, we see three distinct sections emerge: God is revealed through creation (verses 1-6), the word and law of the Lord are good and perfect (verses 7-11), and the desire for a relationship with God (verses 12-14). In this prayer, David helps us see that God draws us closer to Him. We can experience God in His creation, we can gain a deeper understanding of God through His word and laws, and most inspiring is that we are able to have a personal connection with God based in love, forgiveness, and relationship. How Can the Heavens Declare the Glory of God? When we look at any piece of art, or read any great work, we catch glimpses of the artist or writer. If you have children, you may even be able to guess which one created which drawing. What we create is bound to represent pieces of who we are. The same can be understood about the natural world we live in; we catch glimpses of our Creator in what He has created. Since God is the Creator of all things—the sky, the seas, all creatures, human beings, and everything else—we know that every part of creation declares that God exists and when we look at everything and everyone around us, we know that all the vibrant life we see are indications of the Creator.  Photo credit: Unsplash/Ray Hennessy What Does the Bible Say about Creation? All things were created by God “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible” (Hebrews 11:13). “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (Revelations 4:11). God reveals Himself to humanity through creation “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?” (Job 12:7-9). “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So, they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). All things were created through Jesus “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:1-3). “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16). “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands” (Hebrews 1:10). God breathed life into humankind “Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature” (Genesis 2:7). “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life” (Job 33:4). All creation shows His majesty “Do you not fear me? declares the Lord. Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it” (Jeremiah 5:22). “It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me” (Jeremiah 27:5). “O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great” (Psalm 104:24-25). “Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them” (Psalm 111:2). Photo credit: Unsplash/Yoel Kamara How Else Do We See God in Creation? The deeply rooted trees teach us that God is unmovable and cannot be shaken or overcome. The vast blue skies teach us that God is omnipresent; He is everywhere and always with us. The regions of outer space that we cannot even fathom teach us that God’s ways are not our ways, and that there are mysteries of the Lord we have yet to understand. The rising sun teaches us that God is one who forgives and gives plenty of second chances. The centuries of history and civilizations found preserved in the layers of the earth teach us that God is all-knowing and wise beyond comprehension. The strength of the mountains teach us that God is all powerful and He can withstand anything. The lushness of the forest teaches us that God is the source of all life and goodness. The array of colors we see in flowers teaches us that God is vibrant and the foundation of joy and hope. The winds teach us that God is quiet and gentle, yet also powerful and sovereign. The extremes of the dry desert and the cold tundra teach us that God understands the hardships and trials we face. The twinkling of the stars and the light of the moon teach us that God is with us in our darkest battles and hardest moments.  The grandeur of the ocean teaches us that God is holy and unlike any other. The warmth of the sun teaches us that God is compassionate, merciful, and loves us deeply. Photo credit: Unsplash/Eberhard Grossgasteiger How Can We Declare the Glory of God? Just as the heavens created by God declare His glory, so do we, human beings created by God, declare His glory. God equips each of us with spiritual gifts, talents, and skills. Sometimes, we think our talents are small, but truly, discovering our gifts and using them are part of how we participate in declaring the glory of God. For some, dancing, singing, and worshipping are how they glorify the Lord. To others, it is using their athletic abilities to glorify God. Whatever we do, we do for the Lord. We have all come across works of art, drawings, paintings, or performances that are grander than we could have imagined. They draw us to the Lord knowing that He inspired it all. Some people have been given what seems like infinite amounts of compassion, kindness, and understanding. Imagine when we worship together, when we fellowship with one another, when we hold each other up in times of troubles, our beings are declaring the glory of God. Our goodness points to His existence. What beautiful ways to declare the glory of God to others; whether using the hands or the heart, we can glorify the Lord boldly in what we do as stewards of our gifts, talents and skills, the words we say, and how we live our lives. The Magnificence of His Creation Psalm 19 is an amazing passage that teaches us much about who God is and how His creation declares His glory. The Bible portrays a consistent message that God created all things and when we take a look around us, we see God’s design in creation. We bear His image as human beings created by Him and into whom He breathed life. God does not hide Himself nor make it difficult to be known. Rather His existence is known through the magnificence of His creation and in the Gospel message of our resurrected King, Jesus Christ. Photo credit: Unsplash/Eddy Klaus Pamela Palmer is a writer, chaplain, and the founder of upheldlife.com, the platform on which she produces weekly devotionals and faith resource articles to inspire keeping faith at the center of it all. She lives and thrives on Jesus, coffee, and music. She is in pastoral ministry and gets to share in the emotional and spiritual lives of many people, being a small piece of each journey. Pamela married the perfect man for her and they have two beautiful kiddos. She has been published on herviewfromhome.com and you can follow her at upheldlife.com, or on Facebook.com/upheldlife. 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Posted on by anthonyhopkins33

Th0ught

Living Light Daily Devotional Thoughtfulness By Touching Lives with Dr. James Merritt “Let us go out early to the vineyards and see whether the vines have budded, whether the grape blossoms have opened and the pomegranates are in bloom. There I will give you my love. The mandrakes give forth fragrance, and beside our doors are all choice fruits, new as well as old, which I have laid up for you, O my beloved.” Song of Solomon 7:12-13 I wish King Solomon and his wife could lead a marriage retreat for every married couple in the world, because they leave no stone unturned. When it comes to communication, they’ve got it down. In Song of Solomon 7:12-13 Solomon’s wife expresses that she wants to go out and gather some fruit and flowers, bring them back, and create a beautiful atmosphere for them to spend time together. How thoughtful! One of the things I have learned about marriage is how important the little things are. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to be romantic. You don’t have to do a lot of big things to show your spouse that you love them. It is amazing how little things can be like throwing a bucket of kerosene on a match. A love note left on the bed, a text sent saying, “I love you,” a card given for no reason, or flowers sent for no special occasion. Ronald Reagan mastered this aspect of romance unbelievably with Nancy. On Thanksgiving Day, he wrote this note and put it on her breakfast tray at the White House: “You are the whipped cream on the pumpkin pie of life! And boy am I a dessert man!” If you want to improve your marriage, ask your spouse what one thing you could do for them that would communicate and demonstrate your love for them. Then do it. Nothing is dynamic unless it is specific and nothing is tried until it is applied. So I am going to ask you to do something. If you are married and truly want the kind of marriage that is God’s will, commit to doing these four things for the next week: Talk to each other uninterrupted for an agreed-upon amount of time Do some type of activity together Show each other some type of physical affection at the beginning of the day, the end of the day, and at least one time in between Do one thoughtful thing for the other that is totally unexpected There is a magic wand that can be waved over your marriage. It is called the love of Jesus. Dear Lord, thank you for my spouse and for the marriage you have gifted me with. I ask that you would help me this week to show love in thoughtful, meaningful ways to my spouse. Give me the opportunity to love them selflessly like you have loved me, and remind them of how much I love and appreciate them. Amen.  Read in browser » Recent Articles: Four Answers Nowhere to Hide Praying God’s Will The Foundation of Marriage Wholehearted Prayer Request Email TL Staff Donate Now Share Tweet Forward This email was sent to hopkinsanthony33@gmail.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences Touching Lives, Inc. · 1800 Satellite Blvd · Duluth, GA 30097 · USA

Posted on by anthonyhopkins33

What Does Psalm 18:²

Verse of the Day ▼ Devotions ▼ Search Home Verse Of The Day Psalm 18:2 ◄ What Does Psalm 18:2 Mean? ► The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2(NASB) Verse Thoughts From the time he was a young shepherd boy, David loved the Lord with his whole heart and was able to proclaim that the Lord was his strong Protector and faithful Deliverer. “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,” he wrote, “My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge. My shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold.” Were this the only verse describing God’s dependable and faithful character, it would provide us with a great wealth of evidence.  David penned this song of deliverance to the Lord on the day He rescued His servant, from the hand of all his enemies, and in particular, from the hand of King Saul. It was a psalm that expressed David’s deep love for God, for he confessed. “I love You, Lord. You are my strength.” David was a man after God’s own heart who not only made this claim because of his head knowledge, but due to an inner experience of the heart. No doubt David found shelter from the blistering sun in the shadow of a rock, and he would have found protection in its crack and crevasses on cold winter nights. He would also have found the rock to be a firm place on which to stand firm in the midst of a battle and he no doubt would have recalled the Rock in the wilderness from which poured forth streams of living water for his forefathers. And as the Rock on which we stand, He is the firm foundation upon which our faith is built and the top-most cornerstone that completes all that we are in Christ.  As the Rock of our salvation, He is the One that has been raised up, far above all others. From Him flow fresh rivers of living water, with which to satisfy the hungry soul and refresh the weary sojourner. And along with David, we can all rejoice that, “He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock – making my footsteps firm”.  Just as a rock provides shelter from the storm; a firm foothold and immovable anchor, so too, David discovered the Lord to be his sturdy fortress – a safe place of secure shelter and a sure protection. And David was able to call Him ‘my Deliverer’, for the Lord is the source of our strength and well-spring of our stability. The Lord is a Refuge from the storms of life and a Defence from the enemy that prowls around, as a roaring lion, seeking to sift the lone pilgrim as wheat, and to fling him into the miry depths of deep despair. And so… as the Rock on which we stand and the Fortress in which we shelter, the Lord becomes our Deliverer from our enemies, and our Strength in times of trouble. He is my Shield from principalities and powers in heavenly places. He is my Protection from those that seek to do me harm – my Provider in times of need and my Joy in times of sadness.  David was never removed from the difficulties and danger of life, but he proved that God was the one that kept him safe in the storm and protected him from the attacks of the enemy. Yes, the Lord delivered him from arrows that fly by day and the perils that stalked in the night.  In the opening verses of David’s great song of deliverance we can all recognise many wonderful characteristics of our God, which never change… for The LORD is my rock and my fortress. He is my deliverer. The Lord is my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation. The Lord is my stronghold.  The Lord empowers and protects each one of His children. He defends and delivers, and He is our place of shelter and our seat of safety. David proved that the Lord our God is a faithful God, who will not let us be tried beyond our ability to endure, but will also provide the way of escape, that we may be able to endure life’s problems and pain – and we have been given that same wonderful promise. But the Lord is also the object of David’s love and adoration, for He is the One Who anoints me with the oil of gladness, and He is none other than my GOD – my Father, my Lord, my Saviour, my Friend, my King and my ALL in ALL. May we also proclaim, “the LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, and my stronghold.” And were this the only verse in scripture describing God and displaying His dependable and faithful character, what an amazing array of evidence we would have of His dependability and great goodness. Let us praise His holy name. My Prayer Thank You, Father, that in Christ You are all that I need in every area of my life. May I apply this truth more and more, for You are my faithful, and dependable God  – my heavenly Father, in Whom I place my trust. Use me I pray as a witness of Your dependable faithfulness in my life today, and I ask that You open the eyes of those that have been blinded to the glorious truth of Your saving grace, from the tactics of the enemy – this I ask in Jesus name I pray, AMEN. ◄ Previous: Psalm 17:15 Next: Psalm 18:46 ► Choose a Verse from Psalm 18 1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950 Galatians 1:17 Revelation 3:15 Jeremiah 30:7 Malachi 3:3 Follow us Psalm 18:2 Further Study Psalm 18:2 in the Parallel Bible Psalm 18:2 in the Thematic Bible Psalm 18:2 Cross References Psalm 18:2 Treasury of Scripture Knowing Psalm 18:2 Prayers Psalm 18:2 Images Choose Chapter Subscribe to the Verse of the day Today’s Devotionals The Centrality of Christ John 14:27 Romans 8:26 From Milk To Meat Now This Explains It The Spirit’s Work – Man’s Nature and Destiny (14) Harmonious Duet of Kindness and Goodness Doctrinal Statement / Privacy Policy / Use of Pictures / Donate / Contact Us Copyright Knowing-Jesus.com – All Rights Reserved ×