“IN THE MORNING!”

 

Psalm 5:1-3                 (ESV)

Lead Me in YOUR Righteousness

To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.

    “[1] Give EAR to my words, O LORD;

        consider my groaning. 

    [2] Give ATTENTION to the sound of my cry,

        my KING and my GOD,

        for to YOU do I pray. 

    [3] O LORD, “IN THE MORNING” YOU hear my voice;

        “IN THE MORNING” I prepare a sacrifice for YOU AND WATCH.”

King David began this Psalm pleading with THE LORD to Give EAR to his pleading and groaning!  It is EVIDENT to say that King David understood that the ONLY ONE WHO had the power and authority to get him out of the predicament that he was experiencing was THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES!!!

Notice that David writes “IN THE MORNING”, or when everything is starting for a new day, he needed THE ALMIGHTY to direct his thoughts and mind!!  Most of the time I begin my day without thinking that GOD in HEAVEN, busy with the “cares of this world”, might not be concerned with an insignificant being in an insignificant place?  But John 17:23 says “I (JESUS) in them and YOU (THE FATHER) in , that they may become PERFECTLY ONE, so that the world may know that YOU sent ME  and LOVED THEM even as YOU loved ME.”  GOD IN THE FLESH freely gave HIMSELF on Calvary’s tree to PURCHASE Salvation for this “insignificant” creature, so HE CARES ABOUT ME!!!

HEARING the Stillness and Quietness (silence ) of before the birds start chirping, traffic begins to make noise, and everything starts trying to gain our attention is a TREASURE that isn’t duplicated by anything in “this world”! Maybe that is why I awake sometimes “very early in the morning” and can HEAR instructions from HIM, when distractions are limited….”IN THE MORNING”???  

“HE BECAME POOR!”

 

2 Corinthians 8:8-15                 (ESV)

“[8] I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. [9] For you know the grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, that though HE WAS RICH, yet for your sake “HE BECAME POOR”, so that you by HIS poverty might become rich. [10] And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work BUT ALSO to desire to do it. [11] So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of WHAT YOU HAVE. [12] For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. [13] For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness [14] YOUR ABUNDANCE AT THE PRESENT TIME SHOULD SUPPLY THEIR NEED, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. [15] As it is written, “WHOEVER GATHERED MUCH HAD NOTHING LEFT OVER, AND WHOEVER GATHERED LITTLE HAD NO LACK.””

Accumulating a tremendous amount of wealth is something that from time to time I have dreamed about, but whenever I had the opportunity to INCREASE MY WEALTH, supplying “the needs of others” always seemed to be more important???

In HIS OMNISCIENCE, JESUS CHRIST surrendered HIS POSITION in HEAVEN to come among the unholiness of humanity, in poverty, to PURCHASE the salvation of ALL, even me!  “HE BECAME POOR” has to reflect “worldly wealth” (or lack there of) because HE was STILL THE CREATOR walking amongst us!  “HE BECAME POOR” so that HE WOULD NOT have worldly status interfering with HIS MISSION!!!  

Do I have that mindset in my life???  Or do I have the desire to be wealthy enough to do whatever I please??  

Saying this with ALL HUMILITY, I BELIEVE that because THE SPIRIT OF JESUS lives inside of me, that I CANNOT HELP but to live as HE did during HIS MANIFESTATION to “this world”!  My heart, the heart that JESUS CHRIST now lives in, tells me that “HE BECAME POOR”, and I will never be better than HIM!!!

“THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO DECEIVE YOU?”

 

1 John 2:15-27                 (ESV)

Do Not Love the World

“[15] DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD or THE THINGS OF THE WORLD. If ANYONE loves the world, the love of the FATHER is NOT in him. [16] For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is NOT from the FATHER but is from the world. [17] And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the WILL OF GOD ABIDES FOREVER.

Warning Concerning Antichrists

[18] Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist IS COMING, so now many antichrists HAVE COME. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. [19] They went out from us, but they were NOT ALL of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are NOT of us. [20] But you have been anointed by the HOLY ONE, and you all have knowledge. [21] I write to you, not because you do not know THE TRUTH, but BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT, and because no lie is of THE TRUTH. [22] Who is the liar but he who denies that JESUS s is the CHRIST? This is the antichrist, he who denies the FATHER and the SON. [23] No one who denies the SON has the FATHER. Whoever confesses the SON has the FATHER also. [24] Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the SON AND IN THE FATHER. [25] And this is the promise that HE made to us—eternal life.

[26] I write these things to you about “THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO DECEIVE YOU”. [27] But THE ANOINTING that you received FROM HIM ABIDES IN YOU, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as HIS ANOINTING teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, ABIDE IN HIM.”

Briefly this morning, GOD is PLAINLY telling me that I MUST NOT listen to “THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO DECEIVE YOU”!  This morning HE wakened me and I COULD NOT get back to sleep!  Was GOD trying to get across to me that “the enemy” will “dress up” in raiment so very close to THE TRUTH that it will be difficult to SEE, ESPECIALLY if our EYES are engaged in looking at “this world”!!!!

“DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD or THE THINGS OF THE WORLD. If ANYONE loves the world, the love of the FATHER is NOT in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is NOT from the FATHER BUT IS FROM THE WORLD.” (Verses 15 & 16)

“THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO DECEIVE YOU” have NO INTEREST in seeing you GROW in the SPIRIT of THE LORD!!!  Please consider this FACT when determining who you are listening to.  

From Bishop Robert E Smith Sr

 From Bishop Robert E. Smith!

“Are you among the firstfruits (Rom. 8:23; Rev. 14:4); or in the harvest (Matt. 13:30; Rev. 14:15)?  To be otherwise is unthinkable (Mark 13:20; Rev. 19:15).”

“IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP!”

 Galatians 6:9                 (ESV)

“And LET US NOT GROW WEARY of doing good, for in due season WE WILL REAP, “IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP”!”

It seems like these 65 years GOD has allowed me to exist on “this world” is such a long period of time?  But ETERNITY IS COMING, and that will be FOREVER!!!!

“THE LORD!”

 

Proverbs 16:9                 (ESV)

    “The heart of man plans his way,

        but “THE LORD” establishes his steps.”

Living life is a very difficult and complex thing!   On the other hand, living a LIFE under the DIRECTION and GUIDANCE of JESUS CHRIST is a rewarding experience, with HIM DIRECTING (Proverbs 3:5-6) our PATHS!!!

In 2 Corinthians 5:7, the Apostle Paul writes “for we walk by FAITH (in GOD), NOT BY (our) SIGHT!”  Humanity is CREATED with a CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is pretty sufficient to make us complete, but has ONE GLARING DEFICIT!!   We MUST have a GUIDE to get through the DARKNESS that inevitably will challenge our decisions!!!

“THE LORD” is what we NEED to make the RIGHT DECISIONS in LIFE (Proverbs 3:5-6)!  Like “sheep”, we definitely NEED A SHEPHERD to keep us from walking into TRAPS that GOD is trying to steer us clear of as we progress through life!  

We ALL need a GUIDE to make our way STRAIGHT!  So why don’t we UNDERSTAND that we need a “tour guide” to get through “this world” and to our HEAVENLY HOME?  Unless JESUS CALLS US, our EYES will not SEE the NEED for a SAVIOR, “THE LORD”!!!

“HE CHOSE ME!”

 GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, and GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT “CHOSE” ALL CHOSE me BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD to serve THEM, even though I am imperfect and lacking !!!

“THEIR EYES WERE OPENED!”

 

Luke 24:13-45                 (ESV)

On the Road to Emmaus

“[13] That very day two of them (followers of JESUS) were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, [14] and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. [15] While they were talking and discussing together, JESUS HIMSELF drew near and went with them. [16] BUT THEIR EYES WERE KEPT FROM RECOGNIZING HIM. [17] And HE said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, LOOKING SAD. [18] Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered HIM, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” [19] And HE said to them, “What things?” And they said to HIM , “Concerning JESUS of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before GOD and ALL THE PEOPLE, [20] and how OUR CHIEF PRIESTS and RULERS delivered HIM up to be condemned to death, and crucified HIM. [21] But WE HAD HOPED that HE was the ONE to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. [22] Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, [23] and when THEY DID NOT find HIS BODY, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that HE WAS ALIVE. [24] Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but HIM THEY DID NOT SEE.” [25] And HE said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Was it not necessary that the CHRIST should suffer these things and enter into HIS GLORY?” [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, HE interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning HIMSELF.

[28] So they drew near to the village to which they were going. HE acted as if he were going farther, [29] but they urged HIM strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So HE went in to stay with them. [30] When HE was at table with them, HE took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. [31] AND “THEIR EYES WERE OPENED”, and THEY RECOGNIZED HIM. And HE VANISHED FROM THEIR SIGHT. [32] They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while HE talked to us on the road, while HE opened to us the Scriptures?” [33] And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, [34] saying, “THE LORD HAS RISEN INDEED, and has appeared to Simon!” [35] Then they told what had happened on the road, and how HE was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

JESUS Appears to HIS Disciples

[36] As they were talking about these things, JESUS himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” [37] But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. [38] And HE said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? [39] See MY hands and MY feet, that it is I MYSELF. Touch ME, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” [40] And when HE had said this, HE showed them HIS hands and HIS feet. [41] And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, HE said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” [42] They gave HIM a piece of broiled fish, [43] and HE TOOK IT AND ATE BEFORE THEM.

[44] Then HE said to them, “These are MY WORDS that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about ME in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms MUST BE FULFILLED.” [45] THEN HE OPENED THEIR MINDS TO UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES, [46] and said to them, “Thus it is written, that THE CHRIST should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, [47] and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed IN HIS NAME to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. [48] YOU ARE WITNESSES OF THESE THINGS. [49] And behold, I AM sending the promise of MY FATHER upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from ON HIGH.”

Because of the length of the text of Scripture I am submitting today, my comments will be brief.

JESUS was in the midst of two BELIEVERS, people who no doubt had listened to HIM before HE was crucified.  However, “THEIR EYES WERE OPENED” and THEY RECOGNIZED HIM, and HE promptly VANISHED FROM THEIR SIGHT (verse 31)!  

Even when HE was with HIS OWN disciples (verse 45), HE HAD TO OPEN THEIR MINDS TO UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES!  

No matter how much time you have spent “in church”, and no matter how many songs you have sung, UNTIL “THEIR EYES WERE OPENED” by your CREATOR, you WILL NOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD!!!

2 Corinthians 9:15  “Thanks be to GOD for his inexpressible gift!”

Ephesians 2:8-9   “For BY GRACE (the unmerited, free, and UNDESERVED favor, love, and kindness of GOD toward humanity) you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of GOD, NOT A RESULT OF WORKS, so that no one may boast.”

“THE LORD GAVE HER CONCEPTION!”

 

Ruth 4:13-17                 (ESV)

Ruth and Boaz Marry

“[13] So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and “THE LORD GAVE HER CONCEPTION”, and she bore a son. [14] Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! [15] He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” [16] Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. [17] And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, THE FATHER OF DAVID.”

Can you fathom how Ruth would become “written” in the lineage of JESUS when she was married to her first husband, Mahlon?  Yet, through GODS DIVINE PLAN, she is listed in Scripture (Matthew 1:5) as part of the ancestral family of CHRIST (Matthew 1:16)!  

As you are probably aware, Ruth was on a PATH of almost destitution, having to “glean” from the “left behinds” for Naomi (her mother-in-law) after their husbands had died.  Naomi had instructed Ruth and Orpah (Ruth’s sister-in-law) to return to their own families and leave her to figure out how to make it on her own?  Ruth 1:14 states that “And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth “clung to her””, giving an indication that her future was with Naomi.  

We also read in the short book of Ruth how she was BLESSED to be sent to a field to gather leftovers behind the harvesters.  It is NO COINCIDENCE that the field was owned by Boaz, an acquaintance of Naomi, and a wealthy man.  Boaz had Ruth placed in a field away from others where her work would provide food for her and Naomi.  When Boaz SAW her BEAUTY and WORK ETHIC, her married her and she had a son soon afterwards!  She was the great-grandmother of King David, a man after GODS OWN HEART!!!

Could Boaz have known that he would be the great-grandfather of the King of Israel at the time of his assisting Ruth?  Israel didn’t even have a king at the time!  Not only was King David their great-grandson, but the SAVIOR OF THE WORLD would also be listed in their lineage!  

Certainly Ruth could not have known that her remaining loyal to Naomi would be used to bring the SAVIOR to mankind?  Her past gave NO INDICATION how GOD was going to use her for HIS GLORY?  But “THE LORD GAVE HER CONCEPTION” and HIS PLAN WAS WRITTEN!!!  GOD USES THE WEAK TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PLAN!!  That is how “THE LORD GAVE HER CONCEPTION”!!!

“HUMILITY COMES BEFORE HONOR!”

 Proverbs 18:12                (ESV)

    “Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty,

        but “HUMILITY COMES BEFORE HONOR”.”

To say that HUMILITY is easy to achieve is a monumental statement!  Directly following the Brain Hemorrhage I was EXTREMELY HUMBLE!  I am unable to completely verbalize my mindset, but when you have been SO CLOSE to death, it is VERY EYE-OPENING!

Getting “back to normal” can be a good thing, but it can also be a bad thing, especially IF the lesson learned is waxed over.  Remembering the three weeks in the Rehabilitation Hospital can reset my compass very quickly.  I lost almost ALL of my pride and dignity as my own vulnerability was extremely evident.  

When a person has been where I have been it is NOT something that is very easy to wipe out of their mind!  But when you don’t have most of the  “deficits” from the Brain Injury, it can be awfully easy to become proud and forgetful of where you have been?  

FATHER IN HEAVEN, cause this servant to constantly remember that “HUMILITY COMES BEFORE HONOR”!  My EYES have been OPENED to SEE where I could be today WITHOUT YOUR GRACE!!!

“HUMILITY COMES BEFORE HONOR!”

 Proverbs 18:12                (ESV)

    “Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty,

        but HUMILITY COMES BEFORE HONOR.”

From Bishop Robert E Smith

 From Bishop Robert E. Smith!

“The old man is crucified (Rom. 6:6), the natural man petrified (1 Cor. 2:14), the new man spiritualized (1 Cor. 2:15), and the heavenly man glorified (John 12:16;13:31).  Where are you? (Rom. 8:30).”

“I WILL BRING YOU BACK!”

 

Jeremiah 29:11-14.                (ESV)

“[11] For I know THE PLANS I have for you, declares the LORD, PLANS FOR WELFARE and not for evil, to give you a FUTURE and a HOPE. [12] THEN you will call upon ME and come and pray to ME, and I WILL HEAR YOU. [13] YOU WILL SEEK ME and FIND ME, WHEN YOU SEEK ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART. [14] I WILL BE FOUND BY YOU, declares the LORD, and I WILL RESTORE your fortunes and gather you from ALL THE NATIONS and all the places where I HAVE DRIVEN YOU, declares the LORD, and “I WILL BRING YOU BACK” to the place from which I sent you into exile.”

There are times when I wake up and IMMEDIATELY open my cellular phone and begin looking at emails and social media in a supposed effort to keep “in-touch” with everything that is going on in today’s society.  I am NOT that important, so why do I need to find out what is transpiring in “my world”???  Could it be that “the enemy” is trying to cloud my mind with whatever he can that will prevent me from “getting a WORD from THE LORD”???

This morning I really tried to get “into” THE WORD, but my wife was getting ready for work and I was having trouble just BEING STILL and hearing from GOD!  Then I recalled Jeremiah 29:13 which says “YOU WILL SEEK ME and FIND ME, WHEN YOU SEEK ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART”!!!  THERE are times when this Brain Damaged person has difficulty LETTING GO and hearing from THE CREATOR!  “The enemy” dangles a myriad of “things’ in front of me in an effort to “cloud my vision” and prevent me from ACCESSING THE THRONE OF GOD!!!  

So I opened the Scriptures to Jeremiah 29 and was led to write about verses 11-14.  When I was skimming over the Scriptures, I was “drawn to” the passage “I WILL BRING YOU BACK”!  If was as if GOD was telling me that “I WILL BRING YOU BACK” to a place where HE WOULD BE GLORIFIED!  I have been “matured” by HIM to the point where notoriety has faded away and JESUS BEING GLORIFIED is more important to me!

King David wrote in Psalm 37:25 “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have NOT SEEN the righteous forsaken or HIS children begging for bread.”  I have SEEN some pretty desolate times, and I have experienced some GLORIOUS experiences!  But to UNDERSTAND that THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES says that “I WILL (DEFINITELY) BRING YOU BACK” is a PROMISE that I will thoroughly enjoy accepting!!!

“I WILL NOT FORGET YOU!”

 Isaiah 49:14-16                 (ESV)

    “[14] But Zion said, “THE LORD HAS FORSAKEN ME;

        my LORD HAS FORGOTTEN ME.

     [15] “Can a woman forget her nursing child,

        that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?

    Even these may forget,

        yet “I WILL NOT FORGET YOU”. 

    [16] Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of MY HANDS;

        your walls are CONTINUALLY BEFORE ME.”

There are numerous times in my life where I feel as though I am ALL ALONE!!  There “appears to be” NO ONE helping me with the troubles that I face!  I feel as though I don’t have anyone helping me with an answer to the situation that I have fought so hard to get through.  

A “perfect” example of how I managed to “get myself” through the most difficult situation I have ever experienced is the Brain Hemorrhage of 2007.  GOD placed me in an induced coma for seventeen days where I had NO ABILITY to do anything (including breathing) ON MY OWN!!!  It was ONLY THEN that HE could GET THE GLORY without my intervention and sharing HIS GLORY!!!

There is a saying that quotes “Those who leave everything in GOD’S HANDS will eventually see GOD’S HANDS in everything”!  When the ALMIGHTY is the ONLY PERSON WHO is ABLE to KEEP us, it is usually THEN  that HE WILL DO A MIRACLE!!!  Many times I have shared what my doctor wrote in my medical records on September 25, 2007, “However, he has had a remarkable recovery that could ONLY BE DEFINED AS A MIRACLE FROM GOD”!!!

Seeing the WORDS “I WILL NOT FORGET YOU” spoken by THE LORD to Isaiah is something that I HAVE TO BE REMINDED OF, even after what HE HAS BROUGHT me through!  No matter how bleak and hopeless my situation becomes, I have to be reminded that “I WILL NOT FORGET YOU” is a PROMISE that I must ALWAYS REMEMBER!!!