The Morning Watch

Holy words long preserved For our walk in this world They resound with God's own heart Oh, let the ancient words impart Words of Life, words of Hope Give us strength, help us cope In this world, where e'er we roam Ancient words will guide us home Chorus: Ancient words ever true Changing me and changing you We have come with open hearts Oh, let the ancient words impart Holy words of our Faith Handed down to this age Came to us through sacrifice Oh heed the faithful words of Christ Holy words long preserved For our walk in this world They resound with God's own heart Oh let the ancient words impart Chorus x4: Ancient words ever true Changing me and changing you We have come with open hearts Oh, let the ancient words impart We have come with open hearts Oh, let the ancient words impart Michael W. Smith

I was able to fit a walk in today. As I walked this path, a Bible verse I had memorized came to mind, “The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.”(Proverbs 4:18) The just. Those who have been made right (justified) with God through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.  The perfect day. Makes me think of the day, as believers in Jesus, that we shall see Him in all His glory, face to face!  “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)

I spent this last week in the hospital caring for a loved one. I saw a lot of suffering. I saw a lot of broken bodies. I saw some very despondent people, and some, although struggling, still had joy, and I wondered what made the difference? I thought about Jesus words from Matthew 4:4, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” I thought about Mary sitting at Jesus feet to hear his word. (Luke 10:39) I thought about those who make the Lord their shepherd through this life versus those who try to do it on their own. I thought about the peace that God gives to those who keep their minds fixed on him.  (Isaiah 26:3) I thought lastly, how important then to, “BE STILL, often, and KNOW God.” (Psalm 46:10) How focused are we on what we can see, instead of what the Lord sees? “For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) How are we loo...

After a home care visit today…We were talking about gratefulness. She has a tremor, and trouble walking due to the pain in her feet. She started to list all the things I could be grateful for, like not having to worry about my bible bouncing out of my hands while trying to read it, or the simple fact that I could walk without pain, and for the ability to care for myself. The things we take for granted. Let us give thanks. 🙏🏻 Psalms 107:1, “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”

I’m so thankful there are no limitations with God! I was reading this morning in Exodus 7:7, that Moses was 80 years old and Aaron was 83 when they spoke to Pharoah, and were used by God to deliver His people. Joshua too was  “old and advanced in age,”  yet still being used by God in passing the baton to the next generation. (Joshua 23:1) Sarah, at the of 90 bore Isaac! She also said,  “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.”  (Genesis 21:7) Elizabeth too, in Luke 1:36,  “Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” David, although “just a shepherd boy,” was chosen to be king. When Samuel would have chosen one of David’s brothers based on appearance, the LORD said to Samuel,  “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused...

So the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped. -Exodus 4:31 Nothing goes unnoticed by God. He sees all. He hears all. He knows all. The children of Israel were in slavery for 400 years! That’s a really long time! But the Lord intervened and sent a deliver. He used Moses and Aaron to bring them out of bondage into the promised land!  The host of human trafficking and forced labor colloquially called “slavery” in the modern usage could be said to have lasted approximately 373 years. That number varies according to different usages of the word. But another deliverer was raised up. William Wilberforce, a British politician and philanthropist who from 1787 was prominent in the struggle to abolish the  slave trade  and then to abolish  slavery  itself in British overseas possessions. Wilberforce’s  abolitionism  was derived in ...

Contentment. It’s a beautiful thing. These words, penned by the apostle Paul, who learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. He knew that wherever he was, or in whatever circumstances he found himself, he was there by divine appointment. A few verses later (vs. 13) Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” What a testimony of faith in the Good Shepherd!