Scripture

To all who mourn in Israel, He {Jesus} will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.

Quote

Some of our emotional wounds are so deep we wonder if we will ever heal, but don’t allow them to control you. Jesus can set you free.

~Ya’akov

We mentioned it in our message yesterday morning: parents shelter children through the early years but if you live long enough they will talk to you as a friend and sometimes they share more than you want to know. We call it TMI, too much information. Last night Joe David told about Pastor Ben in Guatemala. I was praying for him to stop. He shared for more than I wanted to hear. I am Claustrophobic in my old age and I have a horror of tight places. I may have the numbers wrong, but it was 30 men in cell that was 7X10. They have to stand most of the time and rotate who can lie down. The inmates get an average of 3 hours laying down: they have to learn to sleep on their feet like a horse. Joe David with the prayer list is like June with FACEBOOK, they tell me things I don’t want to know. I guess I am an escapist, a person who seeks distraction and relief from unpleasant realities.

I love Isaiah, especially the passages about the Messianic Kingdom and this morning, Isaiah 61:3 was music to my ears. Look at the comparisons: beauty for ashes, joy instead of morning and festive praise instead of despair. Hey, I will take beauty, joy and festive praise any day of the week, amen! I intend to pray for Pastor Ben today but I also intend to praise the LORD for His infinite goodness. He was good to me yesterday in ways I cannot express. Let just put it this way: His mercy, grace and Spirit were evident. Thank God for GRACE. I also thank Him for space. I like space.

One other thing: we all have problems and it is easy to focus on our problems but one of the wonderful things about worship is our focus is not on our problems but on Jesus. It amazes me how that picks me up from the ash heap. I don’t know what is wrong with me but I have really been struggling lately and for the last two or three Sundays in a row, the praise service has lifted my spirit. I love festive praise, it revives my soul.

Extra

I talked about the sin of Achan last night and I focused on integrity. After the service, Keith gave me Ken’s outline on this passage {1} Achan taking, {2} Achan shaking, {3} Achan baking. Spencer Bell will preach this because is rhymes.

It was a good day yesterday. We were down in number at the POINT but not in spirit. We started the shipping process for over 200 OCC shoe boxes. I may run by DBC later this morning just to see how things are going. They had close to 500 when they opened up this morning.

LUKE 14 next Sunday night, I can’t wait. I may bring the two Ediths if I can get permission.

I hope you have a great day and a great week.

By the way, I got to watch most of the Alabama game with my Old Gregg and he did pretty good. {inside joke} Gregg gained 10 pounds last week—way go Gregg!!!