Set Your Heart to Study the Word of God

I have been encouraged this week...

To be honest, it was a week I was not really looking forward to. This is my last week of summer break and I thought I could use it to do some relaxing before getting back to the Fall semester. I was mistaken.

Of course, when there is work to be done, there is no time to be sitting around and indulging in whatever pleases the flesh. It is interesting, though, how we tend to make time for the things that have no eternal value and we set aside the things that we should be cherishing the most. I was guilty of that this week.

All in all, it was a very encouraging week. I was happy to see a lot of close friends and family sign up for LABTS. This is a bible school in Los Angeles that has literally changed my life. Of course, the credit is all due to our Father who, in His sovereignty, placed me into that wonderful school. A school where I am surrounded by like minded people who love Christ and where I sit under professors who desire to teach the scriptures to the best of their ability with all purity. You can see in their words and deeds that they labor for the sake of God's children and His glorification. They truly care.

My prayer as that my friends and family will grow in the knowledge of Christ and that this school will be used as a means of furthering the Lord's kingdom here on earth. I am so thankful for this school, and I hope that my friends and family will come to realize that there is no greater joy in life than knowing and serving our Savior.


My desire is for them to seek after You Lord, You and only You.
May their eyes be opened to what it means to do that with their whole heart.

...

Hope in God O my soul, for you will be glad once again...

The Demand for Discipleship

Tonight, I am humbled and encouraged once again by brethren.


This heavy load that I carry, is not being carried alone. The help is near, the help present. Though confusion rise, I will not fear. I trust in the Almighty for His plans can not be foiled. All must, and will, work for good to me.


Father, You are the Sovereign creator of the heavens and earth. May I never forget that You have done everything and I have done nothing. God, humble my soul, renew my mind, and guide my heart, that I may not sin against You. Thank You for brothers that lead us to righteousness and guard us from folly. Praise the Lord for men of truth! It is your truth that sets me free, free from the bondage of disobedience. Give me the strength to do Your will and not mine.


Discipleship is essential to the believers life. Do you take part in discipleship?

Trust and Obey

A prayer to the living God,

Father,

My heart is heavy.
The burdens have piled to great heights, as if great towers of heartache have been placed upon my soul.

O great God, do not misunderstand,
service to You has surely been my life's pleasure.
But there has been much difficulty in the ministry of Your children.

Why do we receive opposition from your professing people?
Fellow brothers have deceived us.
Some have avoided us.
Others have caused us to stumble.

Can this truly be?
How long, O Lord, will they not listen to understanding?
Why do they not take heed when wisdom calls?
When shall they change and not act ignorantly?

Lord, they do not listen.

Give them hearts of discernment.
Open their eyes, that they may see with clear understanding.


Lord, there are lies that are hurting your children,
I pray that You remove them.


Good Shepherd, your sheep are confused.
Have we not preached from Your Word?
Have we not been faithful to Your Truth?
Have we not proclaimed Your Gospel?
The Gospel in which we center our entire lives upon?
Have we not done these things?

If we have done wrong, O Lord, reveal our wrongdoings.
Help us to look into the mirror of Your Word.
Mold us to be people never ignorant to sin.
We need Your Holy Spirit to take control.
O God, have mercy on us.


Lord, there is change ahead.
Yes, we are perplexed,
perplexed yet not despairing.

Our desire has always been to shepherd Your people.
We labor for the sanctification of Your children,
that they may be conformed to the image of Your Son.
And love Him ever so more.
Never have we wished division amongst the brothers. Never.
But we know that Your truth divides,
it divides Your true sheep from the illegitimate goats.

Lord, hear me!
No, I do not charge you with injustice.
Nor do I charge you with unfairness.
Father in heaven, my plea is for strength.
Strength to keep faith in Your Sovereign hand.
Indeed, I do believe, help my unbelief.

There is change ahead.
Yes, we are perplexed,
perplexed yet not despairing.

To leave this as a question unanswered, would be a great sin.

Lord I am confused yet am not in deep anguish.
There is understanding, yet no full comprehension.
How can a I grasp the mind of God?
For it is beyond all understanding.
His thoughts are more numerous than the grains of sand,
So vast, beyond all measure,
Transcendent beyond all time and space.
Our thoughts are not Your thoughts.

I understand my place, Lord, I am no one.
In these present difficulties,
to be without understanding would be truly dangerous.

Who am i to question Your purposes?
What is man, that he would question Your will?
The foolish man says, "God, I am entitled to an explanation."
Yet the wise man knows he deserves nothing.
Sovereign, you do as you please without the permission of man.
Grant us strength to follow You wherever You lead.
Give us peace to trust in You, regardless of the circumstance.
For you have called us to contend and suffer for Your name's sake.
Remind us that love for You means love for Your people.

Difficulties lie ahead.
But our eyes are on eternity.
We glory in the cross and the salvation that is ours forever.
Help us to serve with joy, and abstain from bitterness.
Lord, our delight is in the mercy that You have shown us.
We are in debt to You, gracious God.
Our thanks and praise be unto You,
for not leaving us in our sin.

Amen.

"Trust and obey, for there's no other way,
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."