Trivia:
Well you all had this right. Oregon is the state which Eugene is place in. This busy city is the home of two university's and one community college and the union of two rivers,
For all of you football fans, What year did the Buffalo Bills lose their 31st consecutive Super Bowl? 1994; 1990; 1980; or 2000? Make your guess or ask Ben IK'm sure he'll know the correct answer.
Challenge:
Psalm 51:8-13 "Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me--now let me rejoice. 9 Don't keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. 13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you."
In this first verse we are reminded of the ingredients that are poured out over our life when we allow ourselves to be brought to the place of repentance and forgiveness. In the next verse we are reminded of the supernatural working of the Spirit in removing from our very soul the stain that sin places on our heart.
Then verse 10 is spoken that age old prayer, "Create in me a clean heart" and then "Renew a loyal spirit with in me." Verse 11 continues this elements of our vibrant prayer, "Do not banish me from your presence." and then call for the continuing works of the Spirit in our lives.
Finally verse 12 reminds us of the two blessings that come to our lives when we turn to our Lord's place of repentance. JOY and continuous desire to walk in fellowship with our gracious God.
The last benefit that comes to our heart is the desire to guide others who are living in rebellion to turn back to our Lord and walk with Him in joy and blessings that can only be experienced upon this cleansing work of our merciful Father.
SO GO WITH GOD my believing one and let His supernatural working through your daily challenges help you to remain strong. Let Him remove the stain of your sins, create in your life the richness of a cleansed (made brand new) heart, a renewed purpose in life, a refusal to desire anything but communion with God, and finally the restorative touch of the Spirits working in your life, those times of turning to Him will bring rich qualities of strength and determination into your life, and will result in your a strong desire to draw others through those very same struggles into their lives.
2000