Trivia:
Thanks to all of you praying for, working on the preparations for VBS. By the way, In which U.S. city is the area called Fisherman's Wharf located. Way to go everyone it was in San Francisco. It is located in what was once known as San Francisco's port. It has many special attractions, such as a Marine Museum, speed boat rides, a variety of shops, cable car rides, etc.
On a musical light; Who wrote the 1974 song "Piano Man"? Was it Elton John; Marvin Gaye; Billy Joel; David Bowie. Make your guess my friends.
Challenge:
Psalm 35:11-18 "Malicious witnesses testify against me. They accuse me of crimes I know nothing about. They repay me evil for good. I am sick with despair. Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them. I denied myself by fasting for them, but my prayers returned unanswered.I was sad, as though they were my friends or family, as if they were grieving for my own mother. But they are glad now that I am in trouble; they gleefully join together against me. I am attacked by people I don't even know; the slander me constantly. They mock me and call me names; they snarl at me. How long, O Lord, will you look on and do nothing? Rescue me from their fierce attacks. Protect my life from these lions! Then I will thank you in front of the great assembly. I will praise you before all the people."
Have you ever felt this way?
People accusing you of offenses that you were not guilty of?
When those same people were in need of support, prayer, physical assistance, etc. you unselfishly
provided various types of aide.
These same people joyed over the times that you faced difficulty, and even took the time and effort
to attack you in a personal way.
They have even gone so far as to treat you with disrespect and disrepute.
Worse yet they even snarl at you when your intention is to bring honor to them?
Notice where the writer looks to for protection and rescue from the evils that these individuals cast on His life. Look at his prayer in verse 17, "Protect me from these lions!"
Finally, David brings before the Lord his response, "I will thank you in front of the great assembly. I will praise you before all people." (Including those who have committed all of these evils)
David's commitment is to tell everyone that he comes into contact with of the greatness of God, and to pass on why they should also look to Him in all of their dealings, because He is always concerned about protecting us from these ones who have nothing but disdain for our lives.
Over the years I have been friends with fellow servants of God, across the country, whether they were pastors, bible study teachers, childrens workers, etc. Some of these dear people have been harmed in the same way that David speaks of here in this passage. The test for them was to continue on and to ignore the intent of these people who have no desire but to bring harm to them and their ministry.
The test for each of us is to turn these individuals and their destructive patterns over to God, and to instead joy in the works that God is doing in spite of these vengeful attacks. The question you may ask; "Is it easy?" The answer is, "Absolutely not, but in times it does bring the strength, the wisdom of God, and the power of His working through our lives.
Through out my life I have also experienced these sorts of challenges, I can't say that I have always come through them the victor. But, I can say that when these sort of testings have come to me, they ultimately have accomplished their purifying work in the various ministries that my gracious Lord has called me too.
SO GO WITH GOD for no matter what you may be called to work through, "He will carry you through."
Oh my precious one, if you are going through these sorts of struggles in your life and you have time go too turn to; You Tube and let this song run through your heart and mind. "He will carry You by Scott Wesley Brown"
Elton John