PSALMS 66-85

It is Sunday!  Yeah!  I love Sundays!  I'm so looking forward to being at Church this morning.  I know it is a long weekend, so I don't know how many will be there, but I will be there and I'm going to love every moment of it.  I'm going to teach this morning, and then preach; then I'll come home to another wonderful meal, take a needed nap, and then get to preach again.  I'm excited about each message and lesson.    Yesterday, we had our Thanksgiving with our children and grand children present.  They went to inlaws on Thursday, so we had a great meal on Saturday.  I cooked a 34 pound Turkey!  It was massive.  We had so much good food, I couldn't finish my plate. (too much good stuff on it)  We had a blast.  I played with the grandchildren, pushed them in the rope swing, had one fall asleep in my lap, and get to lay on the floor and play with baby Natalyn.  Isn't family a wonderful gift from God?  Yes!  Now to what I read this morning:   1) DAILY BENEFITS- Psalms 68:19 says:  "Blessed be the LORD, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.  Selah."  God daily loaded us with benefits!  Wow.  Isn't that wonderful.  God is so good to us.  No wonder the psalmist speaks of singing to God all of the time.  He is worthy!  Thank you LORD for your many and manifold benefits that You dailly load upon me.  Praise Your Holy Name!!    2) IN MY OLD AGE- Though I'm only 56, I am getting older, (and I hope wiser).  David was too as he penned these words in Psalms 71:9, 18 "Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth."  and "Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come."  What David was praying is this:  "LORD, keep using me right up until the end of my life... let my life count for you and help to influence others!"  This is my prayer.  Jesus Use Me, and O Lord don't refuse me, for surely there's a work that I can do.  And even though tis humble, help my will to crumble, though the task be great, I'll work for You!!  Let that be our prayer today.   3) UNTIL I WENT INTO THE SANCTUARY- David says in Psalms 73, that his steps had well nigh slipped.  He was envious of the wicked and saw the prosperity of the wicked.  The foolish looked like all turned out fine and the wicked ruled.  He didn't understand it at all, and was ready to throw in the towel.  But, then he went to Church! Verse 16, 17 "When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me: Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end."  In God's House, he heard about the end of the wicked and the foolish who turn from God.  At Church he heard about the rewards of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked, and he knew then that he was on the right path.  We too get on slippery ground when we look at the wicked and foolish, we had best get in church and keep our eyes on the LORD!!   4) OPEN THY MOUTH WIDE- In Psalms 81:10, the Bible says:  "I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt:  open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it."  God is making a statement based on His previous performance.  Based on the fact that HE is the God who parted the Red Sea, brought about the plagues, and delivered them from Egypt... God makes another statement... "open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it."  In other words, "Tell me what you want!"  God can do it!  Wow.  What a promise.  What an opportunity.  LORD, please hear our humble prayers as we open our mouths wide..... fill it LORD Jesus!!  Fill it.   Well, got to go for now.  Hope you have a wonderful Lord's day.  Blessings on your life! Pastor Mike Mutchler