The Arkansas Traveler

I Peter 1:3 (NKJV)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according
to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
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Peter was writing to a people under persecution. He reminds them of what
God has done for them to give them hope.
In a confused world in which we live, we need to be reminded that the
future is in the hand of God. In this we can have hope in the midst of
seeming hopelessness!
When you think you have gone your limit, remember what God is doing!

Proverbs 7:1-3 (NKJV)
1 My son, keep my words,
And treasure my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and live,
And my law as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
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In the context, this is "wisdom" talking, but it is the word of God,
so we can see it as an invitation/command from God
to see Him at work in us as we obey Him!
Have a blessed day of obedience!

I Samuel 30:6 (NKJV)
" Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him,
because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons
and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God."
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It wasn't looking good for David. He and his 600 men had returned to
their town to find it destroyed by fire and all their families missing.
His men were ready to blame him -- even stone him! So what did David do?
He found strength in the LORD and called for the priest to pray for
God's direction.
When it seems that all is against you, what do you do? Hopefully you
will do what David did. Go to God and find your strength in HIM.
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If you live in the Westport, OK, area, come on out to Westport Baptist
Church this Sunday to learn the rest of the story. This is from our
Sunday School lesson.

Psalm 141:1-2 (NKJV)
1 LORD, I cry out to You;
Make haste to me!
Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.
2 Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
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Praise and thanksgiving? Does God hear that in our prayers?
While He lets us pray for our needs, His glory should come first!

Isaiah 55: 8-11 (NKJV)
8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways, " says the LORD.
9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud;,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
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When God speaks, His word goes forth to accomplish His will!
That means when He makes a promise, it will be done!
With that confidence, we can face any circumstance,
because He has promised to guide us and keep us.
As I so often repeat, keep looking to Him and watch Him provide your needs!

2 Chronicles 20:12 (NKJV)
"O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this
great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do,
but our eyes are upon You."
Psalm 84:12
"O LORD of hosts,
Blessed is the man who trust in You!"
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Israel was facing an impossible task! A massive army was coming against
them. What could they do? They turned to God. When they turned to God,
it was with a willingness to obey whatever He said.
As you continue reading this chapter, you will find God giving them
assurance and an unreasonable plan. They would not have to fight this
enemy. But they were to prepare for battle, and SEND THE CHOIR OUT
FRONT! Who ever heard of leading a battle with the choir?!? But that is
what happened and God gave them a great victory!
+++Today we are faced with many seemingly impossible tasks in our
nation. What should we as believers and as a church do? We must set our
eyes on God and be willing to follow His instructions. Trust and OBEY is
what the song says, and it is the plan that will work. Trust God to
lead, and follow Him when He speaks.
+++How does He speak. Today, mostly God speaks through His word -- the
Bible. So we must be daily there to hear Him. Sometimes he speaks
through our circumstances, but never contrary to His word, and usually
to to remind us of something we have read.
+++ So, what impossible situation are you facing. Set your eyes on God!
Watch Him work it out, sometimes giving us instructions, and sometimes
just doing it as we watch!
Whatever, To God be the Glory!

Psalm 71:17-18 (NKJV)
17 O God, You have taught me from my youth;
And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.
18 Now also when I am old and gray headed,
O God, do not forsake me,
Until I declare Your strength to this generation,
Your power to everyone who is to come.
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Here is a reminder that in God's service, there is no retirement.
There may be some shifting of gears along the way, but all of us
are called to share His love, as long as we have breath to do so.
So, gray hair, no hair, young,
or wherever you are along the time line,
lets be faithful in sharing the love of God with every one in our lives!
That is God's plan to pass the word to the next generation!
Remember, the goal is His glory!

Psalm 57:4-5 (NKJV)
4 My soul is among lions;
I lie among the sons of men
Who are set on fire,
Whose teeth are spears and arrows,
And their tongue a sharp sword.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.
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Verse 4 describes a time when it seemed all was lost.
The psalmist seemed in the pit of despair.
But in that situation, he came back with a prayer for God to be exalted!
To me this is challenging. I hope I could pray like that!
It serves as a reminder that whatever is happening, God knows about it
and we can seek His glory in it!