Friday Morning Prayer:). December 11, 2015
December 11, 2015 - 6 minutes readWhen upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.[1]
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”[2]
Beloved In Christ,
We join in Paul’s focus of “Praise” throughout the beginning verses of Ephesians 1, especially for what God has done in Christ. One writer referenced this text as written in “a state of controlled ecstasy.”[3] Indeed! What God has done for us in Christ certainly stirs the heart! It is exciting and worth sharing, that God “…has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”
Moreover, according to His sovereignty, even before the world was created, our God had determined that all who believed in Jesus should be saved! “…the life of Christians depends on ‘a love that never began as well as a love that will never end’….”[4] Yes!
Brother and sister, I pray you are constantly experiencing this never ending love and know that our God has adopted us…those “In Christ” as sons and daughters through our Lord Jesus according to His pleasure and will. “To the praise of his glorious grace…[!]”[5]
We choose to celebrate “Christmas” because it signifies the first Advent, the messianic age, hence the kingdom of God has been inaugurated at the birth of Jesus. As redeemed sons and daughters we persevere! In the midst of it all, we trust our sovereign God! His eternal purpose will come to full fruition, even at the consummation of life, even this world as we know it, when our Lord returns. Rejoice! Our Savior is born! He lived, He died for our sins, resurrected, ascended, and will return again! Our blessed assurance, motivating hope!
Beloved, be encouraged by the treasures of gospel truth found in Scripture:[6]
· Through our Lord Jesus, we are holy and blameless in His sight.
· We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
· In Christ, we know the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure purposed in Christ.
· As we hope In Christ, we exist, move, and have our being for the praise of His glory!
· We, being included in Christ, have heard the word of truth, the gospel of salvation for those who believe.
· We have been marked In Christ with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.
Therefore we sing! :)… “Count your many blessings, see what God hath done….” [!]
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, ev’ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Sisters are meeting at First Baptist! 1912 Arnold Way, Alpine. 0900.
Join our faithful sisters who meet week after week to pray for one another, our fellowships, the body of Christ, churches, communities, our nation, our world. YOU are invited! If you know gals who need a time of encouragement, where love is manifest through the Holy Spirit indwelling, our God who comforts, INVITE and pray together…:).
Brothers are meeting too! Mountain View Bible. 2710 Alpine Blvd. Alpine. 0730. You are invited!
An exciting, rewarding time of gathering with brothers who hold fast to the gospel! We pray as the Holy Spirit leads us… always sensitive to the needs of the brethren. As you need, and we all need to be encouraged, embraced and loved by humble brothers In Christ, consider joining us this week. A sweet hour of prayer and worship!
The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel—which means, “God with us.”[7]
Your brother In Christ,
Randall:).
[1]http://www.hymnary.org/text/when_upon_lifes_billows_you_are_tempest
[2] Ephesians 1:3
[3] The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. F.E. Gaebelein, 1978.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Eph 1:6
[6] Ibid 1:3-14
[7] Matthew 1:23
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