Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Wednesday July 08, 2009 and we are continuing our studies in the book of Psalm, please read chapters 78-80 in your Bible or Click Here to read them online, http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2078-80&version=9

Today's Message: Count Your Blessings
When times of discouragement come, then is the best time to count our blessings and remember where the Lord brought us from.

God had chosen Israel to be His witness to the world, they were to be an example of how He would bless all who honored Him and His Word. The psalmist Asaph, reminded the new generation of Israelite's of how God they were to praise and honor God and be a testimony for future generations, not be as their fathers whom were rebellious. “Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.” - Psalm 78:1-8. We are blessed to know the truth, therefore we too are to teach our children to honor and obey God. Though we may have had rebellious parents, it is up to us to be an example to all future generations. If our heart is right with God than it will reflect onto our children and they too will honor and obey God and His Word.

Asaph also reminded them of the heartbreak and horror that was felt following the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem. The sad thing was that these people assumed that since they were God's chosen there were free to do whatever they please and still receive the blessings of God. Asaph, pleads with God, “How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire? Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name. For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place. O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.” - Psalm 79:5-9. We all need to be reminded that although we are saved by the blood of Jesus we are not exempt from following His commands. Of course we will go to heaven, but we will face judgment for the things we could have, but failed to do.


Since the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, there has been no Temple, no Brazen Altar, no Laver, no Golden Candlestick, no Table of Showbread, no Ark of the Covenant, no Altar of Incense, and no way to observe the Day of Atonement or any other sacrifice as commanded by God. All of Israel's sacrifices and feasts were symbols created by God to foreshadow and explain all that was accomplished by Jesus their Messiah. After Jesus' sacrificial death, all of the Old Testament sacrifices for sins were made obsolete and the old sacrificial system under the Law was destroyed soon after the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. The blood sacrifices of animals would no longer temporarily atone for their sins since they were not needed. Christ became the ultimate sacrifice that replaced the need for daily animal sacrifices. Praise God! “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” - Ephesians 5:1,2. The sacrifice of Christ on the cross made it possible for both Jews and Gentiles, who recognize themselves as lost sinners, truly repent, and receive Jesus as their Savior, to be forgiven of their sins.

Believe it or not, our children mimic us and if we have no interest in God and His Word, they will not either, and will probably know less about God than we do, leaving it up to them to figure it out. Sadly, they will fall into the hands of the false prophets and sooner or later, just like Jerusalem was destroyed, our nation too will be destroyed.

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
We trust You for You are worthy of implicit confidence. No problem is too difficult for You since Your power is supernatural and unlimited in strength. There is no prayer request that we bring to You that is too perplexing or hard for You to answer, no need too great for You to supply, no misdirected passion too strong for You to restrain; no temptation too powerful for You to deliver us from, and no misery too deep for You to relieve us from, for You are the Strength of our lives. And when we rest on these truths we are confident and trusting and there is no enemy force of which we should be afraid. In Jesus' Name.........Amen.
Have a wonderful and blessed day/night and enjoy the rest of your week.
God bless,
Christina