Bittersweet Farm

It’s Monday as I write, my day off. We are busy making ready for family to visit for Thanksgiving. The grandchildren are mostly small and filled with wonder and eagerness especially when they come out to Bittersweet Farm on the holidays. The teens will be happy that for the first time in five years we now have high-speed wifi. Doesn’t that just warm your heart? I have to admit. I love to live on the backside of nowhere… with high speed wifi.

In our beautiful part of the world, the leaves are gone and they will not appear again for 25 weeks–mid-May of next year. Until then I am determined to get outdoors every one of those 170 days. 150 of those days, six out of seven of them, Lord willing, I will walk at least 30 minutes. I will document my walks with photos and brief journal entries so all my cyber-friends can cheer me on like friends gathered along the racecourse. On most of my walks I will get up in the morning, dress for the weather, and walk fifteen minutes away from our house. Then I will turn and come back. On other occasions I will drive to special places to walk in villages, towns, parks, and on trails.

Walking after a fresh snowfall shows you how many critters share your woods and fields. Those who walk leave their tracks and this morning in the wind and winter sun I left my tracks among them. As often as the snow falls until the leaves return I will continue. Everything I see was created by God and I, too am one of his creatures. By his good grace and through his Son, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, I am one of his children.

I will pray for occasional thaws when I can ride one of my bikes. In early February I hope to enjoy the tubing run up at Camp Barakel, maybe even cross-country ski and skate and walk across the icy lake. Maybe the sky will be clear and I can take a night walk. Out under the winter sky among his creation every day until spring returns I will remind myself that I am his one of his creatures–and thank him that I am his child.

 

“Know that the LORD, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people,

and the sheep of his pasture.”

(Psalm 100:3, ESV)

 

Blessed Thanksgiving to each of you. Thanks for reading. It’s nice to know you are out there.

Bittersweet Farm I Jackson County, Michigan I November 21, 2022

 

 

The Archives: If you click on the “Ken’s Books” tab at the top of the kenpierpont.com website you will see a “archives” drop-down menu. Here you will find almost 3000 posts, many of them stories for you to enjoy. If the writing encourages you, there is a lot there and it’s all free.

Stories from Bittersweet Farm: I’ve added a couple stories to the podcast. There is a lot here if you explore it.

 

Lois is on a two-week trip to Florida visiting Dan and Kate and keeping an eye on the boys while Kate gets some training for work, so it’s been quiet out on Bittersweet Farm. I’ve been puttering with clearing leaves and preparing ” ‘er the winter storms begin,” and getting in some beautiful autumn bike rides. This afternoon I will head to Chuk and CC’s to hang out with the kids for their church’s “end of October free candy giveaway thing and BBQ chicken slider after. Stay tuned for pics of adorable kids all amped up on sugar. It’s my day off today and it’s wet outside so I’m sipping coffee and writing to you. I’n Lois’s absence I’ve been thinking about God’s kindness to us an that stirred up a memory.

 

We Did It!

In August of 2020 the last of the children left our home and Lois and I completed 40 years of raising children to launch their own households. Now all of them are starting their own families here in Michigan and in Wisconsin, Florida, Texas, and Oregon. The last to leave home was Hope America, the baby. The the very last to pull away a few days after her wedding were Dan and Kate and their boys, heading back to New Mexico. 

They pulled out onto the road and drove away. Lois and I stood together watching them drive away through an arch of trees. A warm emotion swept over me and I remembered driving away from the church in Ypsilanti with my young bride over 40 years earlier, just a couple rather clueless kids. Now there were stood after raising children for 40 years. It was quiet for a moment and we stared down the road after the car until it was small in the distance. 

“We did it,” I said.

“We did it,” Lois repeated

“That was amazing,” I said, “It was. It really was,” Lois replied

“I love raising those kids,” I said. “I loved it.”

“So did I.”

“I would do it again, all eight of them,” I said, tears forming in my eyes.

“So would I,” said Lois.

Holding her and looking her in the eyes I said, “And I would do it with you.”

Not real comfortable with so much intimacy and emotion, she looked back for a split second and said, “Would you?” and turned and started toward the house. 

Back in our little farmhouse we sat down on the loveseat together and I said, “Let’s pray and thank God for what he allowed us to do.”

“Go ahead,” she said.

I prayed and thanked God for four amazing decades of provision and protection and direction and love over ten people under one roof. She prayed, thanking God. 

It was a moment I will always cherish. 

During Hope and Tim’s wedding we erected a wooded cross on the north backline of our property (Dale, our son-in-law did it). We left it there and when I look out the fields north of our house I think of that weekend and the last of the children leaving and I thank God again for those years together. 

We are in another season now and it is a good one, very good, but for forty years we raised four sons and four daughters together. Just two clueless, needy, sinners… and Jesus. As I often say, “We will never tire of telling the stories.”

Bittersweet Farm

October 31, 2022

 

My Dad and Brothers and I

The Pierpont boys

The pierpont boys with dad

 

Blessed Men

Remember the password is Blessed with a capital “B” “Blessed” (often written “blessèd” in poetry) is almost always pronounced with two syllables when used as an adjective. The verb form “blessed” (past tense and past participle) is almost always pronounced blest with one syllable. Here is a cool link on how to pronounce blessed.

 

YouVersion Bible App: Click Here

Books by Ken Pierpont:

My Amazon Author Page

 

Scriptures to Meditate on This Weekend. 

• Psalm 112
• Psalm 1
• Psalm 19
• Psalm 119
• John 15 (Especially John 15:7) 
• 1 Timothy 1:17-19

A little thoughtful humor about how to understand poetry. Billy Collins: Introduction to Poetry

 

Five of the Things That Happen When You Displace Lies By Meditating on Truth:

1—You Will Experience Genuine Success and Prosperity.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” (Psalm 1, ESV)

“Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice. For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor. The wicked man sees it and is angry; he gnashes his teeth and melts away; the desire of the wicked will perish!” (Psalm 112, ESV)

2—You Will Be Transformed.

Romans 12:1-2 NLT And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

3—You Will Defeat Your Spiritual Enemies.

2 Corinthans 10:4-6 “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.” (2 Corinthians 10:4–6, ESV)

4—You Will Experience Fullness of Life.

Romans 8:5-7 “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.” (Romans 8:5–7, ESV)

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8, ESV)

5—You Will Enjoy A Foretaste of Heaven.

Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:2, ESV) “…let heaven fill your thoughts…”

Saturday Morning Session:

Psalm 112

Yesterday: Why Meditate

This Morning; How to Meditate

What a man needs most is God and the blessing of God. 

John Piper said; “The greatest need of every … believer is to know God better and enjoy God more than anything else they know and enjoy in all the world.” 

Dr. Bill Thrasher said; “Right living begins with right thinking and right thinking begins with right thinking about God.”

It is paramount that a man is rightly related to God. A Man’s relationship to God is the most important thing about him… [ill] Kyle and Leland—answer to prayer 

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” (Psalm 1)

Joshua 1:8 prosperous—good success… 

1 Tim. Prosperity will appear to all…. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.

[story] Greg VanBoxel—who is actually wealthy. Lie: My wife does not understand me… she doesn’t support me… 

“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3, ESV)

“Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! (Psalm 112)

Romans 12:1-2 NLT And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

2 Corinthans 10:4-6 “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.” (2 Corinthians 10:4–6, ESV)

Romans 8:5-7 “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.” (Romans 8:5–7, ESV)

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8, ESV)

Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:2, ESV) “…let heaven fill your thoughts…”

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7, ESV)

What it means to walk in the Spirit or in the Word… Daily “word” “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16, ESV)

1—Let nature, troubles, circumstances, desires, tug you closer to God and into his word. 

[ill] I feel close to God outdoors. 

[ill] Tearing down the cross the ND Cathedral… in French Revolution… we are going to remove every trace of God… “You will have to climb higher…you would have to pull down the very stars of God… 

Standing on the bridge of a ship watching the path of moonlight on the Pacific. Later walking at evening and hearing the bells of Oxford… the nudge toward Christ… “I suspected that all the yearnings for I knew not what that I had ever felt-when autumn leaves were burning in the twilight, when wild geese flew crying overhead, when I looked up at bare branches against the stars, when spring arrived on an April morning-were in truth yearnings for him. For God. I yearned towards him.” -VanAuken.

 

2—Value and treasure God’s truth—and intimacy with God. Se truth as a life and death thing.  Seek satisfaction in it—joy, fulfillment. Look to God’s Truth for deep fulfillment. Seek help and wisdom in it…When you feel unhappy, anxious, unfulfilled, frustrated, depressed, angry… Go to the Word of God. [How to Live With a Contentious Person]—see kenpierpont.com Blessed with a capitol B

Jesus—Life—Daily Truth (Matthew 4:4) Rhema

“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”” (John 8:31–32, ESV)

Satan—Death—Daily Lies (John 8:43-47)

Romans 1 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie.

[ill] The Art of Maniliess Self-Defense is mostly vigilance. Knowing your surroundings and staying out of trouble. 

[ill] I know they are lying to me, I just want to know what lies that are telling.

3—Fear the great transgressions… notice the main idea and prayer: “Let the word son my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you…”

[ill] A man “Catfished” for 70K vs. [ill] A man who never felt successful 

[ill] Johnson Canyon—

““For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10–11, ESV)

[ill] Johnson Canyon—

 

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7, ESV)

David Lemmon learned that a man who abides in Christ and his words abide in him…. will experience unusual answers to prayer.

Read Psalm 112

—Innocence Psalm—Wisdom literature—like Proverbs—Hebrew alphabet acrostic.

—Is this to be understood as a guarantee of death and prosperity?

—No. It is to be seen as a general picture of the trajectory of a man’s life who fears God and delights in the commandments of God.

Three reasons to understand this not as an absolute guarantee, but as a general description of a man who is blessed of God.

1—The kind of literature it is. [ill] Billy Collins on Understanding Poetry.

It is the middle of three Hallel Psalms—Praise Psalms… 111—who God is 112—we can be like him. 113—even though we may face poverty, need, hardship, barrenness… We will praise the Lord.

—We all face hardship but the blessed man turns ever toward the Lord and not away. He pursues Hope and does not yield to Despair.

2—External clues: Did other any other men the Bible commends ever enjoy life without rebellious children, difficult relationships, unbroken ease and comfort?

“There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.” (Job 1:1, ESV)

“These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9, ESV)

Josiah who was a good and godly King but followed by godless and hapless sons… End of day we recognize him as blessed of God.

Did Job? Did Noah? Did David? Did Joseph? Did Daniel? …any of Old Testament Pariarchs that the Bible commends and calls blessed? NO. Absolutely not. Yet were they blessed—we they generally characterized by hope and confidence in God and perseverance? Yes.

3—Internal clues: At first grace this man looks perfect but look closer:

—(2) He has children. Is there anything in the Bible that says that raising children will not be difficult and challenging.

—(3) is a promise of prosperity ever imply the absence of any hardship or reversal? Was Jesus himself a materially wealthy man? Yes and especially no, but ultimately yes.

—(4) he is a light—but that means there is darkness around him

—(4) he is merciful—that means he has to deal with hurt and offenses.

—(5) he is just—that implies he may at time be confronted with injustice.

—(5) he lends and is generous—he lives among need/poverty

—(6) stable—must be threats to his stability

—(7-8) trusting during times of bad news

—(9) he lives honorably—there must be threats and challenges around him-but he is generous and lives honorably. (How to Live-Deal With With A Contentious Person)

—(10) he prevails… over enemies.

So without “Beating a Confession” out of this beautiful poem, let’s step back and look at it and allow the beauty of it to encourage us. Because to “Despair is to turn your back on God.” (L. M. Montgomery)

A Blessed Man—Praises the Lord, fears the Lord, delights greatly in his word/law/commands. (Psalm 19)

—Blessed in his Family Life. Like Job. like Noah. Godly good men, not perfect.

He sees the goodies and faithfulness of God in his family. Remember sin effects third and fourth generation, but to faithful are blessed to A thousand generations… This thing is not over yet… If God says he is going to bless—he is very powerful and has a long memory…

—Blessed in his Financial Life. [ill] Ed and Sunday Creech

A man with money could be greedy for more… or generous

He could be proud abuse power… oppress others. or bless

He could be stingy and miserly… gracious.

-2 Cor. 9:6ff will my car start? All I have needed his hand…

-1 Tim. 6:6-9

—Blessed in his Emotional Life.

—Blessed in his Spiritual Life. Spiritual Prosperity and Stability. How do we know… At the end of the day he is praying the Lord. He is moving toward the Lord and not away. He is living in hope and not despair.

Thanks Ken, but still this is hard. No. This is impossible and that is the ultimate point of the whole Old Testament. God is Holy and demands absolute holiness. We are sinful and desire the judgment of God. In ourselves we are hopeless to satisfy the holy demands of God. That is the message of the whole Old Testament—the bloody Old Testament… blood-lambs. Then the New Testament begins this way… “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world…”

Ultimately Jesus! Absolutely true of the subject of the Bible: Jesus and in him we can pursue a lifetime characterized by faithfulness and fidelity and trust hope in God. This is ultimately to point us to the ultimate Blessed Man who is our hope and our only hope. Will you trust Him. Will you continue to trust Him. Will you move toward him and not away? Will you be characters by hope and not despair? Will the last beat of your heart be faithful?

God Leads Us Along

Some through the water

Some through the flood

Some through the fire

But all through the blood

Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song

In the night session and all the day long.

I will tell the saints and angel as I lay my burden down, Jesus led me all the way…

Saturday Evening Session

““For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10–11, ESV)

[ill] Johnson Canyon—the Bible is like snow on the mountain.

—The blessing of God is on the man who fears God and delights in his commandments. (Psalm 112, Psalm 1)

—Satan wants to destroy or damn you with lies. Jesus want to give you life with truth. (John 15:7; 17:15-17)

How to Meditate on the Word Day and Night. How a Man Can Develop this Skill and Deepen the Practice. I am going to try something very daring—I am going to try to have seven points tonight!

1—Do the Heavy Lifting of replacing lies with truth. Give examples. Recognize how Jesus works to give you life and how Satan works to kill and steal and destroy.

Jesus—Life—Daily Truth (Matthew 4:4) Rhema

“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”” (John 8:31–32, ESV)

Satan—Death—Daily Lies (John 8:43-47)

Romans 1 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie.

“let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:7, ESV)

“Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:17–24, ESV)

2—Let nature tug you into the Word. (Psalm 19:1ff)

Standing on the bridge of a ship watching the path of moonlight on the Pacific. Later walking at evening and hearing the bells of Oxford… the nudge toward Christ… “I suspected that all the yearnings for I knew not what that I had ever felt-when autumn leaves were burning in the twilight, when wild geese flew crying overhead, when I looked up at bare branches against the stars, when spring arrived on an April morning-were in truth yearnings for him. For God. I yearned towards him.” -VanAuken.

3—Learn to value and treasure and honor and respect the word of God (Psalm 19:7-10) Treat the word of God as valuable. Seek satisfaction in it—joy, fulfillment. Look to God’s Truth for deep fulfillment. When you feel unhappy, anxious, unfulfilled, frustrated, depressed, angry… Go to the Word of God.

4—Fear the Great Transgression. (Psalm 119:11-12) Words and Meditation acceptable. See the progression of sin to the Great Transgression?

5—Take Smaller Bites—Less is More. “…day and night…” how an you so that and get anything else done. There are times it is all you do. There are many times you will do it while you do other things. Concentrate on one passage a week. Write down a passage on a card. Each day just concentrate on a phase of two. [ill] Jim [Sammons] taught me this and it was life-changing.

6—Get into the Word first thing in the morning. [ill] Have a “chair” -a morning routine.

7—Start by turning your bed into an altar.

[STORY] Listening to “Nightsounds” What you think about when you go to bed at night will have a profound effect on your life.

GOD OFTEN COMMUNICATED WITH PEOPLE IN THE NIGHT.  In the Scripture God communicated direction, understanding, and warnings in the night.  He also sometimes revealed Himself in special way to people at night. [I believe in subjective guidance, but even if you don’t God will bring scriptures to your mind at night].

• God warned Abimilech at night in a dream. (Genesis 20:3)
• Jacob’s Bethel was at night.  (Genesis 28:10-18)
• God communicated to Laban in a dream.  (Genesis 31:24)
• Jacob wrestled with an angel at night (Genesis 32:22-30)
• God spoke to Samuel in the night.  (I Samuel 3:3-18)
• Daniel had the meaning of a dream revealed in the night. (Daniel 2:19)
• God communicated with Nebuchadnezzar at night.  (Daniel 2:1)
• God communicated to King Ahasuerus at night.  (Esther 6:1)
• Peter was visited by and angel at night in the prison.
• Paul’s vision of Macedonia was in the night. (Acts 16:9)
• God encouraged Paul in the night again in Corinth.  (Acts 18:9)
• Joseph (Matthew 1:20 and Matthew 2:13)
• The Psalms of David frequently mention meditation at night.  My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.  (Psalm 63:5-6) 

THERE ARE MANY OTHER PLACES IN THE PSALMS THAT REFER TO GOD’S DESIRE FOR US TO DELIGHT IN HIM UPON OUR BED AND TURN OUR BED INTO A ALTAR OF WORSHIP.

“I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.” (Ps. 16:7)

“You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night … ” (Ps. 17:3)

“By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.” (Ps. 42:8)

“I said, “Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.” Then my spirit made a diligent search:” (Ps. 77:6)

“I remember your name in the night, O Lord, and keep your law.” (Ps. 119:55)

“At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.” (Ps. 119:62)

“My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.” (Ps. 119:148)

“Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah” (Ps. 4:4)

“My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” (Ps. 63:5–8)

“In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah” (Ps. 77:2–3)

“My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.” (Isaiah 26:9)

“You shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept, and gladness of heart, as when one sets out to the sound of the flute to go to the mountain of the Lord, to the Rock of Israel.” (Isaiah 30:29)

MEDITATION ON GOD’S WORD AT NIGHT IT CAN DISPLACE THOUGHTS THAT CAN DAMGE YOUR SOUL.

Tumble one verse or phrase at night and all the next day.

1. Displace Angry, Hurt, Bitter thoughts.  “Know that the Lord hath set apart him that is Godly for himself…commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still  (Psalm 4:3) Ephesians 4:29 don’t let sun set anger

How not to be angry with God: [ill] Bittersweet

—what good can come from this

—how can this make me like Jesus

—how can I glorify God in this

—who can I help with what God is teaching me

—how does God want me to think about this

—how does God want me to talk about this “…let the Words… mediation…”

2. Displace Guilty thoughts. (Psalm 32 and Psalm 51)

         1 John 2:1ff courtroom. Accuser. Advocate

3. Displace Covetous thoughts. “Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in the power of their hand.” (Micah 2:1)

4. Displace Anxious, fearful thoughts. (Psalm 91:5a) Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night

5. Displace Lustful thoughts (Proverbs 7:6ff)  Genesis 6:5 “…imaginations of heart only evil continually…” It was in the night that David rose from his bed and sinned.  (2 Samuel 11:2)  (ill) What I saw when I was fourteen. “…keep under my body… become a castaway…”

6. Displace Empty thoughts (Sports, fashion, my plans) (ill) Reds on the radio…. What I wish I had done. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8–9)

7. Displace Sorrowful thoughts. “I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I consider the days of old, the years long ago. I said, “Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.” Then my spirit made a diligent search:” (Psalm 77:1–6)

What you think about when you go to bed at night can have a profound effect on the rest of your life.

 

Sunday Morning Session

The Goodness of God

Good morning. I want to send you on your way with a blessing I want you to be blessed with a capital B. Psalm 112:1-2, Psalm 1:1-2. God is Eager to Bless. God is Good and want to lavish his goodness and generosity on us…

Right living begins with right thinking and right thinking begins with right thinking about God. (Q) Bill Thrasher.

John Piper said; “The greatest need of every … believer is to know God better and enjoy God more than anything else they know and enjoy in all the world.”

When Moses boldly pleaded with God, “Please, show me Your glory,” he was asking to see God for who He really is. “Show me as much as I can stand, Lord.” So what did God show him? Exodus 33:19-20 gives us God’s response: “I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you and I will proclaim the name Yahweh before you.” Moses wanted to see God’s glory. God showed Him something so wonderful and accessible that it caused the skin of Moses’ face to glow with the radiance of God’s presence. He showed him His goodness. The goodness of God is the essence of who he is, his glory.

Great men and women have had great thoughts of God. (ill) Stephen Charnock On the Existence and Attributes of God. 150 pages on the goodness of God.

Jesus wanted his followers to understand that God is good. He taught them that God is kind and loving, good and generous. He is eager to give. (Matthew 7:7-11) His hands are bigger than ours and his plans are greater than we can imagine.

But the blessing of God on those who meditate and OBEY! (John 15:7; Matthew 7:24-27) “Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not the things that I say?” 

Hear the word of the Lord: I have somethings so much better for you. I am good and generous. You can’t even imagine…

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20–21, ESV)

“But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:9–10, ESV)

1. Even When You Are Ignorant and Arrogant God is Still Good. ““You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:43–45, ESV)

2. When LIFE IS HARD God is Good. When bad things happen God is doing something good. When Circumstances are Bad God is Doing Something Good. This is something you have to learn. When something bitter is happening God is doing something good. Gen. 50:20

Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.

Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the Lord is good. (Learning the goodness of the Lord. Keep following Him).

The Last Journal Entry. One of God’s faithful missionaries, Allen Gardiner, experienced many physical difficulties and hardships throughout his service to the Savior. Despite his troubles, he said, “While God gives me strength, failure will not daunt me.” In 1851, at the age of 57, he died of disease and starvation while serving on Picton Island at the southern tip of South America. When his body was found, his diary lay nearby. It bore the record of hunger, thirst, wounds, and loneliness. The last entry in his little book showed the struggle of his shaking hand as he tried to write legibly. It read, “I am overwhelmed with a sense of the goodness of God.” If you walk with God you will utter his great goodness with your last breath and then go home to God and live in the bliss of eternal fellowship with God.

Corrie Ten Boom “Often I have heard people say, ‘How good God is! We prayed that it would not rain for our church picnic, and look at the lovely weather!’ Yes, God is good when He sends good weather. But God was also good when He allowed my sister, Betsie, to starve to death before my eyes in a German concentration camp. I remember one occasion when I was very discouraged there. Everything around us was dark, and there was darkness in my heart. I remember telling Betsie that I thought God had forgotten us. ‘No, Corrie,’ said Betsie, ‘He has not forgotten us. Remember His Word: “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him.” ” “There is an ocean of God’s love available—there is plenty for everyone. May God grant you never to doubt that victorious love—whatever the circumstances.”

Tobiah—God is Good. We could say it in the words of Susan Shelley, Marshall Shelley’s wife. Marshall Shelley is one of the editors for Christianity Today. On November 22, 1991, a few days before Thanksgiving, at 8:20 PM, their son was born. And at 8:22, two minutes later, he died. Marshall wrote an article in CT about it four years later called, “Two Minutes to Eternity,” a magnificent article. The nurse standing over her holding her dead baby said, “Does the baby have a name?” And she said, “Toby. It is short for a biblical name Tobiah, which means ‘God is good.’”

3. When God Withholds Something From You It is in Goodness.

Psalm 84:10-11 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God. Than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold. From those who walk uprightly.’

It is not God but sin that withholds good from us. Jeremiah 5:25 Your iniquities have turned these things away, And your sins have withheld good from you.

—When a baby is a good thing for you, God will give you a baby.
—When a raise is a good thing for you, God will give you a raise.
—When a house would be good for you, God will give you a house.
—When a job is a good thing for you, God will give you a job.
—When a trial is a good thing for you—God will allow you to pass through a trial.

4. When Others are Bad to You—God is Good. “…if God is for us who can be against us…”

(Q) Spurgeon. “When others behave badly to us, it should only stir us up the more heartily to give thanks unto the Lord, because He is good; and when we ourselves are conscious that we are far from being good, we should only the more reverently bless Him that He is good. We must never tolerate an instant’s unbelief as to the goodness of the Lord: whatever else may be questioned, this is absolutely certain, that Jehovah is good; His dispensations may vary, but His nature is always the same.”

[ill] painful betrayal and misunderstanding. Moody. McArthur. Older Brother. I wish I had an older brother… How many times have I told you I am your older brother? (8) Now you can defend yourself or you can trust me to defend you.

5. When Your Future is Unclear God is Still Good. When the future is unclear, remember the past goodness of God. [Read all] Psalm 145:7 “…I will utter the memory of your great goodness…” “…you open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing…”

(ill) Dave Johnson… what do you think about when you are mowing… often I just remember the blessings of the Lord over the years.

6. When You Are Tempted God is Good. (Genesis 3; James 1:12-18) …every good gift… comes down from the Father of the Lights!

[ill] Am I not enough for you? BBQ chips 🙂

7. God is Even Good When You Have Sinned Against Him.

Psalm 86:5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

Psalm 25:7-8 Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What to Do When You Live With a

Contentious Person

(Fifteen Biblical Responses to A Contentious Person).

 

1–Avoid Evil people when you can.

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.” (Romans 16:17–18, ESV)

2–As much as it is possible live at peace. Create spaces where you can remove yourself and do productive things.

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12:18, ESV)

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:13–14, ESV)

“It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.” (Proverbs 21:9, ESV)

“It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.” (Proverbs 21:19, ESV)

“It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.” (Proverbs 25:24, ESV)

 

3–Love your wife like Jesus loves you. Don’t be harsh with her.

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,” (Ephesians 5:25, ESV)

“Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.” (Colossians 3:19, ESV)

 

4–Keep your promises to act in a loving way continually even if you are cursed or or hated or abused.

““But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.” (Luke 6:27–29, ESV)

Do projects that benefit the family. Arrange and care for the basement. Do storage projects. Don’t expect these will please her, but they are ways to love and invest and do good and live at peace. In the colder weather go down to the basement and make it extremely neat and orderly. Do projects down there that benefit your wife and home and family.

 

5–Make sure their curses are without cause:

“Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.” (Proverbs 26:2, ESV)

6–Show loving-kindness and tenderness whenever you can. Walk in the Spirit. Keep Continually obeying the impulses of the Spirit in the power of the Spirit even when you are hurt or sinned against and it will produce the fruit of the Spirit. (Walking in the Spirit is continually obeying the impulses of the Spirit in the power of the Spirit, which yields the fruit of the Spirit). Gal. 5

“Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.” (Colossians 3:19, ESV)

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16–25, ESV)

 

7–Be like Jesus. Do not be selfish or think only of yourself. Give and serve others and lay down your life.

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.” (Philippians 2:1–16, ESV)

 

8–Do not get involved in argumentation and do not react sinfully to an attack.

“The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.” (Proverbs 17:14, ESV)

 

9–Don’t engage in conversation that is just a lure to attack.

““Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.” (Matthew 7:6, ESV)

 

10–Don’t Try to correct her. She will only be more contentious. Let God deal with her.

“Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.” (Proverbs 9:7–8, ESV)

“A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike; to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in one’s right hand.” (Proverbs 27:15–16, ESV)

 

11–Don’t blow up and vent your anger:

“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” (Proverbs 29:11, ESV)

 

12–Do not return anger for anger. Trust the Lord to judge.

“When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:23, ESV)

“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:1–5, ESV)

 

13–Strengthen yourself and encourage yourself in the Lord. Deepen your relationship with God when you are being abused.

“And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” (1 Samuel 30:6, ESV)

 

14–Always try to see yourself in the mirror before you look at the faults of the other.

“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5, ESV)

In the presence of my enemy. Don’t tell her things. She will use what you say against you.

 

15–Leave all the children and other people completely out of it. It is not necessary or right to draw them into it. It is not their business. Keep them out of it. Don’t talk to other people about it. The only exception would be a qualified counselor.

Treat the Contentious Person As You Would An Enemy. Bless. Do Good. Pray (Matthew 5:44 NKJV)

 

 

Scriptures on the Fear of the Lord:

 

Psalm 5:7  But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.

 

Psalm 25:14  The secret of the LORD [is] with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant.

 

Psalm 31:13  Oh, how great [is] Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, [Which] You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men!

 

Psalm 33:18-19  Behold, the eye of the LORD [is] on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine.

 

Psalm 34:7  The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.

 

Psalm 34:9  Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! [There is] no want to those who fear Him.

 

Psalm 85:9  Surely His salvation [is] near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land.

 

Psalm 103:11  For as the heavens are high above the earth, [So] great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As a father pities [his] children, [So] the LORD pities those who fear Him.

 

Psalm 111:5  He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant. 

 

Proverbs 1:7  The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge, [But] fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 

Proverbs 9:10  “The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One [is] understanding.

 

Proverbs 14:26  In the fear of the LORD [there is] strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge.  The fear of the LORD [is] a fountain of life, To turn [one] away from the snares of death.

 

Proverbs 15:16  Better [is] a little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure with trouble. 33  The fear of the LORD [is] the instruction of wisdom, And before honor [is] humility.

 

Proverbs 16:6  In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD [one] departs from evil.

 

Proverbs 19:23  The fear of the LORD [leads] to life, And [he who has it] will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.

 

Proverbs 22:4  By humility [and] the fear of the LORD [Are] riches and honor and life.

 

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14     Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil.

 

Malachi 3:16-17  Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard [them;] So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name. “They shall be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.”

 

 

Scriptures on Delighting in the

Commandments of God.

 

Psalm 1:1-3  Blessed [is] the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

 

Psalm 25:13  He himself shall dwell in prosperity, And his descendants shall inherit the earth.

 

Psalm 40:8  I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law [is] within my heart.

 

Psalm 111:10  The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do [His commandments.] His praise endures forever.

 

Psalm 119:16  I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

 

Psalm 119:143  Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, [Yet] Your commandments [are] my delights.

 

Psalm 145:19  He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.

 

Luke 1:50  And His mercy [is] on those who fear Him From generation to generation.

 

Romans 7:22  For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.

 

Romans 8:6  For to be carnally minded [is] death, but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.

 

Scriptures on the Obvious Blessing of the Lord.

 

Psalm 37:26  [He is] ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants [are] blessed.

 

Psalm 128

 

Proverbs 20:7  The righteous [man] walks in his integrity; His children [are] blessed after him.

 

Proverbs 15:6  [In] the house of the righteous [there is] much treasure, But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.

 

Matthew 6:33   “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

 

Proverbs 3:9-11  Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine

 

Genesis 21:22     And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God [is] with you in all that you do.

 

Genesis 26:28 But they said, “We have certainly seen that the LORD is with you. So we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, between you and us; and let us make a covenant with you,

 

Genesis 39:5 So it was, from the time [that] he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field.  (also 2,3)

Joshua 3:7     And the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, [so] I will be with you.

 

2 Chronicles 1:1     Now Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God [was] with him and exalted him exceedingly.

 

Isaiah 45:14-20     Thus says the LORD: “The labor of Egypt and merchandise of Cush And of the Sabeans, men of stature, Shall come over to you, and they shall be yours; They shall walk behind you, They shall come over in chains; And they shall bow down to you. They will make supplication to you, [saying,] ‘Surely God [is] in you, And [there is] no other; [There is] no other God.’ ”

 

Isaiah 61:9 Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, And their offspring among the people. All who see them shall acknowledge them, That they [are] the posterity [whom] the LORD has blessed.”

 

Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue [that] shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This [is] the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness [is] of me, saith the LORD.

 

Zechariah 8:23 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard [that] God [is] with you.” ‘ “

 

1 Timothy 4:15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

 

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

 

Philippians 2:15  that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

 

2 Timothy 3:9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.

 

1 Corinthians 14:25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on [his] face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.