7 Keys for Trouble

Have you ever wondered what to do in trouble? What can we do when we run into problems and trials?

Psalms 54 has 7 keys for what to do in trouble!

Verses 1, 2 say, "Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength. Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth."

This is the First Key of what do in trouble - #1 - Cry to God and not to your fellow men. Usually when we're in trouble, the first people we turn to is our family or friends. Yes, God can use them to help us, but we should be turning to God first and foremost. Steps to Christ, page 119 says, "All have trials--griefs hard to bear, temptations hard to resist. Do not tell your troubles to your fellow mortals but carry everything to God in prayer." Here David is not turning to anyone except to God - His only true Helper. What a lesson for us! Let's turn to God when we're in trouble.

The second key for what to do in trouble is from verse 3, which says, "For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them." So Key #2 is Present the problem to God. We must turn to God and present to Him exactly what our troubles are. And He will hear us! Counsels for the Church, page 294 says, "There are few who rightly appreciate or improve the precious privilege of prayer. We should go to Jesus and tell Him all our needs. We may bring Him our little cares and perplexities as well as our greater troubles. Whatever arises to disturb or distress us, we should take it to the Lord in prayer. When we feel that we need the presence of Christ at every step, Satan will have little opportunity to intrude his temptations. It is his studied effort to keep us away from our best and most sympathizing friend. We can safely commune with Him of all that is in our hearts." So we should run to Jesus and present our problems to Him.

The third key comes from verses 4 and 5 which say, "Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth."  So Key #3 is Claim the Promises of God. Here David is claiming the promise God had made to him before that He would be David's helper. We must claim the promises of God, too! "Jesus lives. Move out by faith, and claim the promises of God." HS 129

Then we find the fourth and fifth keys from verse 6, "I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good." It says that I will freely sacrifice unto the Lord. Sacrifice is giving up something; doesn't that sound like surrender? Does Key #4 is Surrender 100% to God. Adventist Home, page 343 says, "Make a complete surrender to God. Fall on the Rock, Christ Jesus, and be broken."

The Key #5 is Sing! Evangelism, page 499 says, "If there was much more praising the Lord, and far less doleful recitation of discouragements, many more victories would be achieved. Let praise and thanksgiving be expressed in song. When tempted, instead of giving utterance to our feelings, let us by faith lift up a song of thanksgiving to God. Song is a weapon that we can always use against discouragement. As we thus open the heart to the sunlight of the Saviour's presence, we shall have health and His blessing."  So let's sing when we're in trouble and for sure it will help! :)

And the sixth and seventh keys from the last verse (7): "For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies." Here David is remembering what God did for him in the past in delivering him from trouble and this is Key #6 - Remember what God did in the past. Do you remember all the blessings and providences God did for you in the past? Last Day Events page 72 says, "We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history." If only we would remember the blessings and providences God did for us in the past and we would have no reason to complain or be discouraged for whatever situation we find ourselves in.

And Key #7 is Focus on the positive. Upward Look, page 329 says, "Bear no discouraging testimony, for this pleases the enemy. Talk of the goodness of God. Have we not enough at every step to praise him for?"

Sometimes that is hard to do, but the more we focus on the positive, the more we will see our troubles decreasing as we keep our eyes upon the Lord!

So there are the 7 keys of what to do when we're in trouble! Let's use them when our troubles come and what a blessing we will gain!

Razorlike Tongues

What do we use razors for? To cut something, right? Razors are sharp - at least they're supposed to be! Razors can cut and hurt!

But think about it: our tongues can be razors too!! Really? Yes!

Psalms 52 talks about it and we will look at that today. To better understand why David wrote what he did, let's get the background of the story.

David was running, running, running from King Saul who wanted to kill him. He had escaped and run to the sanctuary and thought he could find refuge there, not expecting to find one of the devout servants of Saul, Doeg there worshipping.

Because David was so scared of being found out from Doeg, he told several lies to help himself out. This was no excuse because if he had told the truth, God would have still protected him and kept him safe. But so often, when troubles come, we think lying is an easier way out and so did David.

Later on, he left the sanctuary after receiving the sword of Goliath and some shewbread for his lunch. Soon afterward, Abiathar escaped the ensuing trouble and came to tell David what had happened and how Doeg had reported the incident to King Saul. This made the king very angry and commanded that all the priests should be killed. What a sad command! Since the soldiers refused to do that gruesome act, Doeg himself did it. The lives of many innocent priests were sacrificed because of one man's dishonesty....

Sometime after this situation, David wrote Psalms 52.

"Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue."

Doeg sure had a tongue like a razor and as a result, he caused the death of 85 priests. Can we kill others with our sharp tongues too?

1 John 3:15 says, "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him."

Oh.... Hating a brother is such an easy thing to do! But by doing so, we are guilty of murder. No we haven't killed 85 priests like Doeg did, but how many people have we killed with our razor-like tongues? Think about it....

Psalms 52 continues from verse 5-7 to tell us the punishment God will give to those who have these deadly tongues.

"God shall likewise destroy thee forever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him: Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness."

Is there anything more final that this? Is there anything more terrible than this? No!! This is a way of God saying that if we have these dreadful tongues, we will not have a part in heaven. Why? Because we wouldn't be happy there! If we are always finding fault with people here on this earth, if God were to take us to heaven the way we are, we would find fault with something even up there!!!

No, no!! Before we get to heaven, our tongues must be changed. But the tongue only speaks what's in the heart. So we cannot change the tongue if our heart is wicked. Let's pray for God to give us a new heart and a new spirit (Eze. 36:26).

To Be Like Jesus page 356 says, "When Jesus speaks of the new heart, He means the mind, the life, the whole being. To have a change of heart is to withdraw the affections from the world, and fasten them upon Christ. To have a new heart is to have a new mind, new purposes, new motives. What is the sign of a new heart? A changed life. There is a daily, hourly dying to selfishness and pride."

When the heart is right, the tongue will speak right words too! Oh how we need the mind of Christ. As Philippians 2:5 says, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."

Then Psalms 52 finishes in a positive note:

"But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. I will praise thee forever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints."

Why does David say he is a green olive tree? What are olive branches used for? The olive wreath is a symbol of peace. If peace reigns in my heart from my 100% surrender to the Lord, I won't be speaking sharp words to others. Why? Because self is dead and self is our biggest enemy of all.

Yes, others may do things that upset or annoy us, but if self is dead, we don't have to spew out terrible, nasty, stinging words that hurt and cut and cause others pain. When we have peace in our hearts, these little things will not be such an issue or trouble to us.

And then we will "praise God forever" as the last verse says! "If more praising of God were engaged in now, hope and courage and faith would steadily increase." Conflict and Courage, chapter 212.

As we focus on praising God and being grateful for all He has done for us, it will be easier for us to keep those sharp words from hurting others.

Let's praise God today and not cut others with our tongues! :)

Surrounded by the Divine Shield

God knows exactly what we need to read in our devotions to encourage us for the day ahead of us! Recently I read Psalms 50 and it is a chapter full of promises and instructions and I especially like the verse in the middle - verse 15!

It says, "Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." What a beautiful promise! I was studying this verse and came upon a beautiful thought from a devotional book called, Ye Shall Receive Power. I cannot do justice by adding anything to it, so here it is included.

"Surrounded by a Divine Shield

And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Psa. 50:15.

When trials arise that seem unexplainable, we should not allow our peace to be spoiled. However unjustly we may be treated, let not passion arise. By indulging a spirit of retaliation we injure ourselves. We destroy our own confidence in God, and grieve the Holy Spirit. There is by our side a Witness, a heavenly Messenger, who will lift up for us a standard against the enemy. He will shut us in with the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. Beyond this Satan cannot penetrate. He cannot pass this shield of holy light.

While the world is progressing in wickedness, none of us need flatter ourselves that we shall have no difficulties. But it is these very difficulties that bring us into the audience chamber of the Most High. We may seek counsel of One who is infinite in wisdom.

The Lord says, 'Call upon me in the day of trouble' (Psa. 50:15). He invites us to present to Him our perplexities and necessities, and our need of divine help. He bids us be instant in prayer. As soon as difficulties arise, we are to offer to Him our sincere, earnest petitions. By our importunate prayers we give evidence of our strong confidence in God. The sense of our need leads us to pray earnestly, and our heavenly Father is moved by our supplications.

Often those who suffer reproach or persecution for their faith are tempted to think themselves forsaken by God. In the eyes of men they are in the minority. To all appearance their enemies triumph over them. But let them not violate their conscience. He who has suffered in their behalf, and has borne their sorrows and afflictions, has not forsaken them.

The children of God are not left alone and defenseless. Prayer moves the arm of Omnipotence. Prayer has 'subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire'--we shall know what it means when we hear the reports of the martyrs who died for their faith--'turned to flight the armies of the aliens' (Heb. 11:33-34)." Page 132.

Let's remember that today we have a divine shield surrounding us that will help us and defend us and that when we're in trouble, if we call, God will help us!

"Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me." Psalms 50:15

Are you a cannibal?

Are you a cannibal?

Cannibalism is very much still alive today despite being considered repulsive by the vast majority of societies.

There are, however, areas where eating human flesh is ingrained in tradition and a part of the culture.

People turn to cannibalism for a number of reasons, ranging from religious ceremonies to an extreme, desperate need. *

These places include Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Congo and other places in the world.

Education page 235 says, "We think with horror of the cannibal who feasts on the still warm and trembling flesh of his victim; but are the results of even this practice more terrible than are the agony and ruin caused by misrepresenting motive, blackening reputation, dissecting character?"

Cannibalism is a terrible thing and is outlawed in most places. And yet most people practice a form of cannibalism every single day! Are you guilty of it? Am I?

Gossip...... What a dreadful practice it is and how readily and quickly we indulge in it. It's as if we find delight in "feasting" upon the faults and imperfections of others.

Education, page 235 continues: "Let the children, and the youth as well, learn what God says about these things: 'Death and life are in the power of the tongue.' Pro. 18:21."

Death and life? Does that mean I can "eat" or "kill" someone with my tongue? It sure sounds like it!

Psalms 57:4 says, "My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword." Here the tongue is said to be a sharp sword! Swords can kill! Just look at all the wars that were fought and waged with swords! How many people died because of the sword. And yet our tongues are said to be swords, meaning we can kill people with our words.

Gossipers and backbiters virtually do the same thing - "indulge" themselves on the faults and failings of others.

Education has even more to say about this: "In Scripture, backbiters are classed with 'haters of God,' with 'inventors of evil things,' with those who are 'without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful,' 'full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity.' It is 'the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death.' Rom 1:30-31; Rom 1:29; Rom 1:32."

What a terrible description of a backbiter! But in reality, it's no different than killing and eating someone's dead carcase! What's the difference? Nothing!! And it says that those who commit such things are worthy of death. Why? Because if you are guilty of killing someone whether literally or with words, then you are worthy to die. That's what they did in the Old Testament times that if you killed a man, you would die also. Talk about a serious crime!

But Psalms 15 describes someone who will someday be a citizen of the great city of Zion. It says in verse 3, "He that backbiteth no with his tongue..."

Education says, "He whom God accounts a citizen of Zion is he that 'speaketh the truth in his heart;' 'that backbiteth not with his tongue,' 'nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.' Psa 15:2-3."

I want to be this kind of person, don't you? I don't want to be a modern-day cannibal! Let's ask God to help us be careful with our tongues that we can use them for blessing others instead of killing them with our sharp words.

* https://www.thesun.co.uk/living/1467880/nine-places-across-the-world-where-cannibalism-is-still-alive-and-well/

7 Blessings of Helping the Poor

The story is told of a very poor man, who lived near a rich widow. One day she had her orchard trimmed and pruned and after it was all done, the cut limbs and branches lay by the fence. The poor man passed by and asked her a small favor.

"Can I have those branches to burn for fuel?"

"Oh no," she replied, "I want to keep them and burn there here, so the ashes can enrich my ground."

The poor man was very disappointed and went away sad.

Imagine! Ground enriched to the neglect of the poor!

And yet so often, we find ourselves doing the same thing or similar things to those we consider to be "poor" among us.

But what if we were to actually help the poor instead of turning them away from us?

Psalms 41 has 7 blessings that come from helping the poor. Let's discover them today.

Psalms 41:1-3 says, "Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness."

Psalms 41:1 basically says this: "Blessed (happy) is he that considereth (to attend to; to relieve) the poor (destitute of value; depressed, low); The Lord will deliver (save, rescue) him in time of trouble (affliction)."

So the first blessing of helping the poor is God will save us in our own affliction. When we bless others, it comes back to bless us! Our own condition of receiving mercy from God is to show mercy to others.

Then it continues in verse 2, "The Lord will preserve (to keep or save from injury) him, and keep (to uphold or sustain) him alive; and he shall be blessed (happy) upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver (transfer) him until the will of his enemies."

There are the next blessings of helping the poor! Number 2 is God will keep us safe! When we help others, especially the poor, God will reward us in giving us heavenly protection and keep us from injury.

Number 3 is God will sustain us in the Christian life. As we continue helping the poor, God will uphold and sustain us in our own walk with Him. It is vitally important to our own Christian walk with God to be sharing to others and those less fortunate than ourselves.

It's like a glass of water. If you keep filling water into it, eventually it will get full and before you can add anything more to it, you must empty (drink) some out of it. The more we want to receive from God, the more we must give to others! It's a simple formula! :)

Number 4 is that God will give us happiness upon the earth. Everyone on earth seems to be looking for happiness and yet many times they are looking in the wrong places! One of the easiest ways of getting happiness is to help the poor, because God promises us happiness when we do so!

Number 5 is that God will help us overcome our enemies. As we help others (especially the poor), we are promised that God will help us overcome all our enemies. In fact, one of the best ways of dealing with your enemies is to help them and bless them!

Romans 12:20 says, "Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head." So the best way of dealing with your enemies is to help them, whether they are poor or not! But especially if they're poor too!

Then Psalms 41:3 says, "The Lord will strengthen (encourage) him upon the bed of languishing (withering, feeble); thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness (make a bed means to put it in a suitable form)."

Here we find the sixth and seventh blessings of helping the poor. Number 6 is the God will encourage him when he is weak. Many times we feel weak, feeble or depressed and the best solution for those feelings to go and help someone especially the poor. As we help others, our own spirits become lighter and happier and we think less and less of self.

Number 7 is the God will give us healing. Here it's talking about making a bed. Why do we make the bed? So that it's neat and looks nice and presentable. We restore the bed from a state of disaster or confusion to a state of order and respect.

Many people today are suffering from diseases and illnesses which usually originate in the mind. If the mind is healthy, the body is healthy too! And when the mind is busy thinking of others and seeking how it can bless them, healing in the body also follows.

Mount of Blessing, page 23 says, "There is sweet peace for the compassionate spirit, a blessed satisfaction in the life of self-forgetful service for the good of others. The Holy Spirit that abides in the soul and is manifest in the life will soften hard hearts and awaken sympathy and tenderness. You will reap that which you sow."

Remember Acts 20:35? It says, "It is more blessed to give than to receive..."

People need people. There was a little girl named Laurie who was 3 years old. One night, she asked her mother for help to get undressed and ready for bed. Mother was downstairs and she was upstairs and so mother said, "Laurie, you already know how to get undress and ready for bed."

Mother Teresa helping a poor child

Laurie said, "Yes, Mom, but sometimes people need people anyway, even if they do know how to do things by themselves."

Yes, we do need other people and we need to be the helping hand for them to see Jesus through us.

Here's the key to happiness:

J - Jesus 1st

O - Others 2nd

Y - Yourself 3rd

Let's help the poor and watch the many wonderful blessings that will come to us because of it!

Which way?

Have you ever wondered which way to go? Have you ever questioned what is God's plan for your life? What does He want you to do?

Psalms 37: 23, 24 has some answers! Keep reading!

It says, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand."

What does it mean by "steps"? What are the steps of a good man. Steps lead you up to something, right? So the steps here mentioned are the direction of life. So the direction of the life of a good man (that's a Christian) are ordered by the Lord.

What does "ordered" mean? Order is another way of saying "directed." If you're a king and you're ordering your subjects to do something, then you're directing them on what to do and where to go. God is the great King and our Father in heaven and here the verse tells us that the direction of the life of a Christian will be directed by the Lord.

But the next part of the verse is very interesting! "....and he delighteth in His way." This good man doesn't walk in God's ways, because he has to - he wants and delights to do God's way! As Psalms 40:8 says, "I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart." When we led God to direct our steps and lead and guide us, we have peace in our hearts and thus we can rejoice in doing God's will and following His way!

And we don't have to worry about where to go or what to do! Proverbs 3:6 says, "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." God will direct our paths! What a great promise!

That I May Know Him, page 251 says, "Young men and young women will often be brought into positions where they are uncertain what to do. Their inclination leads them in one direction, and the Holy Spirit of God draws them in another direction. Satan presses his temptation upon them and urges them to follow the inclinations of the natural heart. But those who desire to be true to Christ will listen to the voice that says, 'This is the way, walk ye in it' (Isa. 30:21). They will decide to take the course of the righteous, although it is more difficult to pursue, more painful to follow, than the way of their own heart."

But suppose as we are walking along in God's way, we slip and fall? Suppose we fail and make mistakes? The next verse gives us hope! It says, "Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand."

"Upholdeth" simply means to hold him up. Do you need to be afraid of falling if you are in God's hand? No!!! But will we fall? Sometimes, yes we will!

Psalms 145:14 says, "The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down." Here David reminds us that when we fall, God will hold us up again! When we fall, we don't have to stay down, mourning about making mistakes! We can get back up and keep walking the upward way!

Proverbs 24:16 says, "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again..." Seven times? Yes!! We will fall as we are seeking to walk in God's ways. But the verse says we will rise again! It's not how many times you fall, but how many times you get back up and keep going!

Micah 7:8 says, "Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise..." The devil is happy when we fall, but we should not make him more happy by staying down and feeling bad and discouraged. Arise and shine for Jesus!

Yes, we will fall sometimes. But as long as we are surrendered to the Lord and walking with Him, He will keep us from falling (Jude 24). Let's walk the Christian life today, not depending on our own strength, but on God's strength!

The 3 P's of Psalms 36

Someone once said,

"What is sin?

Man call is an accident, God calls it abomination.

Man calls it a defect, God calls it a disease.

Man calls it an error, God calls it an enmity.

Man calls it a liberty, God calls it lawlessness.

Man calls it a trifle, God calls it a tragedy.

Man calls it a mistake, God calls it a madness.

Man calls it a weakness, God calls it willfulness."

Yes we all are surely in the great problem of sin (Rom. 3:23). Psalms talks about it too in Psalms 36:1-4.

"The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.  For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil."

This is not a pretty picture of mankind! But it's true! Sin has made us to go in ways that are not good as it says. But the chapter doesn't end like that! That's the good news!

Verses 5-8 gives us a picture of God's character. It says, "Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures."

Did you see how many times the word "thy" is used there? This is a description of God's Provision for our problem.

• Not our sins, but His mercy
• Not our unfaithfulness, but His faithfulness
• Not our unrighteousness, but His righteousness
• Not our foolishness, but His judgments
• Not our selfishness, but His lovingkindness
• Not our fear, but His protection
• Not our leanness, but His fatness

And verse 9 is the most beautiful of all! "For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light." This is the Promise!

Ministry of Healing page 465 says, "In His light shall we see light, until mind and heart and soul are transformed into the image of His holiness.  For those who thus lay hold of the divine assurances of God's word, there are wonderful possibilities. Before them lie vast fields of truth, vast resources of power. Glorious things are to be revealed. Privileges and duties which they do not even suspect to be in the Bible will be made manifest. All who walk in the path of humble obedience, fulfilling His purpose, will know more and more of the oracles of God."

The Promise and solution for our sin problem is to always be in Jesus' presence. Then we will be safe and become changed day by day into His image. Sin cannot survive in Jesus' presence, so as I spend time with Him, sin will become hateful to me!

And that is what God wants to do with each one of us, if only we are willing to let Him do it!

Did you catch the 3 P's from Psalms 36? First there was the Problem of sin, then there was the Provision from God, and lastly the Promise He has given to help us overcome!

Let's live in Jesus' presence today!

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Psalms 16:11

Tempting God?

Tempting God?

Can we really tempt God? I found this study very fascinating!

Psalms 95:7 and 8 says, "To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness." There's the day of temptation. But who is being tempted? Verse 9 gives the answer:

"When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work." Here it is God being tempted! Amazing!

Deuteronomy 6:16 says, "Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah." Here again we see that the people were tempting God. What does this mean? Let's keep going.

Hebrews 3:7-10 says, "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways."

This is almost identical to what we read from Psalms 95:8, 9! The people were tempting God, proving Him and testing Him through their complaining. There we have it! Complaining tempts God! This is how they were tempting God!

God's people were to be always filled with gratitude, but the mixed multitude around God's people were always filled with murmuring. Which class do we fall into?

What does the Bible say about complaining / tempting God?

1 Corinthians 10:9-13 says, "Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

Because the people were murmuring and complaining against God, He sent the fiery serpents for them to realize that they were more blessed than they thought. And all those experiences happened to them for examples to us! Thus meaning, we must be careful not to complain lest the "fiery serpents" get sent into our lives also! :(

So complaining is equivalent to tempting God! And yet how often do we find ourselves murmuring and complaining about all kinds of things!

Matthew 4:7 says, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." So we should not be tempting God by our complaining. But oh how we love complaining!!

And the children of Israel were always complaining too! Ex. 17:7 says, "And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?"

Patriarchs and Prophets, page 292 says, "The Lord permitted difficulties to surround them, and their supply of food to be cut short, that their hearts might turn to Him who had hitherto been their Deliverer. If in their want they would call upon Him, He would still grant them manifest tokens of His love and care."

God permits difficulties to come to us so that we may turn to Him and yet so often when these difficulties come, we are ready to complain and murmur against God Himself!

There is always a penalty for tempting God - complaining. The children of Israel were overcome by their enemies after complaining, they experienced the deadly bites of the fiery serpents and much more! It's really not worth it to tempt God!

Here's a chart.

Testimonies, Volume 4, page 610 says, "It is the worst phase of selfishness to fret and censure and complain..."

As a man thinks, so is he. If you think grumpy thoughts, you'll be grumpy and you'll also be ugly! A grumpy person is not a pretty picture!

And the problem is that complaining is a contagious disease! "The breath of doubt, of complaint and unbelief, is contagious...." Selected Messages, Volume 2, page 166. So when we are complaining, we are influencing others to complain too and thus tempt God all the more.

So what is the cure for our disease of complaining?

1. Look for the blessings in disguise. There is always a rainbow behind the storm!

2. Look to Jesus (Heb. 12:2)

As we focus on the positive things and look to Jesus, we will not find reasons to complain or tempt God!

There are actually two things that will shake God's people right out of the church at the very end:

1. False doctrine (and there's plenty of that even today!)

2. Complaining and criticizing (even if what they say is true)

Focusing on the negative never leads to happiness! It only results in misery and finally judgment from God for tempting Him.

I don't want to tempt God anymore, do you? Let's resolve from today onwards, no more tempting God! May He help us!

12 Reasons to Praise God

How often to you praise God? Do you always remember to praise God?

The great reformer, John Wesley lay dying at the grand old age of 88. People gathered around him to hear his final words and see what he would say. Soon they realized that throughout his life, he had learned the lesson of praising God in every circumstance. Though he was extremely weak, he began singing the hymn, "I'll Praise My Maker While I've Breath."

What a great man John Wesley was! And he was always praising God in every circumstance! But suppose I don't feel like praise God? Maybe I can't think of anything to praise God for!! Have you ever had that experience?

Psalms 34 gives us 12 reasons to praise God! Let's discover them!

#1 - He saves us from fear. Psalms 34:4 says, "I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." We all experience being afraid of many different things, but here it says God delivers us from our fears so they don't need to haunt us and make us troubled! What a great reason to praise God!

#2 - He is our example. Verse 5 says, "They looked unto him, and were lightened..." Egw says, "By beholding we become changed. The character is softened, refined, and ennobled for the heavenly kingdom." Mount of Blessing, page 85. The more we study about Jesus and His life, the more we are changed into His image and become like Him! He is our example and another reason to praise God for!

#3 - He answers prayer. Verse 6 says, "This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." God answers prayer! When we cry to Him for help, He will hear us and save us! Just like Peter cried to Jesus as he was sinking beneath the waves of Galilee, and Jesus saved him, so it can be with us. We can praise God because He answers our prayers!

#4 - He sends angels to watch over us. Verse 7 says, "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." If the angels did not keep us safe and watch over us, we would not be alive today! Angelic protection is very important and we should praise God for it! Egw says, "In all ages, angels have been near to Christ's faithful followers... From what dangers, seen and unseen, we have been preserved through the interposition of the angels, we shall never know, until in the light of eternity we see the providences of God." Desire of Ages, page 240.

#5 - He is our Provider. Verse 10 says, "The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing." Jesus will provide all our needs! He has promised it (Phil. 4:19) and He cannot lie (Titus 1:2). I don't need to worry about my needs, because Jesus has promised to supply all I need! What a great reason to praise God!

#6 - He convicts us of sin. Verse 13 says, "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile." Without Jesus telling us through His law what is sin or evil, we wouldn't know! So He wants to remind us to keep away from evil and from speaking bad things. Another reason to praise God!

#7 - He reminds us to do right. Verse 14 says, "Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." Jesus doesn't just tell us what is wrong, He always encourages us to do the right! We are to do good and pursue peace! Keep on praising God!

#8 - He is watching over us. Verse 15 says, "The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry." God's eyes are upon us! He is watching over us to take care of us and help us do what is right! Do we act like God's eyes are watching us?

#9 - He is our listening ear. Verse 17 says, "The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles." What we really need is someone to listen to us when we're in trouble, and God is that Person! What a comforting thought!

#10 - He cares for us and sympathizes with us when we are sad. Verse 18 says, "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." When we are sad and discouraged or overwhelmed by sin, Jesus comforts us and points us to Him - the great Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (Jn. 1:29). Another powerful reason to praise God!

#11 - He is our deliverer. Verse 19 says, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all." We need deliverance from our troubles and deliverance from sin. The promise is that the Lord delivers us out of ALL the troubles! Can it get any better than that?

#12 - He is our Redeemer. Verse 22 says, "The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants...." Yes Jesus redeems us from our sins and someday soon He will save us from this earth!

Twelve reasons to praise God just from one chapter! Of course, there are many more reasons to praise God, but let's remember these 12 to help us have sunny, peaceful Christian faces as we serve God today!

"Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" Psalms 107:8

Surrounded by His Mercy

Mercy....

What is it?

Websters Dictionary says, "That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves."

Mercy is to treat some who has offended us better than he deserves....

Do we need mercy? Absolutely!!

We have all sinned (Rom. 3:23) and deserve to die for our transgressions. What does God do because of His great love for us? He offers us mercy. Instead of giving us no hope because we have sinned, He offers us the gift of mercy which is eternal life through Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:23).

Imagine if we are surrounded with mercy, how would that be? Psalms 32:10 says, "Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about."

There it is - mercy will surround the person who trusts in the Lord. What a comforting thought!

Sometimes we look at the worldly people around us and think that we have more trials and problems to go through than they do. But according to Ps. 32:10, it says, "Many sorrows shall be to the wicked..."

It may seem like they have a good time with no trials or problems, but actually we don't know what's lying deep in their hearts. They may not outwardly express it, but many times they are fearfully troubled and have no peace in their hearts. Why? Because mercy is not surrounding them. They don't know God's peace of forgiveness.

Egw says, "Are the wicked free from disappointment, perplexity, earthly losses, poverty, and distress? Many of them suffer a lingering sickness, yet have no strong and mighty One to lean upon, no strengthening grace from a higher power to support them in their weakness. They lean upon their own strength. They obtain no consolation by looking forward to the future, but a fearful uncertainty torments them; and thus they close their eyes in death, not finding any pleasure in looking forward to the resurrection morn, for they have no cheering hope that they shall have part in the first resurrection."  Our High Calling, page 9.

Does that sound like a life we want to live? No!! It might look good on the outside, but it brings no peace or happiness in the heart. No mercy is surrounding them.

"The Christian is subject to sickness, disappointment, poverty, reproach, and distress. Yet amid all this he loves God, he chooses to do His will, and prizes nothing so highly as His approbation. In the conflicting trials and changing scenes of this life, he knows that there is One who knows it all, One who will bend His ear low to the cry of the sorrowful and distressed, One who can sympathize with every sorrow and soothe the keen anguish of every heart. . . . 

"Amid all his affliction, the Christian has strong consolation. And if God permits him to suffer a lingering, distressing sickness before he closes his eyes in death, he can with cheerfulness bear it all. . . . He contemplates the future with heavenly satisfaction. A short rest in the grave, and then the Life-giver will break the fetters of the tomb, release the captive, and bring him from his dusty bed immortal, never more to know pain, sorrow, or death. Oh, what a hope is the Christian's! Let this hope of the Christian be mine. Let it be yours." Our High Calling, page 9.

That is being surrounded by God's mercy. What peace it brings! What hope it calls to mind! And what happiness and trust, knowing that God is in control and He will take care of His children! Though we don't deserve God's mercy, yet He freely offers it to us if we will only accept it!

As the great hymn writer, Charles Wesley says,

Depth of mercy! can there be

Mercy still reserved for me?

Can my God His wrath forbear,

Me, the chief of sinners, spare?

Let's always remember God's mercy is freely bestowed upon us if we only accept it!

Surrounded by His mercy...