Trim.... Finally

My apartment has come a long way the past few days. I am finally trimming it.

The front door looks a little odd, but that is because it is one half of the original garage door opening. The wall on the left splits it down the middle, and the entrance to the main house is in the other half. once the door is painted and curtains installed, i believe it shall look a little more like a front door instead of a utility door. For memories sake, here is what this used to look like:

Closet door:

Praise is Comely for the Upright

Psalm 33

Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. 

By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. 

The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. 

The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. 

There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. 

Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

Things are Happening

My apartment is slowly taking shape. I did my first ever plumbing job the past couple days (all by myself as usual), and after lots of headache trying to get it to actually fit under the cabinet, I now have running water in my little place.

Also, I got a stove hooked up this morning, and I am in the process of making my fist cooked meal here.

And last week I got my refrigerator.

The refrigerator is not actually going there. When all is said and done, that area will be more counter space and shelves.

The best thing of all, I will be hosting my first company tonight for dinner. The Vanie family will be here for dinner. Mrs. Vanie just got out of the US Military this last Wednesday (major multi-month ordeal trying to get an honorable discharge with 3 years left to serve - super amazing miracle testifying that the God of Peter still works today opening the gates of prisons) and they are arriving back here this afternoon. I am very happy that they will be my first guests.

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God - A Call to Wonder - Paul Washer

As I watched this clip, I had to think about Psalm 103:11, "For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him." Truly we serve a great and awesome God whose majesty and wonder are beyond comprehension! O dear soul, glorify this God for He alone is worthy of our worship! Psalm 97:9, "For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods."

"But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish." Jeremiah 10:10-15. Fall down and worship, O vain man! Will you stand against this God? Will you only give Him lip service while your heart is far from Him? Or do you not know that the forbearance and goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? but thou, after the impenitence of thy heart storest up for thyself wrath against the day of wrath. Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts! While there is yet time, turn yourself to this God of wonder and Father of Light! Surrender yourself to Him now, while His mercy still stands! There is coming a day when there will be no more grace. In that day, many will come and stand before this thrice holy, almighty God who is worthy of all power, worship, majesty, and honor and will say, Lord, Lord, have we not done many wonderful works in thy name, and cast out demons in thy name? And the Lord, the Christ, the Savior will say, Depart from me ye workers of iniquity, for I never knew you! Oh, dear soul! Will this be the statement that is made to you? If your heart is hard before the Lord, fall on your face now and cry unto the Lord for mercy, and that He would give you a new heart! For today is the day of salvation. Tomorrow, you may be called to stand before Him. And what will you do then if you have not made peace with God before in Christ? It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God. Knowing therefore the terror of God, we persuade men.

It Will Cost You Everything

Must Watch: Truth by Albert Martin

Bless the Lord, All Ye People; His Kingdom Ruleth Over All

Psalm 103

A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

Chris Strevel on 1 Peter

This series by Chris Strevel is a must listen to on the Christian life. This man is definitely one of the greatest preachers I have ever listened to. He is full of the glory of Christ.

Jesus Died and Is Now Made the King of Glory

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God. Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Today, if you will hear his voice, harden not your heart.

Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven ; but he who doeth the will of my father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Have We Lost the Reverance that God Holds for His Word?

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that procedeth out of the mouth of God.

Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.

The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; what wisdom is in them?

To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking head thereto according to thy word.

The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

Forever, O Lord thy word is settled in heaven.

Thy word is very pure, therefore thy servant loveth it.

The Bow and String

As unto the bow, the cord is, so unto the man, his woman. Though she bend him, she obeys him; though she draws him out, yet she follows. Useless each without the other. 

God Dwells in the Lowly and Contrite Heart

Nowhere does it say that some sin loving, careless, slothful, indifferent person to whom you witnessed and induced to say a prayer is inhabited by the living Christ. No, Christ refuses to inhabit any proud in heart person. Some of you who have made many converts need to repent because they have been your converts and not Christ’s converts. You have led many people who are full of themselves, whose arrogancy oozes out of every opening in their lives, and you have led them to think that they have been saved. What a pathetic, tragic, wicked thing to do. If you love souls, you will so elevate the Lord God omnipotent that people learn to fear God and humble themselves before him.  – Richard Owen Roberts

I've been thinking about movies again... Part 1

Christians are flocking to see the movies with no thought about what God has to say about their entertainment choice. So, looking through the pages of Scripture, does God have anything to say about what we watch on the big screen?

Let's start out on a really easy level and in subsequent posts will get to the central issues of a good film bad film debate.

Comedy films. Films that make you laugh because of the stupidity of the actors. Are these acceptable forms of entertainment? Pro 15:21, "Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom." So when we see a film that is full of "hilarious" folly, films like the Andy Griffith Show, or I Love Lucy included, and we laugh at them, we are saying that we are destitute of wisdom. OUCH!

Atheistic films, polytheistic films, films with a different God and a different law code. "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools...Who changed the truth of God into a lie...And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind." Rom. 1 So this gives a good list of criteria for a film. Does it glorify God? If it doesn't, it is vanity, foolishness, and darkness. Does it operate by the truth of God, or does it exchange God's truth for a lie? Does it retain the knowledge of God? If it doesn't, it is reprobate. OUCH. The film industry in one passage just about got eliminated. Even the Lone Ranger fails this one. It is totally atheistic, problem solving is man-centered, man gets all the glory.

Ok, enough for today. More later.

Another great sermon by Chris Strevel

Chris Strevel preached on the Righteousness of God's Word a week ago at his church in Georgia from Psalm 119. Highly recommend listening to it.