BFN or, BFF?

Recently, I've been thinking more and more about how wonderful it is to be called a friend of God! I am perplexed at how little I live in that truth most of the time. It seems the Lord certainly understands this though because just this morning as I was 'down on myself' due to struggling with a particular, ever-insistent addictive behavior in my life, HE made certain the following song began the music line-up on my morning devotions radio program.   "There's not a friend like the lowly Jesus... No, not one.. No, not one.. None else can heal all our soul's diseases.. No, not one.. No, not one!"  As soon as the 'soul's diseases' words were sung, my precious Lord comforted me by assuring me He is there all the time and is willing to heal, thus deliver me from this behavior I succumb to more often than I'd like to admit. Each time, though, I must consciously decide whether to say,'By For Now' to Him and his offer of deliverance, or to welcome my Best Friend Forever as He offers his Holy Spirit's strength to me.

One of the keys to accepting His power to deliver me is to remember to remember! My husband says he often forgets to remember! Oh, how I know this reality personally!  I need to pray more fervently for myself, asking for HIM to remind me!  I need to close now, so please consider PSALM 103 as it exhorts us to 'forget not all his benefits..' He forgives all our sins and heals all our diseases.. redeems our lives from the pit and crowns us with love and compassion... satifies our desires with good things so our youth is renewed like the eagle's.  I, especially need to let HIM satisfy my desires with all HE knows is good for me! Who could ask for a better forever friend?

TO BOAST, or not TO BOAST?

In my current study of the New Testament book of ACTS, I am at the part where Paul says he knows a man who was allowed to get a glimpse of the 'hereafter,' as one who loves the Lord will know it. His account speaks in a third person manner although he could have been the one he speaks of..(He would not want to boast of having had this experience even though he had been left for dead after being stoned on his first missionary journey.) If he was indeed the one granted this look into eternity, he chose not to draw attention to himself which makes sense because those of us who love the Lord only want to point to our Jesus in all of his glory.. not ours!

So, what does it mean when we are told to boast in the Lord? Jeremiah 9:23-24 remind the strong, rich,and wise not to boast in their strength, riches, or wisdom respectively.. Then it says , 'But let him who boasts, boast of this.. That he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight.' Wow! We are told to speak with strong confidence about how we can/do KNOW, and understand, the LORD GOD, CREATOR of ALL!

I like the lyrics to a contemporary song which basically say this,.. "I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom, but I will boast in Jesus Christ..." (then they go on to list things like his grace, his power, his mercy, etc,.. but I don't have them accurately memorized..)   I will wrap up for now, by simply saying that for me, it is a joy to ocassionally share with you just a little bit of what the LORD has me thinking about. May He give you the wisdom and fervor to share whatever/whenever He is intending you to do so.  SOLI DEO GLORIA.. To God's Glory Only!