For His Mercy Endures Forever...

Psalm 136 is replete with the refrain “For His mercy endures forever.”  Mercy here can be defined as kindness, lovingkindness, steadfast love, goodness, or favor. As I read through this Psalm today, I thanked God along with the Psalmist for each of the blessings outlined.  The repetition of this phrase reminded me of how often I forget that I owe EVERYTHING I am, EVERYTHING I have and EVERY circumstance I find myself in...no matter how it appears on the outside...to the mercy of my God.  And oh, how I need His mercy. 

How different my outlook would be if I placed that short refrain where I would see it often throughout my day. I want to see and soak in those words constantly — until they are permanently inscribed on my heart. My God is good and does good!  His lovingkindness toward me is everywhere...even the darkness, because of His mercy, is light about me.  Remembering His steadfast love...remembering that I stand in His grace and favor...remembering His goodness and kindness to me would enable me to see and be re-minded that all of it can be traced back to the mercy of my Father in Heaven. May His mercy surround me and His praise be continually in my mouth.  

Our God’s Tender Care...

1 Kings 19 overwhelmed my heart...there is so much in it.  So many applications!   The one that spoke to my heart among them all was the Lord’s tender care and encouraging response to Elijah’s discouragement and despondency. 

Elijah felt alone, hopeless...he probably expected Jezebel to surrender, but instead she breathed threats and violence against his life.  He had done his best, but Jezebel had not acknowledged the Lord as God and her hold over Israel remained despite the overwhelming display of God’s power on Mt Carmel.  Elijah runs from Jezebel’s threats to Beersheba...and then goes a day’s journey into the wilderness and prays:

And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” (Vs 4)

(Interesting to note that Elijah never died...he was caught up into heaven when the Lord said he was finished)

The Lord cares for Elijah’s physical needs first...He ministered to him with food and drink and gives him rest.  Afterward He sends Elijah on a 200 mile journey to Mt Horeb where He gives Elijah time to turn his heart upside down before Him.

And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”—1 Kings 19:9-10

God then reveals Himself to Elijah in a still small voice...in the silence after the great wind, the earthquake and the fire....and speaks words of encouragement.

Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. “Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”—1 Kings 19:15-18

Elijah felt alone...

—God assured him that he was not alone...that He Himself had reserved 7000 in Israel that had not bowed the knee to Baal.   I am sure Elijah’s heart was encouraged knowing that by God’s grace his ministry over the years had borne fruit. 7000 strong...

—God gave him an assistant in Elisha and in giving him that assistant he gave him a friend and companion in ministry and hope that his ministry would continue after he (Elijah) had departed from this earth

Elijah felt like a failure...

—God gives him work to do that would get his eyes off of himself and at the same time show him that his ministry would succeed.  God tells him to anoint Hazael as king over Syria, Jehu as King over Israel and Elisha as prophet in his place. By the time the last of these three men died, the worship of Baal would be banned from Israel.


God cares about our hearts and our lives, He cares about our ministries, He knows how to accomplish His plans in both the micro of our lives and in the macro of this world.  He wants us to cry out to Him, to trust Him completely and to depend on His power to accomplish it all.  Be encouraged...God will give You what you need to accomplish His work in Your life.  May our God supply all our need according to his riches in glory and by His power increase the fruits of our righteousness.  May He satisfy our mouths with good things, minister His tender mercies to each of us today and execute His righteousness and justice for those who are oppressed.

The Power of Encouragement...

Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.—Acts 11:22-24

Whenever I read about Barnabas in the Scriptures, it “encourages” me to want to be like him.  To want to be a doer of 1 Thessalonians 5:11 which tells us to encourage one another and build each other up.  

Barnabas was a good man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.  His name was changed by the apostles to Barnabas meaning Son of Encouragement. Oh how I would love to get to Heaven and hear the Lord call me a daughter of encouragement...to have lived my life for Him by directing and encouraging his people into His love and good deeds. 

Everyone needs a Barnabas in their life...even “Barnabases” need a Barnabas. We, as believers, are strangers on the earth and often grow faint hearted, weary and disheartened as we travel through the many and variegated trials the Lord has carefully and lovingly prepared for us.  Sometimes just the evil we see occurring daily around us can cause our minds to sink and our steps to falter in fear.  I am so thankful that God knows what we need before we do and sends us sons and daughters of encouragement, like Barnabas, to strengthen our hearts before Him.   Sadly, the value of encouragement is often missed because by its nature it is private...occurring behind the scenes and given to people who are feeling sad and alone.  If you are an encourager who at times feels unappreciated, ignored or even invisible, it is helpful to remember that we serve a God who sees and remembers. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. ❤️

Read through with me a few of the general references to Barnabas that we find in the Scripture.  Barnabas’ surname was Jose’s, or Joseph.  He was a Levite, a native of Cypress, a distinguished teacher and also a companion and colleague of Paul. 

Acts 4:36-37 is the first mention of Barnabas in the Scriptures...here he can be seen sacrificially loving the people of God by sharing with them what had come into his hand through the selling of his property. 

And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

When Paul was ostracized from other believers because of fear, Barnabas was there... 

And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.—Acts 9:26-27

In Chapter 11 we see Barnabas being sent out by the church in Jerusalem to Antioch.  Here we find him once again living up to his name...teaching, exhorting, bearing fruit and encouraging them to continue with purpose of heart to follow their Lord.  

Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.—Acts 11:22-26

In Acts 12:25 we see Barnabas and Saul returning to Jerusalem having fulfilled their ministry.  I love that.  

And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark

Barnabas was full of the fruits of faith that works by love. His faith was genuine and his love self-sacrificing.  His words and actions motivated by His great love for God and Christ. 

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,"—Hebrews 10:24,

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.—Galatians 5:6

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.—Galatians 5:22-23

Wearing Affection...

He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love,—Proverbs 17:9a AMP

He who covers a transgression seeks love,—Proverbs 17:9a NKJV

Love overlooks and covers offenses especially those offenses that are against us...personal offenses. Love desires the best spiritually for another and puts their good foremost without considering how they themselves are being treated. Christ is our greatest example:

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.--Romans 5:8

Reading this proverb (17:9a) this morning brought 1 Peter 4:8 to mind and it is where I spent my time. 

1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.

And - Moreover

Above - Before

all things - each every any

have - to hold in the hand in the sense of wearing; to have possession of the mind

fervent - stretched out; stretched forth to its longest reach 

love - charity, affection, good will, benevolence

for one another - towards each other

for - because

love - affection, good will, love benevolence, brotherly love

will cover - Kalypto - to hide, veil, to hinder the knowledge of a thing, conceal that it might not become known.  Kalypto comes from two root words: 

1. klepto - to steal or commit a theft...to take away by stealth

2. kyrpto - to hide, conceal to be hid, to escape notice.

a multitude - a great number

of sins - violations of divine law in thought or in act. 

My Paraphrase...

And before each and every thing give preeminence to and wear affection, good will and benevolence stretched to the limit as in a stretched out hand toward one another because self sacrificing love will cover or conceal a great many sins. It will point many to Jesus.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.--1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (Replace the word love with Jesus)

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.--Philippians 2:1-11

Love is ready to forgive...love covers and overlooks offenses against itself.  

The Ripple Effect of God...

Nevertheless for David's sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, by setting up his son after him and by establishing Jerusalem; 5 because David did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and had not turned aside from anything that He commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.—1 Kings 15:4-5

Throughout these chapters we read that David’s descendants, despite their many sins, were blessed for David’s sake.  What a joy to know that a life led for God will have a beautiful ripple effect...not only on our own lives, but on the lives of those who will come after us.  As I read this short passage of Scripture my heart went to Psalm 103...

Who redeems your life from destruction,

Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,—Ps 103:4

I am so grateful that my God redeemed my life from destruction and in so doing He redeemed the lives of my husband and my children as well.  My decision to follow Jesus encouraged my husband to make that same decision a few months later. The children that God gave us were raised in a household that loved and honored the Lord.  They in turn made the decision to accept the Lord...

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!—Romans 11:33

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get lost in minutia and microcosms and forget to look at the big picture.  The big picture for me is this:  God used that one decision I made (solely by His grace) to follow Him over 25 years ago, for His glory and my good.  The ripple effect of God in my life and the lives of my children after me echoes these words in Isaiah 61.

To comfort all who mourn,

To console those who mourn in Zion,

To give them beauty for ashes,

The oil of joy for mourning,

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

That they may be called trees of righteousness,

The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."

It is mostly encouraging to think on all the good God has wrought in that one decision, but also a bit off-putting to know that my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren lives can be affected by the decisions I make TODAY.  Even in this though, His grace abounds.  I am my Beloved and my Beloved is mine. As a believer, Scripture tells me that My God works ALL things together for my good and His glory...all things...that means He can use even my wrong decisions and sin for His purposes!  

On that day twenty five years ago, when I brought my despairing and hopeless heart to Him, His grace truly changed everything.  The course of my life and the lives of those close to me were altered at that very moment both temporally and eternally forever!  I cannot imagine...I shudder to think....of what my life would be like if I had not surrendered my heart that day into His care and keeping.. Spurgeon says that the mercy seat is the life of hope and the death of despair. 

Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His,

And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.—Ps 30:4

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace

Streams of mercy, never ceasing

Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet

Sung by flaming tongues above

Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it

Mount of Thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer

Here there by Thy great help I've come

And I hope, by Thy good pleasure

Safely to arrive at home

Jesus sought me when a stranger

Wandering from the fold of God

He, to rescue me from danger

Interposed His precious blood

Oh, that day when freed from sinning

I shall see Thy lovely face

Clothed then in the blood washed linen

How I'll sing Thy wondrous grace

Come, my Lord, no longer tarry

Take my ransomed soul away

Send Thine angels now to carry

Me to realms of endless day

Oh, to grace how great a debtor

Daily I'm constrained to be

Let that goodness like a fetter

Bind my wandering heart to Thee

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Here's my heart, oh, take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above

Here's my heart, oh, take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above—Robert Robinson

The Kingdom Splits...

Now it came to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back, they sent for him and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel. There was none who followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.—1 Kings 12:20

This passage brings sorrow to my heart because it marks the beginning of centuries of division between the Northern Kingdom (Israel - Jeroboam) and The Southern Kingdom (Judah - Rehoboam).  In the Bible these are just words on a page but behind these words is the reality of the split’s impact on the countless lives of those involved...death, destruction, broken hearts and broken lives.  

This split did not occur overnight.  The seeds of disunity can be seen in the book of Judges namely in the tribal jealousies between Ephraim of the North and Judah of the South. Before God gave Israel her kings, the Judges ruled, and the majority of religious worship was centered in Ephraim.  When Solomon built the temple, Jerusalem became the center.  This eventually brought the tribal rivalries to a breaking point. 

Division always brings hurt feelings and grief because at the root of the division is the sin of selfishness.  One party or both parties are not getting what they want.  

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?—James 4:1

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.—James 3:16

The same kind of division that occurred nationally in Israel is played out in friendships, marriages, familial relationships and in communities on a daily basis all over the world. Where there are people there will always be evidences of disunity because people are inherently selfish. It is only by the Spirit of a God that they can rise above their base responses and desire what God wants.  If both parties are right with God and desirous of His will, there will be no conflict.  If one party or both are self-seeking, division will occur.  Tragically, the consequences of sin do not just affect the one who sinned. The effects of sin can and do extend to those around us.  Both the innocent and the guilty suffer.  One sin alone can cause generations of division and with it, the resulting grief and despair. Oh, how much better to do it God’s way and walk in the beauty of obedience.   

Beloved, each one of us need to turn our own hearts over to our God and surrender to His will and His Spirit in our lives.  We need to obey our God from the deepest part of our beings and purpose to allow Him to show us all of the pride that comes between us and His love.  As long as self is at the center of our life...as long as we are our first concern, our unity will always be in need of repair.  As we allow God to perfect our relationship with Him, our earthly relationships will reflect this change.  The giving up of self is painful and difficult but this is where our joy will be full. 

Then your light shall break forth like the morning,

Your healing shall spring forth speedily,

And your righteousness shall go before you;

The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;

You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’

“If you take away the yoke from your midst,

The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

10 If you extend your soul to the hungry

And satisfy the afflicted soul,

Then your light shall dawn in the darkness,

And your darkness shall be as the noonday.

11 The LORD will guide you continually,

And satisfy your soul in drought,

And strengthen your bones;

You shall be like a watered garden,

And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

12 Those from among you

Shall build the old waste places;

You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;

And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,

The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.—Isaiah 58:8-12

On Bringing Reproach to Our Maker...

He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker;

—Proverbs 17:5a

He who mocks the poor REPROACHES his Maker.  This is one of those verses that in my arrogance I have skipped over...saying in my head probably something like this...yeah..yeah...don’t make fun of people less fortunate than you...I get it.  What I never considered, however, was that phrase, “reproaches his Maker.”  

It is cruel to make fun of and mock those who are less fortunate.   We do it anyway though, because in our small minds it elevates us by making us feel superior to others.  But here is the thing... Ridiculing the poor, the weak and less fortunate among us is the same as mocking and ridiculing the God who made them...the God who, as believers, we claim to love and honor. The word “reproach” can be defined this way:

taunt, blaspheme, defy, jeopardise, rail, upbraid

Uh oh...I never really considered WHY it was wrong to make fun of someone else.   I just thought it was because it was unkind. It is much more serious than that.  It is not only unkind, it is blasphemous and rebellious toward God who made them.  All our interactions with others should stem from and reflect the love and reverence we have for our Maker who made ALL men in His image. James says it perfectly. 

But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.—James 3:8-9

And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' 41 "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:—Matthew 25:40-41

The Redemption of a Soul is Costly...

18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

20 But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity."

24 Then Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me."—Acts 8:18-24

This section of Scripture always makes me sad...I had high hopes for Simon. The verses preceding those above say this about him:

But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God." 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done—Acts 8:9-13

I rejoiced when Simon believed and was baptized. His conversion, however, seems to have been the result of selfish ambition rather than a true change of heart. Simon thought the precious gifts of God...forgiveness of sin, the Holy Spirit and eternal life... could be bought.  How very sad that he thought he could purchase the heavenly with the earthly.  Simon’s heart, it seems, was still very bound to this world.  He was used to getting the glory...all in Samaria from the least to the greatest, Scripture says, gave him heed because he had astonished them with his sorceries.  His heart, filled with envy and self-seeking, sought honor for himself and not the honor which comes from God. 

One of the many lessons I have learned from spending time with the Lord and His word over the years is that people’s words say much about who they are and what they are thinking.  Out of the abundance of the heart, Jesus says in Matthew 12, the mouth speaks.  Simon’s own words here in verse 24 reveal his heart. 

Then Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me."

Simon’s concern was not that he had sinned, but that he would be spared the consequences of it.  He did not humble himself before God by acknowledging his sin and repenting.  Simon was too filled with Simon to give place to the Lord who is of all and over all.  His own words condemned him. 

“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost.” —Luke 9:25

Those who trust in their wealth

And boast in the multitude of their riches,

7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother,

Nor give to God a ransom for him--

8 For the redemption of their souls is costly,

And it shall cease forever--

9 That he should continue to live eternally,

And not see the Pit.—Ps 49:6-9

And When You Hear, Forgive...

And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive.—1Kings 8:30

And when You hear, forgive... That word, forgive, is like a balm to my soul. For His name's sake, God pardoned my iniquity. In My God I find mercy and grace to help in my time of need. 

3 If You, LORD, should mark iniquities,

O Lord, who could stand?

4 But there is forgiveness with You,

That You may be feared.

7b For with the LORD there is mercy,

And with Him is abundant redemption.

8 And He shall redeem Israel

From all his iniquities.—Ps 130:3-4;7b-8

I am so glad our God is a forgiving God!  There is, therefore, now no condemnation to those who are in Christ. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  Truly, as it says in Romans, it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance.  

When The Lord came into my heart and forgave all my sins, utter gratitude filled me. I didn’t even know all that it meant, but what I did know was that Jesus, by His death on the cross, had provided me entrance into heaven and that my sins, past, present and future were forgiven.  He made Him who knew no sin, sin for me, and paid for them on the cross at Calvary. The reality of that even today, almost 30 years later, overwhelms me.  Jesus Christ, the Righteous, is my Advocate.  The One who died for me, lives in me!  He who is faithful and just is on my side.  I am accepted in the Beloved. 

My thinking prior to salvation when I did wrong was to keep doing wrong because I had already gone past the point of no return. There WAS NO going back.  There were no new mercies. I was alone...helpless and hopeless and careening down a self-destructive path.

But God...

Who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved me,

even when I was dead in trespasses, by His grace, made me alive together with His Son, Jesus.  

That day, these words from Psalm 40 became mine...

1 I waited patiently for the LORD;

And He inclined to me,

And heard my cry.

2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,

Out of the miry clay,

And set my feet upon a rock,

And established my steps.

3 He has put a new song in my mouth—

Praise to our God;

Many will see it and fear,

And will trust in the LORD.