Are you in THE BOOK?

Dear Friends,

We are in so many listings so that we can be identified and reached by others: Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, to name a few electronic ones. The school and work office keeps you on a list. Social Security Administration has you on a list. Those of you who have ever worked are probably on at least one tax list in the federal or state books. You may be in the White pages in either the hard copy or online version. You may be on a scout list, a birthday list. You may appear on a 'virtual' list should your name be Googled. You and your home may be in a book down at the department of land records or whatever the agency is called. You can probably think of other books and lists that you can be found on.

But, ARE YOU IN THE BOOK?

Do you know what book I mean? We all start out there, but we do not all end up in there. For the answer, you need to read…. Exodus 32:32-33; Psalm 69:28; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 20:15.

God keeps lists. He is a list-keeping God. Wonder why if He is all knowing and all present? Think about who benefits the most from the lists we mortals keep. Not just the list-generator, but also as those who will view/use the list and the one who’s name is listed.

Ok. All for now.

-jo

Thanksgiving

When I realize that Thanksgiving for a believer is a daily occurrence, then I'm never late publishing this message:

Reflections on Thanksgiving… God is here and has blessed us with His presence. We are not alone! Bless you all and may God give you grace to use the blessings you’ve received to be a blessing to others! -jo

1 Chronicles 16:34

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

³⁴ O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Psalm 9

A Psalm of Thanksgiving for God’s Justice.

    For the choir director; on Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.

 ¹ I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart;
I will tell of all Your wonders.

1 Samuel 2

Hannah’s Song of Thanksgiving

 ¹ Then Hannah prayed and said,

   “My heart exults in the LORD;
My horn is exalted in the LORD,
My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

Psalm 30:4

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

⁴ Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones,
And give thanks to His holy name.

Psalm 50:14

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹⁴ “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving
And pay your vows to the Most High;

Psalm 50:23

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

²³ “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me;
And to him who orders his way aright
I shall show the salvation of God.”

1 Chronicles 16:8

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Psalm of Thanksgiving

 ⁸ Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.

Psalm 69:30

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

³⁰ I will praise the name of God with song
And magnify Him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 95:2

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

² Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

Philippians 4:6

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Colossians 4:2

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

 ² Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; 

Lamentations chapter 3

Hope of Relief in God’s Mercy

¹⁹ Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness.
²⁰ Surely my soul remembers
And is bowed down within me.
²¹ This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
²² The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
²⁴ “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I have hope in Him.”
²⁵ The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the person who seeks Him.

Revelations 7

⁹ After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; ¹⁰ and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,

   “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” ¹¹ And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying,

   “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”