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What Might Have Been Read Psalm 81:1-16 Life is made up of things that were, things that are and things that might have been. We find all three in Psalm 81. First, we find the things that were (vv. 1-10). The psalmist talks about the God of Jacob and says, "Let's get our orchestra together. Let's get our trumpets and let's sing to the Lord. He gave us a statute. He delivered us from Egypt." He reflects on and rejoices in the past. But the things that were did not last long, because the people rebelled against the Lord. Next, we see the things that are. "But My people would not heed My voice, and Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels" (vv. 11,12). The things that were brought rejoicing. The things that are spoke of rebellion. The people of God rebelled against Him. They wouldn't listen to Him, call upon Him or obey His Word. So they lost all that He had for them. Finally, we see the things that might have been (vv.13-16). "Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their adversaries. The haters of the Lord would pretend submission to Him, but their fate would endure forever. He would have fed them also with the finest of wheat; and with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you." What might have been? Victory, satisfaction, joy, the finest wheat and honey out of the rock. Don't rebel against God and thus miss the blessings He wants to give you. * * * Dwelling on past failures only turns life into regret. If you have failed the Lord, come back to Him and pray for forgiveness. Dedicate yourself to Him and start experiencing those things that might have been. God has the best plan for you.

Short and to the Point Psalms 37–39, Acts 26 Key Verses: Psalm 37:3–5 "Don't beat around the bush. Get to the point," is the sentiment of some of us. We prefer concise, straight answers, not wordy explanations or instructions. David got right to the point in Psalm 37. "Trust in the LORD" (v. 3). "Delight yourself in the LORD" (v. 4). "Commit your way to the LORD" (v. 5). "Be still before the LORD" (v. 7). In a beautiful simplicity, these statements say all we need to know and do. Trust. Whatever our situation or circumstances, we need to have an abiding confidence in God. Delight. Our heart's affections need to be set on the Lord, learning to find our joy and delight in Him. Commit. We need to determine that our life will be lived the way He wants it lived. Be still. It is almost impossible to hear God while running, especially with the noise and confusion that so often crowds in on us. We need the still times. Could more be said about these things? Of course. Occasionally we need the point driven home, explained, illustrated and applied. Yet there remains in the simplicity of these statements straightforward communication that catches our eyes, our ears and hopefully our minds and hearts so that we trust, delight, commit and remain still, experiencing the blessing of God.

A Faithful Woman An elderly Muslim lady was well-known for her faith and for her confidence in talking about it. She would stand in front of her house and say "Allah be praised" to all those who passed by. Next door to her lived an atheist who would get so angry at her proclamations he would shout, "There ain't no Lord!!" Hard times came upon the elderly lady, and she prayed for Allah to send her some assistance. She would pray out loud in her night prayer "Oh Allah! I need food!! I am having a hard time, please Lord, PLEASE LORD, SEND ME SOME GROCERIES!!" One night the atheist happened to hear her as she was praying, and decided to play a prank on her. The next morning the lady went out on her porch and found a large bag of groceries. She raised her hands and shouted, "Allah be praised!." The neighbor jumped from behind a bush and said, "Aha! I told you there was no Lord. I bought those groceries, God didn't." The old lady laughed and clapped her hands and said, "ALLAH BE PRAISED. He not only sent me groceries, but he made the devil pay for them!"

We whine too much Body: For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it. You say: "It's impossible" God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27) You say: "I'm too tired" God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30) You say: "Nobody really loves me" God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 13:34) You say: "I can't go on" God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15) You say: "I can't figure things out" God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6) You say: "I can't do it" God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13) You say: "I'm not able" God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8) You say: "It's not worth it" God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28) You say: "I can't forgive myself" God says: I FORGIVE YOU (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1) You say: "I can't manage" God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19) You say: "I'm afraid" God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7) You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated" God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7) You say: "I don't have enough faith" God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3) You say: "I'm not smart enough" God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30) You say: "I feel all alone" God says: I will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5) so lets turn our eyes upon Jesus.

Would you like fries with that? Mark 10:44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. Some time ago, a friend was helping us do a couple of things around the house. When I asked him if he would mind doing one additional thing before he left, he jokingly responded, "and would you like fries with that"? Hmmm. A wise man was once asked, "How can I know if I have a servant's attitude?" The wise man responded, "By how you act when you are treated like one!" The word for servant in the above scripture is "doulos", which literally means "bondslave" in the Greek. Thankfully, Jesus doesn't treat us as such but like it or not, we are the Lord's bondslaves and we are called to serve our Master's every desire and respond immediately to his call at any given time. Lord forgive us for the times we fall short of this high calling! We humble ourselves before you and recommit our mind, body and will, fully to you once again today. It is a priviledge and an honor to serve you. We love you and bless you and thank you for your infinite mercy. There is none like You. We pray in Jesus precious Name.

How little are you? Matthew 18:4 Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Hudson Taylor was scheduled to speak at a Large Presbyterian church in Melbourne, Australia. The moderator of the service introduced him in the most eloquent and glowing terms. He told the large congregation all that Taylor had accomplished in China, and then presented him as "our illustrious guest." Taylor stood quietly for a moment, and then opened his message by saying, "Dear friends, I am the little servant of an illustrious Master." If we want to do great things for the Lord, it is crucial that we become humble before Him! When we realize that we are but little servants of an illustrious Master -- it is then that God will use us in a mighty way. After all, it is not our agendas, our purposes, our plans that God wants to bless --- it's God's agenda -- God's plan -- God's purpose for our lives that He will bless to overflowing! Let's humble ourselves, get "little" before the Lord today and get our minds set on His purpose instead of our own. There's so much work to be done!!

Sometimes we gotta get down and dirty! John 9:6-7 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. I read this passage and I wonder how I would react if someone mixed their saliva with some dirt on the ground and put it on my face like this. Ewww! Why didn't Jesus just heal this guy and be done with it? Why the messy prelude? If you'll notice, Jesus did two things. First, He placed mud on the man's eyes. Then, He told him to go and wash himself in the pool of Siloam. Of course, the man willingly obeyed. If you had some gross concoction smeared on your eyes, wouldn't you? The mud actually provided the motivation for his obedience. My point? We don't always have to understand why we find our selves muddy sometimes. Perhaps if we weren't muddy, we'd never be motivated to obey! And obedience is crucial to a successful and flourishing walk with the Lord. Let's not despise the mud on our face today. We all have times of trial. Let's use them for an opportunity to be obedient! God is just trying to help us see better!

Raise your expectations! Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Charles Spurgeon wrote "Prayer pulls the rope below and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they pray so languidly. Others give but an occasional pluck at the rope. But he who wins with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continuously, with all his might." Some might take this to mean that we need to beg and plead desperately for God to answer our prayers. I don't think so. I believe that we must pray, expecting for God to bring the answer and do the work because, among many other reasons, He is faithful, just and loves us with an everlasting love! Raise your expectations today! Expect God to do something great and we'll believe along with you to see mighty breakthroughs!

Hey I just want to say I just love this site and all the encouragement I see going around with one another. I feel like if I needed prayer I would have a awful lot of prayer warriors right with me. I appreciate that! I love everyone on here and I thank everyone for the kind and encouraging words you have given to me! God Bless ya!

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