Last updated on 12-08-07

 Articles and Poems Offering Hope And Inspiration

 Encouraging Intercessory Prayer

The articles and poems offering Hope and Inspiration link below
 to direct text. They may also be found on this site on 
the Home page with links to .doc format 
and in the Archives page with links to .pdf format.

As you read and enjoy below, if the Lord nudges you 
toward greater service or praise, 
or if you desire Intercessory Prayer 
for something in your life, 
please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail, 
telling me about it, so I may pray for you. 

 I look forward to hearing from you. 
You may click on my e-mail link at the top of this page or below.

wilmar@theramp.net

May God be Glorified and may you be blessed as you read and enjoy.

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Lessons From Missy

A Poem About Life

A Poem About Grace

A Poem About Friends

A Poem About Listening

Exalting The Name Of God

Wonders From Psalms 139

Understanding God's Gift Of Hope

Being A Delight To God And Bringing Him Pleasure

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Easter Thoughts

Lingering Thoughts This Easter

I don't have any great "new" revelations this year, but I do have two "lingering" thoughts that have been rumbling around in my head and heart that I want to expound upon just a little bit.

As the Christian Faith remembers the occasion of Jesus' Life, Death and Resurrection, I would be remiss to forget the reason all of that was necessary. God said in Hebrews 9:22, "And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood, there is no remission". From a human standpoint, all I need to do is understand that I have sinned against God and ask Him to forgive me of that sin, and all could be well, but God said otherwise.

God said that blood needed to be shed for the remission of sin. In the Old Testament, God's people always sacrificed a substitute animal that was "perfect" in its condition, in prime shape, in perfect health. Only the best was permissible. God required for the shed blood to be of the purest form it could be. The problem, however, the substitute blood of a perfect animal sacrifice couldn't cover man's sin for all of eternity. It needed to be repeated over and over and over again.

God needed a perfect sacrifice with perfect pure blood that could and would cover all of man's sins for all of eternity, one that needed to be done only once and for all of mankind for eternity. Since all of mankind was guilty of sin, where could God find sinless blood to be sacrificed or shed to bring about forgiveness once and for all?

The only answer was from God Himself! Why would God, who is a Spirit, be willing to take on a human form and to shed His own blood for man? Because He loved us! Why did God love us so much? Because we are made in His image!

So, we come full circle. God made us in His Image, but we sinned and broke that Image. He had to restore us, but by His own word He required a perfect sacrifice, one that could last for all eternity and only needed to be done once. God was back to Himself. He was the only one who could provide the sacrifice.

Therefore, God came to us in the form of man, His Son Jesus, who was all man, but all God at the same time, not only made in the Image of God, but who was the Image of God Himself, perfect in every way. Jesus lived among mankind as a man, and allowed mankind to crucify Him so that His shed blood could provide redemption to all that believed in His finished work on the Cross.

The shedding of Jesus' blood alone wasn't what sealed His redemptive work on the cross for all eternity, but it was His Resurrection that finished it. If Jesus had stayed dead, God would be dead and there would be no hope beyond the grave. Easter Morning and the truth of the Resurrection were the finished acts of God's Passion for man's redemption.

All we need to do is to confess our sins to God and believe in the Death and Resurrection of Jesus for our sins to be forgiven. What a wondrous gift of life and love! So simple in concept, but impossible without faith!

My first "lingering" thought is the fact that if I were the only man alive on the face of creation and earth, Jesus would still have needed to shed His blood to save me from my sins. Each one of us must come to a point of understanding about this in order to understand God's personal gift of salvation through Jesus that is made available to each one of us individually. It is a sobering thought, one that never looses its simplicity or its complexity, depending on the level of our faith.

That brings me to my second thought. In whatever I do in life, what are my motives? Are they pure or selfish? God knows my heart! I wonder how well I know my own heart? I believe that all sin starts from and with a selfish motive. Many times I do not recognize selfishness until I am caught up with a selfish act, desire, feeling, thought or word.

Many of us are familiar with the Prayer of Jabez. Books have been written about it, based upon I Chronicles 4:10. Even the use of the principles of the Prayer of Jabez in my daily devotions must be examined in the light of my having selfish motives. Why do I want God to bless me, to enlarge my territory, to be with me, to keep me from evil that I may not cause pain? Do I want a better life here, in eternity, or both? Am I interested in bringing Glory and Honor to God or just to myself?

My "Lingering Thoughts" are meant to help keep me humble, and focused on being unselfish in all that I desire, do, feel, say and think. For God's Glory, I hope my "Lingering Thoughts" will likewise help you do the same!

William C. Fordham

3-27-05

 

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Breaking The Mirror Or Enhancing The Image

Breaking the Mirror or Enhancing the Image?

Recently during Communion on Sunday, December 05, 2004 I began to think about what it is that I do to God when I sin against Him. From a child I've been taught that the sins of mankind cause man to die, both physically and spiritually. Until now, however, I have never seriously thought about what it is that my sin actually does to God.

The basis for this discussion must be founded in the belief and understanding that God is the Creator, and we are His creation, and that He is the Potter and we are the clay. We did not create ourselves, but are in fact created by God in His image according to Genesis 1:26-27. Any other belief in our origins makes this discussion moot. Likewise, a thorough understanding of Psalms 139:13-16 brings us to the point of comprehension that each one of us is fearfully and wonderfully made, and that God knew us individually while we were being formed in our mother's womb.

What is so special about man that God even cares, or that He loves us? Psalms 8:3-6 addresses these questions. With over 6 billion people currently in the world today, what difference or impact does any single person make to God in all of eternity?

I believe the answer to the secret of our worth lies in the declaration, by God, that we are created in His Image, but what does that mean? Since Adam and Eve sinned and all of mankind born after them have sinned, what does our sins do to God? What really happens to God when we sin?

When I first began to ask these questions in earnest, my thoughts were directed toward the traditional Christian response. A response that acknowledges that our sin separates us from God and since God is Holy, He could not allow us as unholy beings to live an eternal life with Him, or to be in His presence. Somehow we must be punished for our sins, or be forgiven them. We needed a Savior, but who could qualify?

God tells us in His Word in Hebrews 9:12 that without the shedding of blood, there can be no remission or pardon of sins. This of course is the basis for the Old Testament sacrifices where believers looked forward to receiving atonement and forgiveness for their sins. This in turn led to Jesus taking on the form of a sinless man to become our atonement and Savior by the shedding of His blood for our sins as we place our faith in His finished work on the Cross. The suffering of Jesus certainly was physical, but it involved so much more. It really is a mind-boggling wonderful mystery.

Most of us believers think we know the story well, but do we? I seemed to be drawn to the question, what does my sin do to God? It started to almost haunt me. I felt like I was on the edge of a new revelation. I understand that my sin removes me from God's presence and that it breaks my fellowship with Him, but this is still all about me. What about God and what do my sins do to Him?

The answer must be related to our worth to God, each one of us. With so many of us in the world today numbering into the billions, what difference is it to God when any one of us sins? Surely it must be relevant to our being created in the Image of God. Man is the only portion of God's creation that was created in His Image. The angels weren't and the animals weren't. Only mankind was. What does that mean? I believe it means more than what most of us with a finite mind will ever understand, including myself.

While reflecting upon these things, I began to comprehend and realize at least one thing my sin does to God. There are probably more, but this one thing seemed to be paramount to me. My sin destroys God's ability and opportunity to see His Image and Likeness that He put into me.

Sin caused man to become unholy. After that, God couldn't look upon man and see His Image in that condition. After man sinned and before God provided atonement for that sin, God was eternally cut off from His Image and from His Glory that He put into each one of us, and He was cut off without hope! The mirror of His Image had been broken and man could not restore it.

Therefore, my sin breaks the mirror of God's Image within me and causes Him eternal anguish and devastation! Why does it do that? It does that because my sin destroys the opportunity for God to see His Image and His Glory that is created within me. I have broken and destroyed the mirror and it is smashed beyond recognition!

Our sins caused God so much anguish and heartache, potentially for all of eternity, that He had to personally pay the price and provide Himself as the atonement. This was needed for our cleansing so His Image within us could be made whole again and could be seen again by Him. It is accomplished through our faith in His redemptive work of Jesus on the Cross. Only a Holy God could provide atonement.

Therefore, we celebrate Christmas, because God gave Himself to us as His Holy Son, Jesus, born as a baby, to become a man without sin in order to be our Savior. We then celebrate Easter because God provided the atonement for our sin, thereby restoring His Image within us, by our faith in that finished work. So after Jesus' Death and Resurrection, we are able to participate in God's work of restoring His Image and Glory within us, by our faith and obedience. The mystery of God's Image and Atonement is accepted by faith.

After having come into faith what happens when I sin again? Even though Jesus died for my sins once for all, do I still break God's Image within me? I believe the answer is yes!

In many places in the Bible we are told how we have the opportunity to be a delight and a pleasure to God. What an awesome thought that we, as human beings with finite minds, have the ability to delight and bring pleasure to an infinite and Holy God. Likewise, as the law of physics teaches us, for every action there is a reaction, and we also have the opportunity to be a non-delight and a non-pleasure to God. Even after faith is declared, my sinful attitudes, thoughts and actions continue to break God's Image within me, causing Him much anguish and torment. After Jesus and faith, however, the anguish is no longer for eternity and not without hope for either God or myself.

My conclusion therefore is, before the Cross, and before coming to faith, my sins broke God's Image and Glory within me for all of eternity, inhibiting and preventing Him from seeing it. After the Cross, because of Faith, my sins continue to break His Image and Glory within me, but not for eternity. Now His Image and Glory are broken within me either until I physically die, or until I become restored again through repentance and confession of those sins. Thank God for I John 1:9 where it says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." What a Wonderful and Blessed Hope!

The importance of these thoughts and questions about what my sins and choices do to God is very sobering. These thoughts are a constant reminder indeed of the impact that I can have on God. I don't know if my Theology is totally correct about what my sin does to God, but approaching it from this perspective certainly keeps me focused on being aware of temptation. I find this to be very helpful in overcoming temptation when it arises, and for that I am grateful. All of a sudden I have a new comprehension of how I have an important role to play in allowing and enabling God to see His Image and His Glory enhanced within me, as part of His creation. I have a choice. By my attitudes, thoughts and actions, I can choose to either enhance God's Image or to break the mirror within me!

We have the power to bring God immense delight and pleasure, or we have the power to bring Him immense anguish and suffering by either enhancing or separating Him from seeing His Image and Glory that is within each one of us. I am excited about these Image concepts and joyfully share them with you this Christmas. Depending upon my attitude, thoughts and actions, I now often ask myself the question, "What are you doing Bill, are you Breaking the Mirror, or Enhancing the Image"? Asking myself this question helps to temper my response and is helping me in my walk with the Lord. May we all enhance God's Image and rejoice in His Love, Grace and Mercy this Christmas Season and in the year ahead.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in God's Image.

From A Very Thankful Servant,

William C. Fordham

12-20-04

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Upright

UPRIGHTNESS OF HEART

Uprightness of heart is something God takes pleasure in.

Pleasing God, our Infinite Creator, is an awesome thought for a finite person!

Righteous living requires discipline and self -control that only we can give.

Incredible is the possibility that we humans can achieve such splendor.

Grasping the power and wonder that is ours to embody,

Humbles us when wrapped in Grace, endowing us with a spirit of integrity.

Teaching us that God can do miracles with a dedicated heart.

Nothing that we can do can earn holiness,

Earnestness of the heart when coupled with faith in God is the best recipe.

Singleness of mind in loving and fearing God with all of our being,

Supplies us with the motivation needed to bring Him pleasure.

 

Offering ourselves to God is the first step toward

Faithfully seeking the Lord's Presence in our daily walk.

 

Hearts that long to live righteously

Eagerly wait upon the Lord for guidance.

Always open for continuous improvement,

Renewing our commitment of faithfulness daily to God,

Translates into righteous thoughts, words and deeds.

__________

William C. Fordham

7-29-04

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Hope and Power

Dear Friend,

Here is a story of both Hope and Power for you to consider on this Easter Sunday, 2004.

Easter is a time for us to remember the fact that we are in need of a Savior because we have sinned and failed to live in holiness before God. We are reminded in Psalms 103:10-12 that God has not dealt with us according to our sins nor according to our iniquity, but according to His Love, Grace and Mercy. We are also reminded in the same passage that God has removed our sins from us as far as the east is from the west, to be remembered no more. What a wonderful story of Hope! He was willing to suffer for us in the form of His Son, Jesus, so that we might be accounted righteous through faith in His finished work on the cross.

Yet in all of the wonder of the Easter story we realize that we are both unworthy and priceless. What is man that God is so committed to providing us with salvation? Why does God care so much? Part of it is because in Genesis 1:26-27 God tell us that we are made in God's Image, so therefore we all carry the precious image of God within us.

I believe that something else also makes us precious. God has thoughts and plans for us and we have the power within us to delight God and to bring Him Pleasure! What a privilege it is that each one of us can participate in it!

David said in I Chronicles 29:17, "I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness". We are also told in Proverbs 15:8b, "…But the prayer of the upright is His (God's) delight".

The promise of God’s plans for us is found in Jeremiah 29:11. Even though this verse was originally written to the Israelite people when they were in captivity, these same words from this same God can be read by each one of us and applied to our lives. It says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." We all need to always remember that God has promised us a Future and Hope! Jesus' death for our sins was necessary and it is His resurrection that makes our Future and Hopes come alive through Faith in His finished work on the cross.

A wonderful promise from God to all who Wait Upon Him can be found in Isaiah 40:31, "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Psalms 27:13-14 encourages us when it says, "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord and He shall strengthen your heart, wait, I say, on the Lord."

Another mind stretching passage from Psalms is found in 147:11 where God tells us that He takes pleasure in those who fear Him and in those who hope in His mercy. As we spend time in prayer and meditation about these things, it can bring us to a point of both humility and exhilaration knowing that we are precious to God and that we have the opportunity to bring Him delight and pleasure. What a blessing, joy and hope it is for us the Clay, being able to bring blessings of delight and pleasure to God, the Potter!

God takes pleasure in those who live uprightly and that is an awesome privilege. The thought that a finite unholy human being is able to bring delights and pleasures to an Infinite and Holy God is a mind-boggling thought indeed. It is a fact that Easter reminds us of and empowers us to employ as we live in Faith.

William C. Fordham

4-11-04

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Living In The Zone

Living In The Zone

Living in the zone requires our complete daily focus on God,

Involving all of our being, loving God, with body, soul and spirit.

Victory is assured through faith in God, waiting upon Him and His Word,

In awe and fear of God, we walk humbly with Him, seeking His presence.

Nearness to the living God through prayer uplifts, renews and guides us,

Granting us strength to be all that we can be, especially during adversity.

 

Insights about how God has promised to help and keep and bless us,

Never are materialized if our faith is weak and our expectations are small.

 

To be successful, we must trust and obey,

Heeding God's Word all along the way.

Eagerly awaiting God's Blessings anew each day.

 

Zones of excellence surround each one of us,

Only to be released as we live by faith and don't go astray.

No power in Heaven or Earth can derail us,

Except ourselves, when we choose to go our own way.

__________

William C. Fordham

12-22-03

 

Worship

WORSHIP

Worship of Elohim, the triune Creator and Holy God,

Originates from our hearts with a spirit of love.

Rising above and beyond ourselves,

Seeking always and only to tell God's Story above.

Honoring the Heavenly Father with all of our substance,

Increases our understanding of His Greatness,

Precipitating our praises for His Love, Grace and Mercy.

__________

Worship is not about us telling our story,

Only about the Lord Adonai who is worthy of our praise.

Removing all thoughts of selfishness,

Securing thoughts from within our being, we rise,

Higher than the physical realm that we occupy.

Inspiration moves us to rejoice in humble praise,

Presenting ourselves in faith to the Son, Christ our Savior.

__________

Worship can be guided by the Holy Spirit as we pray,

Offering ourselves as an example when we tell God's Story.

Relationships are to be both horizontal and vertical,

Spreading beyond our lives for the sake of His Glory.

Humility of focus away from we ourselves is always appropriate.

Insights about God's greatness and worthiness are shared,

Preparing our hearts for rejoicing in His Presence.

__________

William C. Fordham

12-16-03

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Hollyhocks

HOLLYHOCKS

Hollyhocks are God's gift of eternal hope and beauty during the summertime.
Originating from deep within the souls of their stalks, they bloom with all their hearts.
Lovely blooms of multicolor array enrich our lives with both beauty and example.

Life and its lessons can be seen in the process of old blooms dying and new ones forming.

Youthful flowers progress toward maturity, bringing about new life in the process.

Hope for the future is embodied by the constant unfolding of new blooms.

Opulent blooms keep coming, obeying their call, even when flattened by storms.

Creating a constant message of hope for the future, no matter what the present situation.

Knowing that imperfect dying blooms don't negate the future as they provide new life.

Sensitivity and awareness of this ongoing process can inspire us to keep on keeping on.

 

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Holding fast and striving for excellence in the midst of uncertainty.

Overcoming the stresses that are brought on by the storms of life.

Living each new day, looking to the future, content with God’s grace.

Loving God, others and ourselves along the way and having a heart of joy.

Yearning to bring our lives into full bloom by trusting in God to bless.

Having an attitude of success in life in all that we think, say and do.

Occupying our days with faithful obedience, forgetting our past mistakes.

Challenging ourselves in being and seeking God’s best with an attitude of humility.

Keeping on with our destiny while enriching the lives of others.

Serving both God and man in a fullness of bloom with all our hearts.

 

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William C. Fordham

7/20/03

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THOUGHTS

THOUGHTS

Thoughts are silent impulses of energy,

Having the power to captivate and mold my mind.

Originating from within my heart, the center of my soul,

Urging me to make decisions, for either evil or good.

Grasping these impulses energizes me,

Harboring them in my mind motivates me,

Toward actions whose results bring about either blessings or sadness.

Sequences of thoughts are the most powerful forces at work within me.

___________________

These thoughts of mine are mine to choose and make,

However and whatever I desire to think.

Outcomes from my choice of thoughts,

Uniquely and urgently surround my being.

Guaranteeing a consequence,

Happening in an instant.

Tiny as these thoughts are,

Scripture in Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as a man thinketh in his heart,             

so is he!"

__________

William C. Fordham

5-19-03

 

 

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Faith

FAITH

Faith believes without seeing.

Acts without knowing.

Initiates our paths with confidence.

Teaches observers by example.

Honors the finished work of others.

 

Faith eliminates doubts.

Always strives for excellence.

Insightful in gaining understanding.

Taking on life with a hopeful outlook.

Having no room for fear.

 

Faith is reinforced with practice.

Accepting the need is a requirement.

It does not always come naturally.

Theological analysis repels and

Harboring anxious thoughts destroys.

 

Faith in God at Easter time

Acknowledges Christ's finished work on the Cross.

Incapable of saving ourselves,

Trusting becomes the needed catalyst for

Honoring God's Gift of Saving Grace to all that believe!

 

William C. Fordham

4/18/03

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FOCUS

Focusing

On

Focusing On Christ Undermines Self, Sin, & Stress

 

 

                Undermines

 

 

                 Self, Sin, & Stress

William C. Fordham

2/03/03

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Lessons from Missy

Lessons From Missy

Missy was just a dog,

A dog I first got for my mother,

A spoiled house terrier,

When Mom had no other.

 

When Mom was gone, Missy became my pet.

It wasn’t Missy’s fault, that she was so spoiled.

For I was the one that set the example

And taught her to beg at the table.

 

Missy taught me all the time,

Even when gently eating from my hand.

Missy has provided me with several spiritual insights.

It seems that man’s best friend can be used by God to teach him many lessons.

 

She loved me unconditionally,

And was happiest when lying at my feet.

When I was not there, she would sleep in my chair.

I would say, "May I please have my chair" and she would jump down, leaving her hair.

 

Missy always wanted to be as close as possible.

It seemed that her life and world were spent in loving me,

She would sit on my lap with her nose tucked under my beard.

Missy lovingly licked my fingers or hand as if to say, "Master, I love you."

 

Missy was very faithful,

She never strayed from home while I was away.

When I returned from a trip,

She would be waiting to greet me in the driveway.

 

After I returned home, she would often run in circles,

And sometimes become mischievous.

If I spoke cross to her in any way, she would shiver and shake in fear,

Even though I was never mean to her.

 

Missy was faithful, loving, obedient and trusting,

Always happy to be in my presence.

Can I be as happy and contented to be in God’s presence,

As Missy was to be in mine?

 

God is Love,

And because He loves,

All of His creation can experience Love,

Including the Love of a pet.

 

Even when her 16-years here on earth had come to pass,

She looked at me with loving, trusting eyes, while breathing her last.

Remembering her loving eyes and the tender licking of my hand is a constant reminder,

That God longs for me to love Him just as Missy loved me, and to "lick" His hand.

William C. Fordham

7-06-02

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A Poem About Life

LIFE

Life is a mystery, one that is not easily understood.

Incapable of being seen by mortal man.

Finished in a moment, and a twinkling of the eye.

Easily taken for granted.

__________

Life has a beginning and an end.

Infinite in the spiritual realm,

Finite in the physical realm,

Equal in both at once!

__________

Life is fleeting like the flower of the field; it blooms and fades away.

Incapable of being contained, measured, or valued.

Flexible and changing, yet all the while,

Ever being the same.

__________

Life is always moving forward, it can not back up.

In search of fulfillment, it never seems to rest.

Focusing on what lies ahead,

Excited about the next event.

__________

Life can't be held in our hands,

Its presence can only be experienced.

Finding its meaning and purpose,

Eternally seems to be man's task.

__________

Life is very precious,

It can not be bought.

Free to give itself away,

Encouraged by acts of love.

__________

Life starts the same for all of us,

Innocent and born with nothing.

Facing each new challenge while

Economics are not yet known to us.

__________

Life, likewise, ends the same for all of us!

Intent on reaching our goals, soon death creeps in.

Failure to achieve is always feared, success is desired, but

Ending with nothing that we can take with us.

__________

Life becomes complicated with selfishness and sin.

If the striving for riches and honor are continuous,

Fear and greed soon destroys our peace, and

Entering into contentment becomes illusive.

__________

Life is a mystery, full of tests and trials, always in need of grace.

Inefficient in gauging it's worth and finding meaning, when dependent upon man.

Futile when driven by selfish desires for fame and money, possessions and power.

Enjoying success when centered on God, while exercising faith, love, justice, mercy, and righteousness.

By William C. Fordham

8-10-01

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A Poem About Grace

GRACE: UNDERSTANDING FULL CIRCLE

God is Sovereign and in full control,

His plans are infinite and right.

I, as a finite man, don’t understand,

Why life seems to be such a fight.

God is the potter and I am the clay, (Isaiah 64:8)

His vessel I am to be.

Some are made for honor and some for dishonor, (Romans 9:21)

Each one is unique in its own way.

Without God's love, I can’t begin to love,

For God is the source of all. (I John 4:7, 19)

During all of the trials and troubles in life,

Many times I lose sight of my call.

God's ways are above my ways,

And His thoughts are above my thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9)

Trials and troubles are part of the test, (James 1:2-4)

That prepares me for His best. (I Peter 1:6-7)

For every action there is a reaction,

Life is full of Good and Evil.

When I want to do Good, Evil is right there with me, (Romans 7:21)

But I have the power to choose which one I will sanction.

Many times the wicked seem to prosper, (Jeremiah 12:1)

While the righteous suffer. (Psalms 119:107, II Thessalonians 1:5)

All my worries will be in vain. (Matthew 6:25-34)

Why, O God, do I have all this pain?

God knows all about my pain (Psalms 44:21, I John 3:20)

I wonder how it can ever be used for gain?

My anger wells up within me,

And my faith just seems to wither away.

Fear overcomes me, (Psalms 55:5)

And feelings of hopelessness set in.

Satan keeps working in my mind,

O Lord, Creator, be not far from me, where have You been? (Psalms 71:12)

God's Word says that all things work together for good,

To those who love Him and obey His call. (Romans 8:28)

He is mighty in all of His ways,

I must hope in Him with my very all. (Psalms 38:15)

As a man, I can not understand all this pain,

And I don’t know how I should act,

Or how it could ever be used for good.

Now that I am a victim, in fact!

I know that I am frail and in need of God's help. (Psalms 39:4)

And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in Thee. (Psalms 39:7)

O Sovereign Lord, deal well with me for your name's sake,

Out of the goodness of Your mercy, deliver me. (Psalms 109:21)

God is Sovereign and can do as He chooses.

As His creation, I don’t have the right,

To question Him and what He allows. (Isaiah 29:16)

I can only trust in His might!

Since I am a creation, I am not sovereign,

And I can't trust in myself. (Proverbs 28:26)

Only God, as Creator, is worthy of my trust,

Even when I am torn up and thrust.

I rise up early before the dawn,

And cry for Your help, O Lord.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

And in Your Word I do hope, O Lord. (Psalms 130:5)

The Apostle Paul asked to be relieved of his thorn,

Three times he asked, and no less. (II Corinthians 12:7-8)

God said, "My Grace is sufficient for you,

For My strength is made perfect in weakness." (II Corinthians 12:9)

How can God's Power be made perfect in my weakness?

How can I be used while in all this pain?

Only as I humble myself in the sight of the Lord,

Will He lift me up and enable me to bring gain. (James 4:10)

So, that's what life is all about!

It's not about me, and what I think is a must.

It's about God, and WHO HE IS!

Sovereign Lord, worthy of praise and trust. (Psalms 18:2-3)

Now I am beginning to understand.

It is not about me and what I think is fair.

I need to allow God to perfect His Power through me,

For life is a vapor that will soon blow away into thin air. (James 4:14, Psalm 103:15-16)

God will have mercy and compassion on whomever He wills. (Romans 9:15)

So then it is not of he who wills or runs,

But it is of God who shows mercy! (Romans 9:16)

May God raise me up and show His Power in me. (Romans 9:17)

O Sovereign Lord, I will proclaim Your mighty acts,

And I will declare your greatness. (Psalms 145:6)

I will proclaim Your Righteousness,

And Yours alone! (Psalms 71:16)

May I be able to say with my whole heart,

"But as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God.

I have put my trust in the Lord God,

That I may declare all Your works." (Psalms 73:28)

May I act with justice today,

And may I love mercy along the way.

May I walk humbly with God, (Micah 6:8)

And let His Power be my strength in weakness.

The Lord delights and takes pleasure,

In those who fear Him.

In those who put their hope,

In His unfailing love and mercy. (Psalms 147:11)

At first I didn't understand,

But when I see myself in God's eternal light,

I realize that I have come full circle,

And now I know His plan is right!

 

This poem is written for anyone who is struggling or hurting. The struggle or hurt that causes us pain may be factors such as emotional, financial, physical, physiological, psychological, or spiritual. The pain may not necessarily be limited to just one of these factors, but may include several at the same time.

 

An author always receives the first and most enduring impact from a created work. A summary that describes this poem's message can be stated as follows:

If the pain I may suffer or experience in life is viewed as a means of grace for me to trust God more fully, focus on God more intently, and praise God more abundantly, then the Sovereignty of God will be at work within me. His Grace will enable me to understand that my life is not about me and what I may think is fair or right, but it's about God, who He is, and His worthiness to be praised and trusted, no matter what may happen to me in my life.

 

Life isn't about me and what I think is right,

It's about the Sovereign Lord, and all His might!

 

 

May you be blessed, guided, and uplifted as you read these thoughts and words, and may God be glorified through all of your life.

William C. Fordham

4-10-98

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A Poem About Friends

FRIENDS

Friends patiently care for and wait for each other,

Rising to any occasion that demands attention in meeting a need.

In all situations bringing out the best in each,

Encouraging one another while facing the trials of life.

Never seeking one's self above the other,

Defending against all odds,

Standing tall while rejoicing in their mutual relationship.

__________

Faithful in encouragement,

Ready to meet the test, always giving their best.

Inviting one another to share their lives,

Enabling each other to succeed in all their endeavors.

Night or day, always available for counsel,

Defeating all attempts, by others, to destroy their trust,

Shaping the direction of each other with a spirit of love.

__________

Finding strength they didn't have as individuals,

Richly blessing each other with advice and integrity.

Insights are gained by common goals and interests,

Envisioning new heights of accomplishments.

Not keeping a record of rights or wrongs,

Developing a relationship that promotes openness,

Sharpening the countenance of each other for improvement.

__________

Forgiveness for mistakes is always in their hearts,

Reacting with an agape type of love in all situations.

Inward thoughts are sensed before spoken,

Eager to love at all times, carrying on after the other is gone.

No power on earth can destroy their love,

Desiring nothing in return for kindness and help given,

Staying the course, even when life pulls them apart.

__________

Frequently caring criticisms are given and received truthfully,

Rewarding friendships like this are rare and hard to find in life.

Inspiring each other to be honest in their relationship,

Efficiently picking up from where they were when they last met.

Neatly dovetailing one's strength with the other's weakness,

Devoting themselves to each other's best interest.

Sticking closer than a brother.

__________

9/10/00

William C. Fordham

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A Poem About Listening

LISTEN

Listening is hard work; it does not come easy.

Initial reactions may change as you hear.

Searching to comprehend what is said,

Time is not of the utmost importance.

Empathy is a necessary ingredient.

Never assume you know the story.

__________

Learning how to listen is a slow process.

Intent in hearing with both your ears and spirit,

Sorry when becoming distracted.

Teaching by example,

Earnestly seeking to understand,

Noticing your friends countenance.

__________

Leveling your differences brings about common ground,

Inviting a free exchange of thoughts.

Sending an appreciative message,

Thankful for the relationship,

Earns the opportunity to receive.

Nothing can be more important!

__________

Letting your thoughts stay behind,

Interested in what your friend has to say,

Saving your own comments for later.

Trying always to empower with your whole heart,

Engaging each other with caring eye contact.

Now is the time to really give attention!

__________

Leaving with a sense of understanding,

Inspires others to share their burdens.

Seeing the situation through another's eyes,

Taking care with sincerity to identify.

Easing into comprehension is a state of mind.

No one else can take your place.

__________

Listen to the still small voice of God.

Inside your heart you will know He speaks.

Sense the power of the His Holy Spirit.

Take Him into your mind by reading His Word,

Enter into His presence through prayer, in faith.

Needs covered by His grace and mercy will be received!

William C. Fordham

9-03-01

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A Poem About Staying Focused

STAYING FOCUSED

 

Surely life is a process of thoughts and decisions.

Trying to do our best is always appropriate.

All attempts to succeed must be directed by a purpose.

Yielding our spirit to the Holy Spirit is paramount,

In order to have Peace and Contentment!

No one else can make our decisions for us.

Goals are conscious choices we all make.

__________

Focusing on Glorifying the Lord Adonai should be our goal.

Only and always trusting in the Lord God to provide.

Choosing to be a Blessing and Help rather than being a pain.

Understanding that selfishness is a downward spiral.

Serving with a sense of Anticipation and Excitement.

Enjoying opportunities with Happiness and Thanksgiving.

Devoted to living with Humility, Justice, and Mercy as our guide.

 

William C. Fordham

10-21-02

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Exalting the Name Of God

EXALTING THE NAME OF GOD

Holy God, Sovereign Lord, exalting your Infinite Holy Name,

With the simple words of a finite man,

Is like a person without the sense of feeling,

Desperately trying to describe the wind at hand.

Your Holy Word, the Bible, has used many different words,

To describe your Unchanging Self.

Each special word You have chosen,

Enlightens mankind about Your Eternal Character, Being and Wealth.

Elohim in Genesis 1:1 is the first word You have used,

To describe Your Awesome Being.

You are the Mighty Creator, Unending in Power, Strong and Sovereign,

With Oneness of the Godhead yet a Trinity, three in One, without End or Beginning.

El Elyon also describes Your attributes,

And Your absolute Powerful Being.

You are the God Most High, Full of Sovereignty and Supremacy.

There is no other God in Heaven or Earth besides Thee.

El Olam is another word,

That tells of Your Everlasting Existence and Faithfulness.

You, Oh God, are Eternal, Unchanging and Inexhaustible.

You are the same, Yesterday, Today, and Forever, totally Immutable.

El Shaddai speaks of You as being Almighty God.

You are Omnipotent and All-Powerful.

You, Oh God, are Omnipresent and Omniscient,

Worthy to be our Judge and are All Sufficient.

Adonai communicates to mankind,

That You are our Lord, Master, Owner, and Ruler.

You are our Provider and have Sovereign Authority over us,

You have the right of our Unrestricted Obedience to You, in heart and mind.

Yahweh means To Be and To Exist.

Oh God, You are Independent and Self-Existent.

You are Personal and Ongoing, Progressively Revealing Your Character to us.

Compassion, Goodness, Graciousness and Love are part of Your Everlasting Covenant.

Jehovah likewise speaks of Your Eternal, Changeless, and Personal Faithful Self.

You are the great "I AM THAT I AM" of the entire Bible, To Be is ongoing!

You are our Creator, Lord, Personal Redeemer, and Savior.

Faith in Your Finished Work of the Cross, through Your Son Jesus, provides us with Eternal Hope.

Father is an endearing term that assures us of Your Loving Care.

Discipline, Forgiveness, Promises, and Provisions are part of Your being our Heavenly Father.

We address You as our Heavenly Father when we come to You boldly in prayer, praising You and seeking Grace.

For You alone, Oh Lord, are worthy of our praise and worship, Almighty God, Creator, Lord, and Savior.

William C. Fordham

8-11-02

 

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Wonders From Psalms 139

The Wonders Of Psalms 139

"O Lord,

You have searched me and known me.

You know my sitting down and my rising up;

You understand my thought from afar off." Verse 1&2

Just think about it! There is not a thought that we have ever generated or one that we will ever generate but that God wasn’t aware of it ahead of time. Every thought includes not only the good ones, but the evil ones as well. Every thought also includes every decision we make, the wise ones and the ones that aren’t so wise. Isn’t it silly of us to think about something while we are praying to God, but decide not to share it with Him, because we feel embarrassed about it being so trite or trivial?

The fact that God created us with the capacity and freedom to have thoughts is in itself a great revelation about us, and God, and how He created us with a free will. He could have made us without the capacity to think. We could have been pre-programmed to serve Him and obey Him and follow Him perfectly for all of eternity. If God had done that, would there have been sin on the earth? Would there have been love in the earth if we didn’t have the power to think and to choose? Could we even experience love if we did not have the capacity to think?

Every part of ourselves He knows and understands, even when we don’t know or understand ourselves. How many times do we seek help from someone or something, in the search to satisfy our yearning for better awareness of ourselves? Some of us spend our whole lives trying to find ourselves, and yet, God already knows all about us. How much energy and time do we spend in asking God for understanding of ourselves?

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"You comprehend my path and my lying down,

And are acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word on my tongue,

But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether." Verse 3&4

Likewise as with our thoughts, God knows our every step, the paths we will choose to follow, the steps we will take each day. The steps that lead to righteousness, and the steps that lead to destruction. He knows our rising up and lying down, when and where it will be each day of our lives. Even more inspiring and confronting, is the declaration that God knows every word that we have ever said or have yet to say before we die. It’s good that God is infinite, because some of us never seem to run out of words!

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"You have hedged me behind and before,

And laid Your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

It is high, I cannot attain it." Verse 5&6

Those who choose to follow a path that leads toward God have His promise that He will surround us as with a hedge, both before and aft, and that His hand will be upon us. That doesn’t automatically mean that we will never have tragedy, trials, or troubles in life, it means that God will be surrounding us as we experience life with all its trials. Even Jesus, God’s only Son, faced a life of tragedy, trials, and troubles, yet without sin. God’s own people, the Israelites directly, and the rest of us indirectly through our sins, killed him.

The knowledge of God’s presence surrounding us when we can’t see Him or touch Him is very deep. The Psalmist said, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, it is high, I can not attain it." It is a life long journey. Sometimes, the more thought and energy we exert contemplating about something, the less clear it becomes. There are times when faith is a must and the only answer!

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"Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

If I ascend into heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there." Verse 7&8

This verse substantiates the Omnipresence of God, as He is everywhere. Not one of us, the righteous or the unrighteous can escape from God’s presence. We may not choose to abide with Him, but that does not preclude His being present. God is like the air we breathe, clean air anyway, we can’t see it but it is there. As soon as it’s gone, we die! It wasn’t by accident that God breathed the "breath of life" into Adam’s nostrils before he became a living being.

So, as we make our journey in life, whether our own selfish thoughts and desires lead us or whether we allow God through His Holy Spirit to guide us, He is always present, in our midst. He doesn’t force Himself upon us, but rather, He allows us to make the choices. The downside, however, to our freedom, is that God’s Laws of Creation and Physics are always at work. His continuous presence likewise invokes these "natural" laws, and as some of us would say, "For every action there is a reaction". Therefore, unwise decisions bring about unpleasant consequences, even when God is present.

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"If I take wings in the morning,

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

Even there Your hand shall lead me,

And Your right hand shall hold me." Verse 9&10

I can’t speak for David the Psalmist when he wrote these verses, but if he was like me, he felt that the sea is a most foreboding place, one of mystery, one of very deep and vast uttermost parts. The Lord said through David, wherever, even in the uttermost parts of His creation we could find ourselves, that He would lead us and that He would hold us with His right hand.

So let us assume the "uttermost parts of the sea" is both figurative and literal. Imagine the uttermost part of your mind where all of your worst fears reside. Can the Lord be there holding your hand and guiding you? Yes, He can and will be. The challenge remains, will we let him lead us, or will we choose not to follow His lead? Even while His right hand is holding us, we may choose to relax in its comfort, or we can fight it and reject His hand. He gives us a choice.

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"If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall fall on me,’

Even the night shall be light about me;

Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,

The darkness and the light are both alike to You." Verse 11&12

Sometimes when we realize our foolishness and our sins, we want to hide from God. The cover of darkness sometimes allows mankind to be undetected when doing wrong. In the light of God’s Word through the Psalmist, it doesn’t matter whether it is day or night. The darkness and the light, they are both the same to God.

God was the originator of "night vision" capabilities. I wonder how many times we deceive ourselves into thinking there is a difference before the Lord? The more time we spend reflecting on this Psalm and all that it says, the more we can find ourselves acting like a self-correcting guided missile. As soon as we become aware of an erroneous thought, if we share it with God, we can seek to get back on course. I marvel and rejoice that, even though God knew our erroneous thoughts before we think them, He allows us to have them anyway; but then, He enables us to address the situation with Him and to correct it. Thanks are to be unto God for His Forgiveness, Grace, Love and Mercy!

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"For You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother’s womb.

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows quite well." Verse 13&14

These two verses and the next two are possibly the most profound in all of Scripture, at least for me. Someone could probably write a book on all of the meanings and ramifications of these verses. I am not a scholar in the Hebrew or Greek used in the original texts, so I only know what I know from my own language and thoughts. That in itself is enough to cause me a lifetime of marvelous wonderment and praise.

Pause and think about these verses. The inward most intimate parts of our being God formed when we were in our mother’s womb. That includes our entire specific genetic DNA that we inherited from our ancestors. It also includes each unique part of our personality that makes us different from each other; not only in our DNA and physical appearance, but also in how we function and relate to circumstances, life, and others. Likewise, it includes our God-Consciousness that we are all born with, and to what degree we will activate it as we live our life.

Just the wonderment of our bodies and how we are woven together to work is astonishing. Phillip Yancey wrote a splendid book about this titled "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made", that I highly recommend to all.

____________________

"My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them." Verse 15&16

This is the section of Psalms 139 that really blows my mind. I would like to think I have a better understanding of it after studying and contemplating on it for years. The truth is, I’m not sure that mankind or I will ever be able to fully understand the mind of God and all that He means while we are here on earth.

It says, that our body, frame, and substance were not hidden from God while we were made in secret. There certainly are no surprises for God when we are born and grow up. It says that we were skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. I’m not sure what that means, except to be wrought is to be made, fashioned or formed. God says that we were skillfully wrought, not sloppily any old way, but skillfully. It gives me pause to reflect on my body and the things I don’t always like about it. Did God get lazy or sloppy when He made me, or am I, the clay, critical of the potter?

Now for the really fascinating part! God says that His eyes saw our unformed substance and yet, before we had experienced even one day of life, that God knew and had fashioned all the days of our lives before we had known any of them, including today. Whether we live for 1 day or 365,250 days (100 years), today is the day the Lord has made, and God already knows about today. He knew about today before we woke up this morning and he knew about today before we were born. This is absolutely mind-boggling!

So, how do we assimilate our knowledge of God’s knowing about today before today comes? How does our awareness of God’s knowledge of our life today alter or change how we approach life today, with all of its blessings, challenges, opportunities, and problems? The choice is ours to make. We can fight it or enjoy it.

I can’t answer for you, but as for me, the awareness of Psalms 139:16 impacts my life as never before. I find myself spending more time during my day consulting with God through prayer about everything. What I should think, what I should do, how I should react to a given situation, how I should respond to a challenge, how I should proceed with my plans and goals for today and my life, how I can be a blessing to others, even about how I should relate to God Himself. The list is endless, but the bottom line is this: I have more hope for today than ever before! I think this verse is the OT basis for Romans 8:28.

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"How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God,

How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;

When I awake, I am still with You." Verse 17&18

These verses seem to imply that God has thoughts about us and thoughts that are directed toward us. They are so numerous, in fact that they can’t be numbered. What a blessing it is to lie down and go to sleep with God in our thoughts, knowing that we are in His thoughts too, and when we awake, we are still with Him. This interpretation may not correspond with the original text, I don’t know, but it certainly is possible. Why wouldn’t God have thoughts about His created beings, ones that were created in His own image?

____________________

"Search me O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting." Verse 23&24

Wait a minute, where did this come from? The Psalmist said for God to search him and to know his heart, to try him and to know his anxieties? Why did the Psalmist have anxieties? After all of the wonderful verses of encouragement in the previous 16 verses, why did the Psalmist talk about his anxieties? The Psalmist said, "see if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting". Were his anxieties wicked?

Maybe the Psalmist knew he was human. Maybe he knew that, we the readers in later generations would be human. In our human condition, we, in fact, are filled with anxieties as we experience life. In spite of God’s knowing us and having us in His thoughts, there is wickedness within us because we are human, and we have all sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. Anxieties are a consequence of life here on this earth. They are a reality that can’t be denied, no matter who we are.

So now what? We have the power to choose. We may choose to allow God to lead us in the way of life everlasting, or we may choose to do it on our own, God’s knowledge of our thoughts and decisions does not prevent us from choosing. We are free to choose to follow the Lord, or we are free to reject His ways and go own ways. The choice is ours.

I hope that all of you who read these thoughts will be blessed, and have the courage and presence of mind to seek God’s forgiveness of sins, through faith in Jesus shed blood by His death on the cross for our sins, and choose to walk in fellowship with God. If you choose to think differently about these things, I still hope you will be blessed by these words, and not be offended, for it is not my desire to offend anyone.

The choice is yours. It is a life-long journey, one that is never too late to start. As long as we are still alive in the flesh, we may choose to begin the journey.

Blessings With Thoughts of Wonder,

William C. Fordham

24704 2200 E ST

Ohio, IL 61349

http://www.cs-grainmarketconsulting.com

wilmar@theramp.net

815-376-6101

3-21-02

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Understanding God's Gift Of Hope

 

Understanding God’s Gift Of Hope

To All In Need Of Hope:

No matter who we are, or what we have done in and with our life, as long as we are still alive in the flesh, we have HOPE! The key to Hope understands what that Hope is based on. I believe that God, and His Faithfulness, Forgiveness, Grace, Love, Mercy, Presence (Spirit) and Son are all bases for our Hope.

Some of the basics of the Christian faith, but not all, are listed here in brief form.

1. God knows us intimately, even while we were being formed in our mother’s womb, including each day of our life before we live it (Psalms 139:13-16).
2. God has not dealt with us according to our iniquities (Psalms 103:10).
3. We have all sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:23).
4. The wages of sin is death but the Gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).
5. Salvation is given to us as an act of Grace on God’s part through Faith on our part. We cannot earn it (Ephesians 2:8-9).
6. God has promised to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (iniquities) if we will confess them to God and ask Him for forgiveness. (I John 1:9)
7. Jesus, as God’s Son, became the perfect atonement for our sins (sacrifice) as we place our faith in his death and resurrection from the dead (Romans 5:1-11).
8. Forgiveness is fundamental to the Faith! Without faith in God’s ability and willingness to forgive us, we can never understand how to forgive others or ourselves (Luke 6:37, Colossians 1:14).
9. God provides us with reconciliation to Himself, to ourselves and to others, while giving us the privilege and power to boldly come before Him through prayer (II Corinthians 5:17-19, Hebrews 2:17-18, Hebrews 4:18-19).
10. God is pleased when our hope is in Him, when we act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him (Psalms 147:11, Micah 6:8).

It does not matter what we have done in our lives, God is waiting for us to come to Him (Matthew 11:28-30). We may always seek the Lord’s forgiveness and ask Him to create in us a clean heart and to restore to us the joy of God's salvation (Psalms 51:10-12). In Psalms 51, David talks about his iniquity. He acknowledges it, and how God was able to renew his spirit, and create in him a clean heart (Psalms 51:10). When we consider that David committed murder and adultery for Bathsheba, we can know that God can forgive us of any sin. God said that David "was a man after His own heart" (I Samuel 13:14), and yet God knew about the sins David would be committing later on in his life with Bathsheba…OH WHAT HOPE WE CAN ALL HAVE IN GOD!

The challenge in life is to learn to trust in the Lord. We can not trust in ourselves, nor in our parents, nor in others, but in God, our Creator. God can and will use others in our lives, but our focus and trust must be on Him, not on them. We, all of us, must trust fresh and new each and every day, The faith we had, and the Grace God gave us yesterday, will not take care of us today or tomorrow. We need to start fresh in faith each morning.

The greatest hope, the joy and the strength of the Christian faith is one of forgiveness and renewal. It does not matter who or where we came from, or what sins we have committed, the Bible says in I John 1:9 that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Part of receiving God’s Grace and Forgiveness is for us to be able to forgive ourselves as well as others.

If God made us, and if He knows us intimately, then when He promised to forgive us of our sins, He surely intended for us to forgive ourselves so that we could start all over new again. Part of knowing us means He knows how many times we are going to fail and fall back before we succeed in trusting in Him and are able to walk with Him on a moment-by-moment basis, one day at a time.

As long as we have physical life within us, God is providing us the opportunity to "start over" and to "get it right". To God be the Glory. Hope in God! (Psalms 42:5). "He takes pleasure on those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy" (Psalms 147:11). "Be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart, all you that hope in the Lord" (Psalms 31:24).

With Hope Today And Forever,

William C. Fordham

3/01/01

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Being A Delight To God And Bringing Him Pleasure

Being A Delight To God And Bringing Him Pleasure

Have you ever wondered about what it is that delights God? Delight means great pleasure, gratification or joy, something that gives great pleasure or enjoyment. Have you ever considered what it is that gives God pleasure? Pleasure means an enjoyable sensation or emotion, satisfaction or delight; a source of enjoyment, or gratification.

Believe it or not, there are several passages in the Bible that speak directly about these two very closely related topics.

From time-to-time, I have noticed many of these verses as I have been doing my Bible reading, especially in the Psalms. Sometimes I find myself thinking about this and I marvel that God has told us, as sinful man, what He delights and takes pleasure in, even in spite of our sinful nature. Just the fact that God has told us what He takes pleasure in provides us with hope. If it were impossible for us to ever be a delight to God, who created us in His own image, we certainly would be without hope. Thank you God, for sharing your insights with us.

In an attempt to study this area further, I cross-referenced every verse in the Bible using my KJV Computer Bible, looking for the word delight and pleasure, along with all of their associated synonyms. Following is a review of what I found, in the order they are shown in the Bible. My thoughts about the words used and what they are communicating are limited to my understanding of the English language. I do not have the ability to discuss the meaning of the original Greek or Hebrew language. All scripture is quoted from the NKJV of the Bible.

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"I know also, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness.

As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things;

and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to you."

I Chronicles 29:17

God takes pleasure in uprightness of heart. David was speaking here as he and the people were preparing to build the temple for God. What does it mean for us to possess uprightness of heart? The dictionary defines "uprightness" as being morally honorable, morally honest, respectable and to be righteous. To be upright is to act righteously.

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"…Let the Lord be magnified, Who takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."

Psalm 35:27

God takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant. Wow! Does this say that God takes pleasure in our being rich in money or material things if we are His servants? Well…maybe it could include that…but not exactly! To enjoy prosperity means to thrive, to be successful, to flourish (to grow well). To be prosperous may include being financially successful, but it is not necessarily limited to only material things. In fact, there are many ways to be prosperous, other than money. Ways like an appreciation of life, contentment, emotional wholeness, happiness, health, love, joy, peace of mind, a sense of well being, spiritual sensitivity, an understanding of ourselves, etc. Possessing the qualities of life that all people seek but aren’t able to purchase with their money has more to do with prosperity and being prosperous than having all the money in the world and nothing else.

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"For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;

You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,

A broken and a contrite heart - These, O God, You will not despise."

Psalm 51:16-17

God delights in a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart. Here we are told in reverse form what delights God. What are the sacrifices of a broken spirit? What is a broken and contrite heart? To be contrite is to have a humble repentant spirit for our sins, with a sincere desire to amend them, arising from pure love of God. What a joy it is that I John 1:9 specifically tells us that if we confess our sins to God that He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. A joyous fact is that there are no limits placed upon us by God in using I John 1:9. As long as we remain alive in the flesh, this verse applies to all that are contrite (repentant) and believe.

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"I will praise the name of God with a song,

And magnify Him with thanksgiving.

This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bull."

Psalm 69:30-31

God takes pleasure when we praise Him in songs and when we glorify Him with our thanksgiving. To please is to give enjoyment, pleasure or satisfaction to. Therefore, any verse that tells us what pleases God may be included with those that speak of giving Him pleasure or delight. God enjoys it when we sing praise to Him in songs. He is also pleased when we express our praise and gratitude to Him for His greatness.

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"The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him,

In those who hope in His mercy."

Psalm 147:10

The Lord takes pleasure with those who fear Him! The Lord takes pleasure in those who hope in His mercy! Is this verse a dichotomy? If we hope in God’s mercy, what have we to fear? If God is to be feared, how can we hope in Him for mercy? At first thought, on the surface anyway, this seems to be a confusing paradox.

To fear God means to have Extreme Reverence for Him and to hold Him in Supreme Awe. When God shows us His grace and mercy, He is being benevolent to us in providing us with His gratuitous compassion and forbearance, for we are under His Power and Sovereignty. Our very being and existence is subject to His Grace and Mercy. Therein lies the answer to the surface tension between fear and mercy.

Since we did not create ourselves, but are in fact a product of God’s creation, we are, by nature of our entity, within and subject to His authority and control. Therefore, He is to be held in supreme reverence and awe, for we are alive by His grace and mercy! Romans 9:15 says that God will have mercy on whomever He will have mercy, and He will have compassion on whomever He will have compassion. God is the Sovereignty and as Creator has the Power, we do not. The best we can do is to acknowledge that Sovereignty, by fearing Him. At the same time we can hope in His mercy to care for us. It’s a balanced scale, fear balances mercy, and mercy balances fear, for God is both Merciful and Sovereign. Therein lies a secret to contentment and peace, and in the process, we are a delight and a pleasure to God. Everybody wins, both God as Sovereign, and we as His c