Be Prepared

Years ago I read an amazing book at least to this comic book fan anyway called the Death and Life of Superman.  towards the end Superman was getting ready for a big fight with Mongul and he held up two guns and ammo because his powers were very weak.  He said "Be prepared boy scouts motto."  I want to introduce you to a guy named John because he knew a thing or two about preparation.  quite a few years back my dad took a speech course in Florida and my dad said "Fixing to."  The speech teacher corrected him and said "What Ed meant was preparing to."  So depending on where you're from John might have been fixing or preparing.  Matthew 3:1-3 "In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean Wilderness and began preaching.  His message was, `Repent of your sins and turn to God for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.'  The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, `He is a voice shouting in the wilderness.  Prepare the way for the Lord's coming!  Clear the road for Him!'"  If you're a Christian God has you and me in place for a reason.  Ephesians 2:10  "For we are God's masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."  God created us to make a difference.  A few years ago God gave me a desire to write.  At first it was fictional stories then the Batcave blog Bible study went online.  Recently my friend David was telling me that the blog wouldn't work with someone else.  Because he said I put a lot of myself into it, my experiences, the things I read, watch but ultimately it comes back to God and his word.  For a time I had a desire to be a Christian ?Counselor for teens.  Here I am at age 40 I write online Bible studies for adults and 1 teen.  Two weeks ago Marion and I went to a worship night at Real Life and Jimmy got up and talked about needing help with more adults to work with the youth.  In high school and part of college I worked with the youth at White Creek Baptist and First Baptist Beeville I was even a counselor at Camp Zephyr.  Marion and I individually heard Jimmy ask for help and one day while driving down Staples I told her I was thinking about helping.  My wife told me she had been thinking about it too.  I don't know how we can help or what we can do but we can show up on Wednesday nights and spend time with the youth.  God knew what he was doing introducing me to Marion and if you have heard our story it was brought about by God telling two ladies to introduce us.  He knew what he was doing introducing me to Jimmy because Marion and I became part of his testimony.  God knew what he was doing giving me a desire to work with youth, and to write.  He gave me parents who raised me in the most godly manner they could.  (I'm a preacher's kid.)  He put Pastor Greg, Chris Godoy and David Hill in my life to encourage me.  God put John the Baptist in people's way to prepare the way for Jesus.  He has you in people's lives to prepare them for Him to work on their hearts.  

  "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them."  Romans 8:28

  "So let's not get tired of doing what is good.  At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.  Therefore whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone--especially to those in the family of faith."  Galatians 6:9-10  

  "Preach the word of God, be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not.  Patiently correct, rebuke and encourage your people with good teaching."  2 Timothy 4:2

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Normally when I post a blog it's brief and to the point.  Between Friday and Saturday night I was reading in Psalms and Isaiah and as humans we often get this very small view of the God we as Christians serve and sing praise to.  And at times we need to step back and take that mental box we've attempted to fit God into and just take C4 to the walls of the box and get a bigger picture.  What I'm about to post is two chapters and a portion of one and I long for you to allow me to be a little lengthy in order for you to read what I did.  

Psalm 146

1Praise the LORD!

Let all that I am praise the LORD.

2I will praise the LORD as long as I live.

I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.

3Don’t put your confidence in powerful people;

there is no help for you there.

4When they breathe their last, they return to the earth,

and all their plans die with them.

5But joyful are those who have the God of Israel^a as their helper,

whose hope is in the LORD their God.

6He made heaven and earth,

the sea, and everything in them.

He keeps every promise forever.

7He gives justice to the oppressed

and food to the hungry.

The LORD frees the prisoners.

8The LORD opens the eyes of the blind.

The LORD lifts up those who are weighed down.

The LORD loves the godly.

9The LORD protects the foreigners among us.

He cares for the orphans and widows,

but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.

10The LORD will reign forever.

He will be your God, O Jerusalem,^b throughout the generations.

Praise the LORD!

Psalm 147

1Praise the LORD!

How good to sing praises to our God!

How delightful and how fitting!

2The LORD is rebuilding Jerusalem

and bringing the exiles back to Israel.

3He heals the brokenhearted

and bandages their wounds.

4He counts the stars

and calls them all by name.

5How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!

His understanding is beyond comprehension!

6The LORD supports the humble,

but he brings the wicked down into the dust.

7Sing out your thanks to the LORD;

sing praises to our God with a harp.

8He covers the heavens with clouds,

provides rain for the earth,

and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures.

9He gives food to the wild animals

and feeds the young ravens when they cry.

10He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse

or in human might.

11No, the LORD’s delight is in those who fear him,

those who put their hope in his unfailing love.

12Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem!

Praise your God, O Zion!

13For he has strengthened the bars of your gates

and blessed your children within your walls.

14He sends peace across your nation

and satisfies your hunger with the finest wheat.

15He sends his orders to the world—

how swiftly his word flies!

16He sends the snow like white wool;

he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes.

17He hurls the hail like stones.^a

Who can stand against his freezing cold?

18Then, at his command, it all melts.

He sends his winds, and the ice thaws.

19He has revealed his words to Jacob,

his decrees and regulations to Israel.

20He has not done this for any other nation;

they do not know his regulations.

Praise the LORD!

Isaiah 43:1-7  

1But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you.

O Israel, the one who formed you says,

“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.

I have called you by name; you are mine.

2When you go through deep waters,

I will be with you.

When you go through rivers of difficulty,

you will not drown.

When you walk through the fire of oppression,

you will not be burned up;

the flames will not consume you.

3For I am the LORD, your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom;

I gave Ethiopia^a and Seba in your place.

4Others were given in exchange for you.

I traded their lives for yours

because you are precious to me.

You are honored, and I love you.

5“Do not be afraid, for I am with you.

I will gather you and your children from east and west.

6I will say to the north and south,

‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel

from the distant corners of the earth.

7Bring all who claim me as their God,

for I have made them for my glory.

It was I who created them.’” 

This past Sunday at Real Life Corpus Marion and I were introduced to this song and I simply can't get enough of singing it.  

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