Pastor’s Blog 12.5.18

Well, today, Kyong and I celebrate our 38th anniversary! It is hard to believe how quickly time has come and gone. I remember as a young believer 35 years ago reading Psalms 128:

128:1 Blessings of Those Who Fear the LORD A Song of Ascents. Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways.

2 When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.

3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table.

4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the LORD.

5 The LORD bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your life.

6 Yes, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel! NKJV

Well, now I am the other side of “believing and receiving” and I join the witnesses who have made the hard choices in life and stayed the course of enduring relationships and I say with a thankful heart: “God’s word is true and His promises are sure.” We have weathered some storms that I wondered at the time what the outcome would be – and we came out victorious! Over and over for the last 36 years my Pastor has told me, “Don’t Quit.” That is easier said than done!

“Don’t quit on your first day, don’t quit on your worst day.”

Over and over, day after day, we have to choose to do it God’s way. That’s not always convenient or the easiest way but is the way that has the sure outcome. When we do what the word of God says consistently, we can expect the outcome that the Lord has promised.

Romans 2:5-11

5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:

7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;

8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness — indignation and wrath,

9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;

10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

11 For there is no partiality with God. NKJV

There are few shortcuts in life that do not involve penalties. Just as the Patriarchs of old set the examples of a lifetime of standing and believing God’s promises and receiving in the end, so we must follow their example.

Eccl 7:8

8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. NKJV

Until next week!