“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24
Lord, let me give You a honeycomb of praise, in thanks for Your great love and care.
And may my words carry sweetness to those who feel “low,” so they can get up from there.
Acts of service done for others, in Your Name, are honeycombs that “speak” stronger than a shout;
But if friends don’t happen to send a honeycomb for my day, Your Word always gives honeycombs throughout.
P. A. Oltrogge
“How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.” Psalm 119:103-104 NKJV
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” 1 Chronicles 16:34 RSV
“I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples, And I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your mercy is great above the heavens, And Your truth reaches to the clouds.” Psalm 108:3-4 NKJV
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:21-23 RSV
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 NASB
“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:3 NASB
“Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility, count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4 RSV
“But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love foroneanother, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’” 1 Peter 4:8 NKJV
“A word fitly spoken and in due season is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” Proverbs 25:11 AMP
Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! …from Psalm 107
Psalm 23; Psalm 91; Psalm 119:105 Luke 12:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7
Cleanse me of worry, oh Lord. I lay my concerns at Your feet, for it’s only in letting You solve them that these problems will meet their defeat.
When worrisome thoughts do come around, I’ll trust You to help me to stand my ground. Worry can only cause hurt in a life– It can touch others, as well, and even cause strife. For worry is a poison to resist and forsake– Instead, from God’s goodness and mercy I’ll take.
So thank You for cleansing me of worry, reminding me to turn up the PRAISE, for You are a God of deliverance and peace, and it’s only Your banner I’ll raise!
P. A. Oltrogge
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NASB
“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation. God is to us a God of deliverances; and to God the Lord belong escapes from death.” Psalm 68:19, 20 NASB
“Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity, for they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:1-4 NKJV (and the entire Psalm)
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6 KJV
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 KJV
“All My Life You Have Been Faithful,” an encouraging message by Pastor George Pearsons, is available at http://www.emic.org where you can view the entire service from yesterday, or scroll in to 50:00 just for the message.
“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep,through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” Hebrews 13:20-21
My Son watches over your life as the great Shepherd of the sheep. He is with you always, as He is with all of His lambs, even as they sleep.
Some men trust in military might, but I’m the One of whom to boast. I AM the God of the entire universe and am the LORD of hosts.
“I give my angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” “No plague shall come near your dwelling”–trust this throughout your days.
I hold all things together in your life by the Word of my great power…. The name of the Lord is, to you, your strong and dependable tower.
Jesus’ blood cleanses of all sins, and there’s healing through His blood. That which seems to be failing, by My resurrection power, can bud.
God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit–we are three yet one. “In God we Trust” are words to remember as the Christian race is run.
P. A. Oltrogge
“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds, who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Hebrews 1:1-4
“…’Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.” Zechariah 4:5-7
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10
“Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright.” Psalm 20:6-8
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” John 10:11
“…how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Acts 10:38
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2
“…knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1:18-19
“And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.” Romans 8:11 AMP
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:19-20
…and the third paragraph of the above poem references Psalm 91
“Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:1-5
“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.” Jeremiah 17:14
“…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:24-25
…I join others in praying that all people disturbed by, or participating in, conflicts in any area of the world will find the reason for living…through Jesus, our Savior and Lord; but today I write this on behalf of the mothers of Ukraine….those who had to flee and those who are yet there. Mothers can be like angels on this earth, yet they need real angelic help themselves and do pray for it, too.
In order to protect their innocent and beloved children, many Ukrainian mothers left the comfort of hearth and home. And most had to leave there hurriedly, not knowing how far, or for how long, they would roam.
We’ve all seen the heart-wrenching pictures of young children in travel, carrying their favorite toys. Husbands, fathers, sons, and older brothers were left behind, while mothers left in order to preserve their precious girls and boys.
On this Mother’s Day, we lift them all up in prayer… to you, God, for help–You fashioned “a mother’s heart.” Give them special peace as they serve their families now; we pray that the war, from their homeland, will rapidly depart.
Of course, we pray, as well, for the many men in the fight, who’ve displayed love of their country and have been so bold. Certainly their families are prominent daily in their thoughts… Let’s believe that accounts of angelic protection, over many lives, will be told.
P. A. Oltrogge
Psalm 91:
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most high will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”
For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper, and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.
You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day;
Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.
A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not approach you.
You will only look on with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked.
For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place.
No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent.
For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.
They will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down,
Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him, and honor him.
With a long life I will satisfy him, and let him behold My salvation.
“A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.” John 16:21
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10… and “Thou shalt not kill.” Exodus 20:13
The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy–
those who the Master designed to bring joy.
Over 63 million abortions since Roe v Wade–
all have gone against what God forbade.
Life, sweet life, was changed, instead, to death
in defiance of the Creator, who gives us breath.
Through prayer, some children escaped that fate,
by a mother’s change of heart before it was too late.
May those who continue to promote pro-choice
think of their own births, which gave them a voice.
They can be glad their mothers saw things through
to give to them the life that their Creator said was due.
“I am the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys.” Song of Solomon 2:1
“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.” Luke 12:27
The variety of flowers God created are such a feast for our eyes– And, besides their beauty, most have a pleasing fragrance that will arise.
No wonder Jesus said that we should consider the lilies of the field– Their essence is a tribute to His Father’s care to which they yield.
Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross arose, as a pleasing fragrance, to the Father’s throne– An aroma so pleasing that Christ now, as the rose of Sharon, is known.
Yes, like a rose, that was crushed and associated with thorns upon His head, Jesus paid for our redemption through scourges and His sacred veins that bled.
All who are in Christ give sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him, as well, To remind those who are saved of heaven, and to warn those unaware of hell.
So consider how the lilies are clothed, and therefore put on the Lord Jesus Christ, For His sacrifice on your behalf is the one that the Bible says sufficed.
P. A. Oltrogge
“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” Romans 13:14
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” Ephesians 5:1-2
“But thanks be to God, Who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?” 2 Corinthians 2:14-16
“You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And they also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. God raised Him up on the third day, and granted that He should become visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us, who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” Acts 10:38-43
Though it meant for Him His darkest hour, Jesus trusted His Father’s redemptive plan and power.
By His death and resurrection, much new birth would flower… We’re blessed because of His suffering–He took, for us, of the sour.
God “sowed a seed” through the gift of Jesus, His beloved Son; and, for those who’ve called Him Savior and Lord, their new life has begun.
Jesus laid down His life for God’s harvest–that many souls would live. No one took Jesus’ life from Him, but it was His life, that He was willing to give.
He had power to take it again. He is risen, indeed… For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross–from judgment, we’ve been freed!
P. A. Oltrogge
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlastinglife, and shall not come into judgment, but has passedfromdeathintolife.” John 5:24
“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “Iamthelightoftheworld. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have thelightoflife.” John 8:12
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Jesus’ words in John 3:16
“He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will but as You will.” Jesus’ words in Matthew 26:39
“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” Jesus’ words in John 10:17-18
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36
“For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light, we see light.” Psalm 36:9
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:2
“But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.” Hebrews 8:6 NLT
“The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—” Acts 10:36
“Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11
“If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” John 14:15-17 KJV
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” Ephesians 5:1-2
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?'” John 11:25-26
On Good Friday evening, I went to a showing of the movie of 2004– “The Passion of the Christ,” which depicts the suffering that Jesus bore.
I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to watch the movie again, for it is brutal; but it clearly shows that relying on good works to save our souls is futile.
For our holy God so loved the world, that He gave to all of us reprieve, by sending His Son to take our punishment–now all we need to do is believe.
And when we realize all that Jesus did–the love of His Father in Him reflected– “Oh, come let us adore Him,” for He is to be loved, honored, and respected.
Thankfully, God’s Holy Spirit is still mightily at work upon the earth, drawing people to repent and see their need…to enter into the “new birth.”
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation,” is a GIFT to all, that’s free… Jesus bought this blessed gift for us, as described in Isaiah, chapter 53.
“Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way, And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
Isaiah 53:4-6
“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” John 3:3
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.’” 2 Corinthians 5:17
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:21-26
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2
“Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’
“Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, ‘This Man is calling for Elijah!’ Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.
“The rest said, ‘Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.’
“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
“Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
“So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!'”
Matthew 27:45-54 NKJV
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:23 KJV
Jesus felt the severity of being forsaken by God, expressing that on the cross.
His suffering there, He endured for us, so we would never have to experience that loss.
The loss of closeness He’d always felt to His Father had, momentarily, left Him shaken.
Yet He said, “It is finished,” knowing it was the Father’s plan that He had surely undertaken.
From His birth, He was called Emmanuel, “God With Us,”–being what it has meant.
We, as believers, will never be forsaken because of the Son, whom God has sent.
Emmanuel, God with us… You see, we are not alone. Emmanuel, God with us… Through the birth of a Child, God’s presence was shown. He wouldn’t leave us without knowledge of His love, But made Himself known, coming down from above. Emmanuel, God with us… From God, the Father, came a Baby so mild. Emmanuel, God with us… God’s Son was embodied in a holy Child. Born of a virgin, the handmaiden of the Lord— From His life, the goodness of God would be poured. After humble beginnings in a manger stall, His name would become great—He would die for all, So that any individual living on this earth Could personally know their God of great worth. Emmanuel, God with us… It’s the greatest name known. Emmanuel, God with us in Jesus, And now we need never be alone!
P. A. Oltrogge
“Jesus shouted to the crowds, ‘If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know His commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells Me to say.’” John 12:44-50 NLT
“…For He Himself has said, “Iwill neverleaveyou nor forsakeyou.“ Hebrews 13:5 NKJV
In troubled times, when things look bad, we may be tempted to lose faith in God’s nearness and grace; (“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10) but we always know that God is good and is with us–being forsaken is never the case. So we continue to pray, serve, and persevere. He lives in us and is always here….
Praise the Lord!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory…” Colossians 1:27 KJV
“When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place for Jesus often met there with His disciples. Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, ‘Whom are you seeking?’ They answered Him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I am He.’ And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, ‘I am He,’ they drew back and fell to the ground.” John 18:1-6
On the night of His betrayal, Jesus permitted Himself to be found. In the presence of the great I AM, the “pursuing” soldiers fell to the ground.
After they revived, He let them lead Him to that for which He’d been born. Willing to do His Father’s will, He yielded to undeserved scorn.
Whippings, mocking, thorns, and then being nailed to Calvary’s cross— All of this He endured as a Shepherd, so that sheep need not be lost.
P. A. Oltrogge
“…for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” John 10:11
“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” John 10:17-18
“…We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” Psalm 100:3
The Porch of the Lord 