WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL BY REV. MARSTON (11-08-2009)

FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT

11/08/2009

by Rev. Marston

BLESS BE THE LORD!

If these scriptures don’t “git yer gizzard going”, then nothing will! Our GOD is mighty and wonderful and blessed and worthy to be praised. We should at all times have praises and blessings to our GOD on our lips. In bad times OR good times, we are to bless the Lord, praise the Lord, worship the Lord!

In today’s world, where people are selfish and complaining and whining because they don’t have a fancy car, or a flat screen TV, or the latest and greatest pair of shoes, we need to be reminded that “things” are just “things” and they too shall pass away – we can’t take anything with us folks, and if you can’t be happy with little, what makes you think God will bless you with much? My heart breaks when I read or hear in the news that someone killed themselves because they lost one of their million dollar homes or their big executive job. Things don’t make you who you are. What you have in your heart and soul, and your relationship with God makes you who you are. Sure everyone likes things, and we all need jobs, but do not make those “things” who you are. If you can’t be happy at the bottom, you won’t be happy at the top. The point is, be happy with what God gave you, no matter what it is. Set your goals, but be happy where you are now. God has a reason for everything, and sometimes He puts us in places that we have no idea why or what for. Trust in God, and He will reveal His purpose to you. Put your focus on God and who HE is and what HE has done for you, and you will be blessed, wherever you are and no matter what you are doing. Be a blessing to others, and you will be blessed.

I grew up with very little, and to most people, I was considered poor, but I didn’t even know I was poor until I grew up and got out in the world. I never thought I was poor. Our family was taught that love and God was all that really mattered, and we were happy. God provided all of our needs. We had a place to live, food to eat, clothes on our back, and we had a loving family. We truly loved each other. Sure, we had our problems, just like any family. But we stuck together through the tough times.

We didn’t have a TV in every room. We had one TV and it was an old black and white one. It wasn’t until I was in Junior High School that we got a color TV. Note, I said a “color” TV. We had only one and it did not have a remote. There were no VCRs, DVD players or satellite stations. We had about a handful of stations to watch, and we didn’t watch TV much. We played outside. We read books. We took walks and rode our bikes along old country roads. We did real chores and worked on our farm, digging and pulling vegetables. And, at night, I heard the cows and coyotes out my window. We didn’t have air conditioning at the farm, either. We had a box fan and an old water cooler that didn’t work very well.

We commuted back and forth from a small suburb home to our farm, in order to keep the family farm. It was hard commuting back and forth, but we did it to stay together. Dad needed to work 170 miles away in order to keep the family farm, because jobs were scarce. Plus, we had to work the farm. It was very tough, but we did it. And it was worth it. I learned how to “can” my own food, dig taters (that’s potatoes for you Yankees), and make a meal for a family of five out of a pot of beans.

We learned to be creative and make our own entertainment. My old used Barbies had a great time playing with my brother’s toy trucks. I made my own Barbie clothes out of scrap material from my Mother and Gramma. I love to draw and sketch, and I would draw and sketch on everything from scrap paper to paper sacks. And, TV was monitored by my parents. They controlled when it came on, and what we watched. Our bedrooms had hand-me-down furniture in it, but I had a nice soft pillow, and a quilt that my Gramma made me. I had to share a room with my brothers. And, sometimes I would sleep with my Gramma. I loved her soft bed. I slept peaceful, knowing that I had my family and my Lord Jesus who loved me.

We didn’t have the latest toys or wear the latest fashions. In fact, it was most often that I wore hand me downs from cousins, or items that were given to us by family and friends. Every once in awhile we would get to go to the store and buy a few new items, but it was not very often. We frequented garage sales and thrift stores, and I was never ashamed. We could find great bargains there, and sometimes there were clothes with the sales tags still on. It was like hitting the jackpot! My Gramma and my Mother sometimes made my clothes, often times from scraps that someone gave them. I specifically remember a red satin dress that my Gramma McGregor made me from material that was given to her. She also made me a white lace pinafore apron for it. She used an old pedal sewing machine, and I watched her stitch it together. I was so proud of that dress. I wore it until I couldn’t fit into it anymore.

I truly feel that this World will be going through some very rough times very soon, folks. All the signs are here. And, I believe it is part of the plan of the soon coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. My parents and grandparents lived in the Great Depression, and they didn’t have much at all. In fact, they didn’t have anything except each other and their Faith in God. What else really matters, people? What else is more important than family and God?

I talked to my Dad (Rev. McGregor) recently, the Dad who raised me, and we both believe that Jesus is coming soon. We talked about how we were taught to be strong in our Faith and not in things and how we stuck together through the tough times. Well, the tough times are coming back, folks! Now, the question is – what are you going to do when things get worse? Who are you going to turn to? Where will you put your faith, in this world, or in GOD? When the going gets tough – get into the Word of God and GET JESUS! Because, that’s all we have that’s worth anything in this world! AMEN.

PSALM 18:46
(46) The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

PSALM 28:6
(6) Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.

PSALM 31:21
(21) Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.

PSALM 41:13
(13) Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

PSALM 66:20
(20) Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

PSALM 68:19
(19) Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

PSALM 72:18
(18) Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.

PSALM 72:19
(19) And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.

PSALM 89:52
(52) Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.

PSALM 106:48
(48) Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.

PSALM 113:2
(2) Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.

PSALM 118:26
(26) Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

DANIEL 2:20
(20) Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

MARK 11:10
(10) Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

LUKE 1:68
(68) Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

LUKE 6:20
(20) And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

LUKE 19:38
(38) Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

2 CORINTHIANS 1:3
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

EPHESIANS 1:3
(3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

1 PETER 1:3
(3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead