Ladies Bible Study Begins This Week

Ladies, this Thursday morning we will be getting back to our study about resolving worry. “Worry-Free Living” may seem like an impossibility in our world today. But, no, God actually wants this for everyone. Are you ready to sink into understanding God’s percpective concerning this? Particularly this week we will look at how worry can magnify our troubles and trials—chapter 5 in our books. Even if you don’t have a book, join us.

Please plan to join me tomorrow morning at 9:30 at Harborview Fellowship. Child care will be available.

Please pardon my briefness. Because of my surgery last Thursday I am typing with one finger left-handed—that surer slows me down :).

Does Your Soul Sing?

Psalm 103:1  “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!”

For some time I have been fascinated and intrigued by the Bible’s reference to “my soul” and the many times it is also referred to in the songs we sing at church. Our wonderful song leader Paul Hayes always finds meaningful and Biblical songs for us to sing that honor God. Frequently those selections include lyrics about our souls such as these words from “Ten Thousand Reasons.”

Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before, O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

Also the lyrics to “How Great Thou Art” say something very similar; “then sings my soul...”

So, how do we really bless the Lord with our soul, or sing with our soul? When Jesus spoke of the greatest commandment He said we are to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” In referring to this verse Adam Clarke gives these comments. “He loves God with all his soul, or rather, εν ολη τη ψυχη, with all his life, who is ready to give up life for his sake - to endure all sorts of torments, and to be deprived of all kinds of comforts, rather than dishonor God: - who employs life with all its comforts, and conveniences, to glorify God in, by, and through all: - to whom life and death are nothing, but as they come from and lead to God, From this Divine principle sprang the blood of the martyrs, which became the seed of the Church. They overcame through the blood of the Lamb, and loved not their lives unto the death. See Rev 12:11" Matthew Henry adds these thoughts. 

“All our love is too little to bestow upon him, and therefore all the powers of the soul must be engaged for him, and carried out toward him.”

It seems that our “soul” really refers to our entire being. Oh, to be engaged in such an intense and beautiful way in our love and devotion to God, which of course will include the singing of our soul towards Him with “the utmost fervor.” Jamison Fawcett and Brown 

Psalm 146:1  “Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!”

Ladies, we will not be starting our Bible study on worry until next week October 8th. I am scheduled for surgery on my wrist this Thursday morning so that is the reason for the delay. I’m sure looking forward to being together again with all of you as we meet in person at Harborview Fellowship. Thank you for your patience. 

The Murder of Babies

This is all of our family as of August of 2019.

As of August of 2019 our family consisted of 47 very loved people ranging in age from 72 years to just a few months. How shocking for me to realize that 43 of us could have been legally killed before being born. Does such a thought bring grief to you like it does to me? Or have we become so accustomed to the word “abortion” that we no longer associate it with the brutal act of dismembering a tiny completely helpless baby?

Recently my mind made a sad connection between what the Nazis (and many other cruel regimes) did to innocent, helpless people and what doctors in the United States of America currently do to sweet little babies. Many people knew what Hiltler was doing to the Jews but never spoke up or tried in any way to stop the slaughter. When I clearly see something very similar happening in our country, my heart aches concerning the plight of the thousands of babies being murdered everyday. How can we ignore this?

So far this year about 2000 people in Washington state have died of Covid and the uproar and disruption of life is astounding. However, if we are on track for the number of baby deaths as in 2018 then so far this year we have killed about 12,600 little ones—more than 6 times the number of Covid deaths. Yet no one seems to care!!! I feel like I’m in a bad dream.

The final word on all of this really is what the One who created all of us has to say.

Gen 1:27  “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

Jeremiah 1:5  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Proverbs 6:16-17  “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,..”

May we be faithful to God and speak up for the helpless!