Dear KMAG: 20200322 Open Thread

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2)

This Superlative Sanctuary Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.

It’s also a place to read, post and discuss news that’s worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.

In the QTree, we’re a friendly and civil lot, unencumbered by political correctness. We encourage free speech and the open exchange and civil discussion of different ideas. Topics aren’t constrained, and sound logic is highly encouraged, all built on a solid foundation of truth and established facts.

We have a policy of mutual respect, shown by civility. Civility encourages discussions, promotes objectivity and rational thought in discourse, and camaraderie in the participants – characteristics we strive toward in our Q Tree community.

Please show respect and consideration for your fellow QTreepers.

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If you feel the need to bare your fangs, we have a companion site – called The U Tree – where all legal speech is allowed and where you can run wild and free with the Wolfpack.

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In The Q Tree, we’re compatriots, sitting around the campfire, roasting hot dogs, making s’mores and discussing, agreeing, and disagreeing about whatever interests us. This board will remain a home for those who seek respectful conversations.

Please also consider the Important Guidelines, outlined here. Let’s not give the Internet Censors a reason to shut down this precious haven that Wolf has created for us.

The Storm is upon us.
Please remember to Pray for our President.

AND WHAT TIME IS IT?
TIME TO DRAIN THE SWAMP!!!

Our movement is about replacing a failed and CORRUPT political establishment with a new government controlled by you, the American People.
Candidate Donald J. Trump

Also remember Wheatie’s Rules:

1. No food fights.
2. No running with scissors.
3. If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.

On this day and every day –

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

Hopefully, every Sunday, you can find something here that will build you up a little . . . give you a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” . . . “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

His Way

There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way of death.

My Way Or God’s Way? (Genesis 27:1-46)

Frank Sinatra’s well-known song, “I Did It My Way,” was shocking for its blatant ungodliness. Of course what Sinatra stated plainly in that song, “I did it my way,” is true of every person who does not submit his life to Jesus Christ. Most people just aren’t as open as Sinatra in stating the controlling force of their lives.

In Genesis 27, four people illustrate Sinatra’s song. Isaac does things his way by trying to bestow the family blessing on Esau, in opposition to God’s revealed will. Esau tries to take back what he had already sold to his brother Jacob. When he is foiled, he plans to kill his brother. Rebekah deceives her aging husband into giving the blessing to her favorite son, Jacob. And Jacob lies to his father and outsmarts his brother. I think that what you have here are four self-centered people seeking their own advantage. They all did it their way, not God’s way. In the end they all came up empty and paid a high price for their selfishness.

Every person must have as a theme song in life either “I Did It My Way” or “I Did It God’s Way.” You would think that the lines would be clearly drawn: Every person outside of Christ would sing, “I Did It My Way”; every Christian would sing, “I Did It God’s Way.” But I find that many who profess to believe in Christ are really just living for themselves, often using God as the means to self-fulfillment. But the genuine Christian life is a matter of God’s confronting our self-centeredness and enthroning Christ as Lord in our hearts.

When we seek our own way, we never get what we want and we pay a high price:

(1) If we sow to the flesh, we’ll reap from the flesh. The law of sowing and reaping is as true for God’s people as it is for unbelievers. If you live for the pleasures of the flesh, you will reap from the flesh corruption (Gal. 6:7-8). If you live for the things of this world, you may get them, but you’ll be poor before God.

Some may protest: “But we’re under grace, not law!” But remember, Paul warned about sowing and reaping in the very letter where he strongly argues for the grace of God – Galatians. You can’t plant spinach and harvest sweet corn. While sin may taste sweet in your mouth, it will be bitter in your stomach and you’ll wish you had never tasted it! That’s true for believers under grace.

(2) You can’t thwart the ultimate purpose of God, so why not work with Him, not against Him? It is utter futility to fight God. It may seem as if you’re going to be able to get away with your plan. But “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord scoffs at them” (Ps. 2:4). Man’s sin can never thwart God’s purpose. It may appear that things are not under God’s control and that the forces of evil are going to turn world history to their own ends. It’s only an illusion. Even the wrath of man will bring ultimate praise to God (Ps. 76:10). God, not man, determines history. You can either smash yourself to bits trying to fight against God or you can submit to His purpose. As the apostle Paul and millions of others can tell you, life is a lot more pleasant when you don’t kick against the goads.

(3) Godly ends do not justify wrong means. Was it God’s will to give the blessing to Jacob? Yes! Was it right for Rebekah and Jacob to gain the blessing through deception? No! Methods do matter! Wrong methods don’t become right just because they work, even when they help accomplish God’s purpose. We live in a pragmatic culture, and many Christians have bought into any method that works. Just because a marketing scheme brings people into the church does not make it right. God’s work must be done in His way.

(4) The way to find your life is to lose it for Christ’s sake. Hebrews 11:20 states: “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.” How can that be, when it seems that he was acting in the flesh? The answer is in Genesis 27:33, where a trembling Isaac realizes that he has really blessed Jacob, not Esau, as he intended. He admits, “Yes, and he shall be blessed.” At that point Isaac realized that he and Esau had been fighting against God and they had lost.

Many Christian counselors are telling hurting people, “Assert yourself! Stand up for your rights! Don’t be codependent! You’ve got a right to some happiness in life, so go for it!” But God’s Word is clear: If you seek your own way, you won’t get what you want and you’ll pay a high price in family conflict. If you’ll die to your way and seek God’s way, He will give you the desires of your heart. You’ve got to decide which will be your theme song: “I did it my way,” or, “I did it God’s way?”

Paraphrased and excerpted from:
*https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-52-my-way-or-god-s-way-genesis-271-46

I Did It His Way

Yes, all the times, I’m sure You knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all when there was doubt
Down on my knees, I would call out
You faced it all
And stood me tall
I did it Your way
Oh no, oh no, not me
I did it Your way

For what is a man, what has he got?
He’s full of sin and he has naught
I say the things I truly feel
Respectful words of one who kneels
The record shows
You took the blows
I did it Your way

Yes, it was Your way

All In His Hands

Men are weak in this life, lacking strength.
We must lean on the LORD’s strong right arm.
He, all-knowing, will work things for good
And, best of all, keep our soul from harm.

Trust in His timing. Wait for the LORD.
Though man’s troubles lie heavy on him,
There’s times and ways for everything,
Even when the days seem dark and grim.

Read His Word. Count on His promises,
Everything He said will come true.
He’ll deliver you from all your fears,
And give His joy and His peace to you.

Wait for His answers, He’ll give you strength,
All you who put your hope in the LORD.
You’ll mount up with wings like eagles,
And run, not tiring, your strength restored.

Believe in all His miracles,
Everything is possible with Him.
For though a loss is certain with man,
With God it will become a big win.

Rejoice in His goodness all the day,
Proclaiming His love in the morning.
Pray with songs and Psalms through the day,
Recall His faithfulness in the evening.

Relax in His presence, be still and know,
Though outside it rages with storm.
Within your heart you know He is Lord,
And He holds you in peace, safe and warm.

Hear His call and come near to God,
Come near and He will come near to you.
Whatever besets you in this life,
He holds your hand and will see you through.

Seek His Face

The days drag on, trudge slowly past;
The night brings sleep, restless and light.
The new day, yet still hours away,
Awake, but not.  Nothing feels right.

A darkness is here, all around,
A world turned sour, a bitter taste.
Menace and malice rule the day;
What goodness remains, turned to waste.

These feelings belie Christian hope.
Thoughts stray away from promised goals
That God has given us to see
As the journey’s end for our souls.

Our fallen, broken world reveals
Not the forest, but trees, diseased,
Though we see a much different sight,
When we look upward from our knees.

We seek God for worship and praise,
And catch small glimpses of His face.
He knows our needs better than we,
And fills us with his mercy and grace.

We’re on earth but for a short while,
And see through a glass, dark and dim.
From those things we see and endure,
We learn and grow to be like Him.

As we look toward our journey’s end,
We see the forest, not the trees;
The dwelling place Christ has prepared,
Full of wonders we can’t conceive.

Remember now, we’re on this earth,
Living but for a flash in time,
Yearning to hear in eternity
“Welcome, beloved, children of mine.”

We’ll persevere; we’ll keep the faith;
We’ll run the race, and win the prize.
We’ll be with God for eternity,
And see Christ’s face before our eyes.