Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

February 17
Sunday


JOIN THE CHOIR

READ:
Psalm 89:1-8
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I will sing of the
mercies of the LORD
forever; with my mouth
will I make known Your
faithfulness to all
generations.
__Psalm 89:1
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I'll never forget the first time I saw the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir in concert. Nearly 200 people who had been redeemed out of the bowels of Brooklyn-former crack addicts and prostitutes included--sang their hearts out to God. Their faces glistened with tears running down their cheeks as they sang about God's work of redemption and forgiveness in their lives.

As I watched them I felt somewhat shrotchanged. Since I was saved when I was 6, I didn't feel the same depth of gratefulness that they displayed as they sang about the dramatic rescue God had provided for them. I was saved from things like biting my sister--not exactly a significant testimony!

Then the Spirit reminded me that if He had not rescued me when I was young, who knows where my life would be today? What destructive paths would I have stumbled down if He had not been teaching me qualities like servanthood and self-control?

It became clear that I too am a great debtor to His grace. It's not only what we are saved "out of" but what we have been saved "from" that makes our hearts worthy of a spot in the chorus of the redeemed. Anyone who receives Jesus as Savior is welcome to join in the choir of praise: "I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever" (Ps. 89:1).
__Joe Stowell
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````````````````He's been faithful, faithful to me;``````````````````
`````````````Looking back, His love and mercy I see.```````````````
```````Though in my heart I've questioned, even failed to believe,`````
``````````````He's been faithful, faithful to me. __Cymbala``````````
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Praise flows freely from the choir of the redeemed

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Psalm 89:1-8***************

1 I will sing of the mercies
of the LORD forever; with
my mouth will I make
known Your faithfulness to
all generations. 2 For I have
said, "Mercy shall be built
up forever; Your
faithfulness You shall
establish in the very
heavens."

3 "I have made a covenant
with My chosen, I have
sworn to My servant David:

4'Your seed I will establish
forever, and build up your
throne to all generations.' "

5 And the heavens will
praise Your wonders, O
LORD; Your faithfulness
also in the assembly of the
saints. 6 For who in the
heavens can be compared to
the LORD? Who among the
sons of the mighty can be
likened to the LORD? 7 God
is greatly to be feared in the
assembly of the saints, and
to be held in reverence by
all those around Him. 8 O
LORD God of hosts, who is
mighty like You, O LORD?
Your faithfulness also
surrounds You.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

People come to Christ from very different backgrounds. Mary
Magdalene had been delivered from the horror of multiple demon
possession. Saul of Tarsus was a zealous religious intellectual who
sought the destruction of followers of the Way. Who could imagine
such different preconversion lives? Yet both Mary Magdalene and
Saul of Tarsus encountered Christ, were forgiven of their sin, and
given a new life. Every person's spiritual journey is unique. The
marvelous way that the grace of God accomodates each individual
brings glory to God. __HDF