I Fogot What I Forgot

While it is often acknowledged that only God can truly forget as he forgives, one California woman has taken this axiom to a new level: She can remember key details of her life and the world around her for every day of the past 30 years. And while most people would say they would love to improve their memory, this woman admits that a sharp memory has its down sides.

Recently profiled in the journal Neurocase, "A. J." (as she is called to protect her privacy) has the most astonishing memory scientists have ever tested. She can replay decades of her life like a movie. Give her any date, and she can recall the day of the week, usually what the weather was like, personal details of her life at that time, and major news events that occurred.
After thoroughly testing A. J. over the last six years, Dr. James McGaugh of the University of California at Irvine has decided that she is not using mnemonic devices to memorize data, nor is she a savant with exceptional memory in one area. In fact, this foremost authority on the human memory system is at a loss to explain A. J.'s recall.

"The woman who can't forget" simply says that she intensely feels each day, and remembers trivial details as clearly as major events. Asked what happened on August 16, 1977, she knew that Elvis Presley had died. But beyond celebrity headlines, she also remembered that a California tax initiative passed on June 6 of the following year, and a plane crashed in Chicago on May 25 of the next year.

But a great memory is not all it's cracked up to be. A. J. had to study for exams in school, struggled to memorize dates for history class, and still has to make a weekly grocery list.
When asked if she considered her memory a gift, A. J. said: "Well, if I'm able to cure a disease, it's a gift. But to remember, like, the end of every relationship…it's hard."
Perhaps the ability to forget should be considered a gift as well.

Ps 103:11-1211

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west,so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Heb 10:17
"Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."

Eating the Scroll

Ezekiel 3

1 Moreover He said to me, "Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." 2 So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll.
3 And He said to me, "Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you." So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness.

Reading the scroll is not the same as eating it.

Hearing the scroll is not the same as eating it.

Studying the scroll is not the same as eating it.

Memorizing the scroll is not the same as eating it.

Teaching the scroll is not the same as eating it.

Preaching the scroll is not the same as eating it.

Matt 26:26-29
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom." Jesus who is the Word of God, tells us to "take and eat; this is my body."

There is something to this eating. Recieving the Word of God on the inside transforms us. Ezekiel says: "I opened my mouth and He caused me to eat it." This morning as I waste my strength upon Jesus, all I have to do is open my mouth. Hunger is all it takes; just enough to open our mouths and then He causes or enables us to eat the Word, and it was sweet. Our obedient hunger causes Him to move to fill us. He wants us to eat more than we want spiritual food.

Jesus,

You are the bread of Life; I hunger for you. You are the living water; I thirst for you. My mouth is open now cause me to eat the scroll. Cause me to encounter you. I wait at your feet. Satisfied in you! All that you are; come and fill me. More please!

Amen!

Our Help Is Not In the Strength of Man but God!

Isa 31:1-3
Help Not in Egypt but in God

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help And rely on horses, And trust in chariots because they are many And in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!

2 Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster And does not retract His words, But will arise against the house of evildoers And against the help of the workers of iniquity.

3 Now the Egyptians are men and not God, And their horses are flesh and not spirit; So the LORD will stretch out His hand, And he who helps will stumble And he who is helped will fall, And all of them will come to an end together.

NASU

Ps 103:1-8

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.
6 The LORD executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

NKJV

Ice Storm Saves FSM Students

Reminiscent of the Egyptian Plagues and the Parting of the Red Sea...the Lord delivers several hundred FSM students from Final Exams this week. An ice storm and a coming blizzard shut down the entire school. Prayers were going up, literally 7/24, after students in Stephen V's class realized the intensity of the aforementioned exams. Now with The Power of a Focused Life and some intense studies a most favorable grade is in sight.
Blessed Be the Name of the Lord!

Ps 103:1-8
1 Praise for the LORD's Mercies A Psalm of David. 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.
6 The LORD executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. NKJV

OLD SPICE AND YOUR PRAYER LIFE

Do my prayers make a difference? What happens when my prayers seem ineffective? Which grain of sand actually causes the scales to tip? Which prayer, petition, offering of intimacy with the Father is the one with power. I suspect that it is the culmination of our prayers the weak and the strong that make a difference. When you feel discouraged in the place of prayer keep at it, persist.




Be encouraged the scripture tells us that our prayers are in bowls full of incense which the Father smells. Rev 5:8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. I don't know too many guys that wear Old Spice cologne these days, but I know plenty of you just thought about your fathers, uncles, or grandpas. Some remember buying these gifts but most of us associate a scent with a person. Hopefully they are good memories. When I used to travel or have to leave my kids...I'll squirt a bottle of my cologne on their pillows...they love to go to sleep and feel like I'm there with them. Your prayers are the cologne or perfume that God fills the throne room with. Even when our prayers seem weak; we make heaven smell good. Even prayers you prayed weeks, months, years ago...they linger in the Father's presence reminding Him of you. You are always on His mind; no prayer is forgotten or wasted. Instead of leaving a comment....share a prayer!

Did Not Our Hearts Burn Within?

Luke 24:25-41 25And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. But they urged Him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over." So He went in to stay with them. When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?" And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, saying, "The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon." They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

The resurrected Jesus appears to these disciples and they don't recognize Him. For some strange reason God is cloaking himself. Jesus isn't exactly trying to win friends here, because He calls them "foolish". Yet He goes on to reveal Himself to these men, the same way He reveals Himself to us today--through the scriptures.

"He acted as though He were going further. But they urged Him, stay with us..." Oh friends this is so incredible. He was going to leave yet they urged Him to stay and He did. Why did Jesus do it this way? Because He was showing us a picture of how He reveals Himself to us. He comes to introduce us to Himself through the scriptures. Yet many have read the scriptures and never encountered Him. Had they not urged Him to stay, I believe Jesus would have gone on without revealing Himself to them. Because God responds to the hungry. Asking the questions: "Do you really want to know me? Do you really want to follow me? Whatever the cost?"

It has been sugested by some that Hunger(spiritual) is the currency of heaven. When Jesus said blessed are the hungry they shall be filled, He wasn't speaking of turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing. Rather He was saying those who hunger for me, the bread of life shall be filled.

They sat down to eat a meal together. Jesus lifted the bread and blessed it in prayer. Here in the place of prayer the encounter the living divine presence of Jesus. Their eyes are opened to Taste and see that the Lord is good. After they realized it was Jesus, He vanished.

It is through His word and the intimate place of prayer that we encounter Jesus. He shows a little, and to the hungry He shows a little more. After we are filled; more revelation or understanding of the God comes to when hunger, desire, longing, is stirred again!

When He touches our hearts we too can say: "Did not our hearts burn within?" That's what He does sets hearts ablaze with love!

Whom Shall I Fear?

Ps 136:23-26
23 Who remembered us in our low estate, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
24 And has rescued us from our adversaries, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
25 Who gives food to all flesh, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Prov 16:7
7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Glory Displayed For Our Eyes To Behold

Ps 19:1-619:1

The heavens are telling the glory of God; they are a marvelous display of his craftsmanship.
2 Day and night they keep on telling about God.
3 Without a sound or word, silent in the skies, their message reaches out to all the world. The sun lives in the heavens where God placed it
5 and moves out across the skies as radiant as a bridegroom going to his wedding, or as joyous as an athlete looking forward to a race!
6 The sun crosses the heavens from end to end, and nothing can hide from its heat.

TLB