Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. Psalm 43:5
The psalmist's question to his soul is not answered. It needed no answer. To put it was the first struggle to strip off the poisoned sackcloth in which he had wrapped himself.

But his next word, his command to his soul to hope in God, completes the process of putting off the robe of mourning and girding himself with gladness.

He makes one great leap, as it were, across the black flood that has been ringing him round, and bids his soul: "Hope thou in God." The one medicine for a disquieted, cast-down soul is hope in God.

People say a great deal about the buoyant energy of hope bearing a man up over his troubles. Yes! so it does in some measure, but there is only one case in which there is a real bearing up over the troubles, and that is where the hope is in God.

There is a great lack among all Christian people of realizing that it is as much their duty to cultivate the hope of the Christian as it is their duty to cultivate any other characteristic of the Christian life. ~ A. Maclaren, D. D.

You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased. Psalm 4:7

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 11:19

For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all the countries, and I will bring you back into your own land.I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean.

I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.

Then you will live in the land that I gave your forefathers; you will be My people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will summon the grain and make it plentiful, and I will not bring famine upon you.

I will also make the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field plentiful, so that you will no longer bear reproach among the nations on account of famine. Ezekiel 36:24-30

Anyone wants these promised blessings in their lives must undergo the heart transplant.

Let us allow God the Holy Spirit to mend our hearts, clean out the dross, and soften it to receive all the above mentioned blessings. Shall we? 

O come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

For He is our God,
and we are the people of His pasture,
the sheep under His care.

Today, if you hear His voice,
do not harden your hearts

as you did at Meribah,
in the day at Massah in the wilderness,
where your fathers tested and tried Me,
though they had seen My work.

~ Psalm 95: 6-9

Again for a second day we have the same message from the Holy Spirit.

The little prompting you have, yes, that's Him speaking.

Listen to him.

Do not harden your hearts today. 

Once again, for the third time, the LORD called to Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” Then Eli realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy. “Go and lie down,” he said to Samuel, “and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”… 1 Samuel 3:8-10

A familiar incident of God communication with little Samuel. The question I leave for you all today is when was the last time you actually heard the Lord speak?

All it takes to hear His voice is to lie down, be still (in both body and mind), like Eli is advising little Samuel in today's text.

If you want to hear His voice today, be listening. And more importantly:

Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion Hebrews 3:15

‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: 

“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, [f]and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 

Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 

Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. 

And I will write on him My new name.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

Revelation 3:7-13

Praise the Lord for His direct word this morning. Let us heed to the call and be over-comers. God bless you all.

Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” John 8:24

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.John 5:24

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. John 6:51

Then Jesus cried out, "Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me.John 12:44 Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would. Matthew 8:13

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." Acts 16:31

Two things I ask of You—
do not refuse me before I die:

Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me.
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the bread that is my portion.

And it is in kings’ palaces. Proverbs 30:24 - 28 So, what's in it for us you may ask. Well these tiny creatures mentioned in today's scripture has some lessons for us.  Ants: Save for rainy days - self-preservation.Instinctively foreseeing the evil, they set themselves might and main to get ready against it. The voice says to us, "Look onward. Now is the summer of grace, the gathering-time of salvation."

Rock Badgers: They are full of timorousness and fear. They show their wisdom by running at the least sound of danger into the crannies of the rocks. This working of the law of self-preservation says to us, "Beware! Be not self-confident! Get away into the clefts of the rock Christ Jesus."

Locusts: The locusts go in well-marshalled and compacted companies. Union, harmony, co-operation are among the chief things in the economy of the locusts. One impulse stirs them. They all act, and act together. Ye are Christ's temple and union is the cement that knits together the severed parts.

'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign LORD.'" Ezekiel 12:28

For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.' 1 Kings 17:14

Then the word of the LORD came to him, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” 
So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. 
And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 
And she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 
And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. 
For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.’” 
And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 
The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us." 1 Samuel 7:12

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.Hebrews 2:18 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is beset by weakness. Hebrews 5:2 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36

Fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. Joshua 24:14

Jacob told his household and all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your garments. Genesis 35:2

And I said to you: 'I am the LORD your God. You must not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.' Judges 6:10

If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him. 1 Kings 18:21

The question for today is, do you serve any false gods? It could be an idol that you cling to or a saint you pray to or the world that pulls you in. Anything that you serve - spend your money, time and energy on that is not godly - can be considered a "foreign god".

Let us be careful to serve our Lord and serve Him only.

Let us make this strong statement: As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD! Joshua 24:15


Amen!

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household. Acts 16:31

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:16

If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

* Man is like a breath; His days are like a passing shadow. Psalm 144:4

* What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14

* For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow. Job 8:9

* Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure. Job 14:2

* Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Psalm 39:5

* My days are like lengthening shadows, and I wither away like grass. Psalm 102:11

Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men. Colossians 3:23
Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might Ecclesiastes 9:10

Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men Ephesians 6:7

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Colossians 3:17

I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from where comes my help.… Psalm 121:1-8

Dear all: How are you doing? I really appreciate you joining me here at the coffee table day after day. And I would like to get to know you more. If you have the time this morning please send me an email to starlh at hotmail dot com.

If you have any prayer needs please share also.

The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

Numbers 6:24-26

This is the promise verse for you for today.

Love you all in the Lord. Please take care and stay safe.

In His service,

-His servant 

No harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. Psalm 91:10

He will rescue you from six calamities; no harm will touch you in seven. Job 5:19

The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul.Psalm 121:7

No harm befalls the righteous. Proverbs 12:21

The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm. Proverbs 19:23

I love You, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.
My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold.

I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;
so shall I be saved from my enemies.
The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me.

The cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called upon the LORD;
I cried to my God for help.

From His temple He heard my voice,
and my cry for His help reached His ears.

Praise be to the Lord my Rock,
who trains my hands for war,
my fingers for battle.

Lord, hear my prayer,
listen to my cry for mercy;
in your faithfulness and righteousness
come to my relief.

Do not bring your servant into judgment,
for no one living is righteous before you.
The enemy pursues me,
he crushes me to the ground;

Love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:31 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18 Aren't you glad it is not said, thou shalt love thy neighbor with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength. No, that would have been carrying the point too high, and scarce have left any sufficient note of distinction between what we owe to man, and what we owe to God only.

But we are called to love our neighbor nevertheless. There is no excuse for not to love. Neighbor here would mean anyone outside of your near and dear ones. In general it all boils down to how you treat others. Do you always put yourself first or think the best for others? Do you walk around with a 'don't care' attitude or always ready and willing to serve?

How is your heart's condition? Do you feel relieved 'the bad' did not happen to you or can empathize for the victim to whom 'the bad' actually happened?

Do you go about spreading rumors about others all the while not realizing how you would feel if you were in their shoes?

Yesterday we saw that if we do not love the Lord, we are not true believers. Today's coffee takes us a step further to insist that even if we say we love the Lord but hate our neighbor, we are all liars.

Let us therefore work on a renewed mind that seeks the best for our neighbors rather than being so focused on ourselves. God bless you!

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 1 John 4:20

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Once again we are reminded of the importance of a fervent constant prayer. Or rather a prayerful state of mind. You may ask how. Here's an excerpt I came across on the topic that I wish to share for today's coffee.

At a monthly meeting of ministers in London, a question was proposed to be discussed at the next meeting, viz., "How can we pray always?" A woman at the bottom of the room, attending to the fire, turned round and said, 

"Why, gentlemen, I could answer that question now." Ah," said a minister, "Susan, do you know how to pray always?" "I hope so;" said Susan. "But," said the minister, "you have so much to attend to; how can you find time to pray always?"

"Oh," said Susan, "the greater the variety I have to attend to, the more I am assisted to pray. In the morning, when I open my eyes, I pray, 'Lord, open the eyes of my understanding, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law.' Whilst I am dressing I pray, 'Lord, may I be clothed in the robe of righteousness, and adorned with the garment of salvation!'

As I am washing myself I pray, 'O Lord, may I be washed in the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness!' When kindling the fire I pray, 'O Lord, kindle a fire of sacred love in this cold heart of mine!'

And whilst sweeping the room I pray, 'Lord, may my heart be swept clean of all its abominations!' And so, gentlemen, I am praying all the day!" O happy woman!

(Clerical Library)

Do you still think it is unreasonable to be asked to pray without ceasing?

Continue stedfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2

From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me," says the LORD. Isaiah 66:23 God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. 1 Corinthians 1:9