give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.
Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!
For His mercy endures forever.
Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!
For His mercy endures forever:

To Him who alone does great wonders,
For His mercy endures forever;
To Him who by wisdom made the heavens,
For His mercy endures forever;
To Him who laid out the earth above the waters,
For His mercy endures forever;
To Him who made great lights,
For His mercy endures forever—
The sun to rule by day,
For His mercy endures forever;
The moon and stars to rule by night,
For His mercy endures forever.

To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn,
For His mercy endures forever;
And brought out Israel from among them,
For His mercy endures forever;
With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm,
For His mercy endures forever;
To Him who divided the Red Sea in two,
For His mercy endures forever;
And made Israel pass through the midst of it,
For His mercy endures forever;
But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
For His mercy endures forever;
To Him who led His people through the wilderness,
For His mercy endures forever;
To Him who struck down great kings,
For His mercy endures forever;
And slew famous kings,
For His mercy endures forever—
Sihon king of the Amorites,
For His mercy endures forever;
And Og king of Bashan,
For His mercy endures forever—
And gave their land as a heritage,
For His mercy endures forever;
A heritage to Israel His servant,
For His mercy endures forever.

Who remembered us in our lowly state,
For His mercy endures forever;
And rescued us from our enemies,
For His mercy endures forever;
Who gives food to all flesh,
For His mercy endures forever.

Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven!
For His mercy endures forever.

Psalm 136

You will never again be put to shame.

 Be glad, O children of Zion,

and rejoice in the LORD your God,

for He has given you the autumn rains

for your vindication.

He sends you showers,

both autumn and spring rains, as before.

The threshing floors will be full of grain,

and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.

I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts—

the swarming locust, the young locust,

the destroying locust, and the devouring locustf—

My great army that I sent against you.

You will have plenty to eat,

until you are satisfied.

You will praise the name of the LORD your God,

who has worked wonders for you.

My people will never again

be put to shame.

Then you will know that I am present in Israel

and that I am the LORD your God,

and there is no other.

My people will never again

be put to shame.

Joel 2: 23-27

How to be blameless and cleansed of great transgressions?

 The Law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul;

the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy,

making wise the simple.

The precepts of the LORD are right,

bringing joy to the heart;

the commandments of the LORD are radiant,

giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is pure,

enduring forever;

the judgments of the LORD are true,

being altogether righteous.

They are more precious than gold,

than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey,

than honey from the comb.

By them indeed Your servant is warned;

in keeping them is great reward.

Who can discern his own errors?

Cleanse me from my hidden faults.

Keep Your servant also from willful sins;

may they not rule over me.

Then I will be blameless

and cleansed of great transgression.

May the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing in Your sight,

O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:7-14

How to be a blessed man/woman

Blessed is the man

who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

or set foot on the path of sinners,

or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the Law of the LORD,

and on His law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

yielding its fruit in season,

whose leaf does not wither,

and who prospers in all he does.

Not so the wicked!

For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the LORD guards the path of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1

What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 

For whoever wants to save their life f will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 

For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

Matthew 16: 24-27

The comfort of Christ’s coming

 

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 

Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

May these Word of God comfort those of us who mourn our loss...

Do not boast about tomorrow

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Proverbs 27:1

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.” You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin. James 4:13-17

Hope you are all doing well. My apologies for the absence of posts for the last few weeks. I was away traveling where internet connection was not consistent. Glad to be back at Coffee with Jesus. 

He will sustain you to the end

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

Praise the Lord. Today's message is for those of you who are worried that you may not be able to finish your race, be it in school work, project work, married life or life in general. Surely God's word for you this morning is that He who started your job/study/marriage/life is very capable of helping you through it to the finish line. 

So keep praising the Lord and stay your course. Praise the Lord.

He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:8

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12

Victory belongs to the LORD

The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD. Proverbs 21:31

Are you worried about an exam or promotion or studies or something along those lines? Be assured your victory belongs to the Lord. Like a horse gets ready for the battle, we too get ready to face our challenges, but our victory ultimately rests with the Lord. Amen.

Here are few more scriptures along the same lines to help us through. God bless you! <3

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous

 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his love endures forever.

Let Israel say:

“His love endures forever.”

Let the house of Aaron say:

“His love endures forever.”

Let those who fear the Lord say:

“His love endures forever.”

When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;

he brought me into a spacious place.

The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me?

The Lord is with me; he is my helper.

I look in triumph on my enemies.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in humans.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in princes.

All the nations surrounded me,

but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.

They surrounded me on every side,

but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.

They swarmed around me like bees,

but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;

in the name of the Lord I cut them down.

I was pushed back and about to fall,

but the Lord helped me.

The Lord is my strength and my defense;

he has become my salvation.

Shouts of joy and victory

resound in the tents of the righteous:

“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!

The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;

the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”

Psalm 118:1-16

Make a joyful noise to the LORD

 Make a joyful noise to the LORD,

all the earth.

Serve the LORD with gladness;

come into His presence with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God.

It is He who made us, and we are His;

we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving

and His courts with praise;

give thanks to Him and bless His name.

For the LORD is good,

and His loving devotion endures forever;

His faithfulness continues to all generations.

Psalm 100

Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

 Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

Here's share an excerpt from sermon notes of Hugh S. Carpenter, D. D., which explains today's scripture nicely, though a bit dramatically. 

Go out of your cares, and your fevers and perils, by going nearer to your Saviour. Catch that glance of His gaze, the very rest of God. The sky is blue above the bleak and barren ground; the heavens smile above the storms. All things seem to die; but God is over all, blessed forever. His joy will comfort your sorrows. It will conquer your fears. It will neutralise your bereavements. It will negative your death. You are on a vessel, and it seems to you that the storm is awful; the waves run mountains high; the ship pitches, and shudders, and creaks. "Captain," you say, with pale face and staring eyes, "this is a terrible peril We shall go down; she never will weather this gale!" "Gale!" says the captain, "I call this a good breeze. If we had a little more of it we should soon make land." Then you turn and look with wonder in the captain's eyes; they are full of smiling satisfaction, and his heroic face is mild and calm. The captain says, "All is well." He is not disturbed. And the captain's calm is your strength. He ought to know. So Jesus knows.

~ (Hugh S. Carpenter, D. D.)

Please do not grieve this morning. Learn to take joy and comfort in the Lord. 

Your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

 My son, do not forget my law,

But let your heart keep my commands;
For length of days and long life
And peace they will add to you.

Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.

Honor the Lord with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Proverbs 3:1-10

Basic instructions to live by. Let us be sure to follow, and especially to honor our Lord with our possessions and with the first fruits of all our increase. Then our barns will be filled with plenty and our vats will overflow with new wine. Amen! 

Now I say, even without the conditional blessing above, we should still honor our Lord with our possessions and with the first fruits of all our increase. Do you agree?

Let us lift up our eyes to our Lord God the rock from where our help comes

 I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

My help comes from the LORD,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to slip;

your Protector will not slumber.

Behold, the Protector of Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper;

the LORD is the shade on your right hand.

The sun will not strike you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The LORD will guard you from all evil;

He will preserve your soul.

The LORD will watch over your coming and going,

both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121

Do you have a need today? Do you want some help? Let us look to our Lord the Maker of heaven and earth, whom our help comes from. Amen.

We have a friend in Jesus

And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. James 2:23

Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6

"Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Romans 4:3

True, Abraham believed in God and it was credited to him as righteousness and he was called God's friend. In the same token, every one of us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and have accepted Him as Lord and Savior over our life, are all friends of God. Amen! If anyone here feels that you do not have a friend you can depend on, this message comes directly to you. Be assured there is a friend you have in Jesus. Amen! 

“But you, Israel, my servant,

Jacob, whom I have chosen,

you descendants of Abraham my friend,

I took you from the ends of the earth,

from its farthest corners I called you.

I said, ‘You are my servant’;

I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:8-10

He loves you unconditionally to a point where He gave up His life for you. He lives today. Because He lives we will also live. So cheer up, chin up and praise the Lord.

Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him

Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;

it is fitting for the upright to praise him.

Praise the Lord with the harp;

make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.

Sing to him a new song;

play skillfully, and shout for joy.

For the word of the Lord is right and true;

he is faithful in all he does.

The Lord loves righteousness and justice;

the earth is full of his unfailing love.

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,

their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

He gathers the waters of the sea into jars ;

he puts the deep into storehouses.

Let all the earth fear the Lord;

let all the people of the world revere him.

For he spoke, and it came to be;

he commanded, and it stood firm.

The Lord foils the plans of the nations;

he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.

But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,

the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,

the people he chose for his inheritance.

From heaven the Lord looks down

and sees all mankind;

from his dwelling place he watches

all who live on earth—

he who forms the hearts of all,

who considers everything they do.

No king is saved by the size of his army;

no warrior escapes by his great strength.

A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;

despite all its great strength it cannot save.

But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,

on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

to deliver them from death

and keep them alive in famine.

We wait in hope for the Lord;

he is our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice,

for we trust in his holy name.

May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,

even as we put our hope in you.

~Psalm 33

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5

There is no shame in admitting that we lack wisdom, especially to God. After all the wisest king ever lived - King Solomon - even he asked God for wisdom. 

Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?" 1 Kings 3:9

My favorite King David too acknowledged the wisdom he received from God Almighty:

Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Psalm 51:6

Prophet Daniel too confirms wisdom comes from the Lord:

He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. Daniel 2:21

Matthew affirms that if we ask, it will be given:

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

Now is there any reason not to ask for wisdom for ourselves?

As for God, his way is perfect

 

As for God, his way is perfect:

The Lord’s word is flawless;

he shields all who take refuge in him.

For who is God besides the Lord?

And who is the Rock except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength 

and keeps my way secure.

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;

he causes me to stand on the heights.

He trains my hands for battle;

my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

You make your saving help my shield;

your help has made me great.

You provide a broad path for my feet,

so that my ankles do not give way.

2 Samuel 22: 31-37

Prayer of faith

 

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. James 5:13-18

A prayer for healing

“If you listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.” Exodus 15:26

Help us Lord to listen carefully to you our God and to do what is right in your eyes. Help us Lord to pay attention to your commands and keep all your decrees. Then you will not bring on us any of the diseases you bought on the Egyptians. You are the Lord, my healer.

Amen!