Good Things Come In Threes.

Ever notice how good things come in threes?

You have the inner circle of disciples: Peter, James & John.

Three brothers make up the Bee Gees: Robin, Maurice & Barry.

Then there is that classic comedy team: Larry, Moe & Curly!

(Ok, maybe I should have stopped after the disciples!)

The point is that I haven't posted in a few days, and so I'm going to combine three days worth of Bible readings into one day...so, now you know where the title comes from.

PSALMS 1 & 2:

This is like AM/PM...too much good stuff! But the Psalms are just loaded with great truths and praise and worship. I want to focus on the last part of the 2nd Psalm, where David says, "Blessed are all who take refuge in him (the Son)."

I remember a time in my life when I took refuge in everything else but the Son. I spent too many weekends in my early twenties hittin' the bars in Chico. I couldn't wait untill the weekend! I would party all weekend, recoup on Sunday, and then begin the drudgery of Monday. This would repeat itself, week after week. After awhile I desired something that would get me beyond the weekend. Something that would get me beyond "Saturday night".

Today many people still seek refuge at the local bar on the weekend. But many seek refuge at a lot of other places too. Some seek refuge with a new sexual partner, some with food, some with drugs, some with tv, some with the computer, and the list goes on and on and on. Our list of things to take comfort in knows no end. The problem is that we always have to go back for more. It never satisfies. I remember the comerical for Snickers candy bars several years back. It said, "Snickers, the taste that really satisfies!" But it didn't. Because you always had to go back for more.

I'm glad that I finally woke up and turned to the Son for refuge. He has never let me down, no matter how many times I have let Him down. End the end, it doesn't matter what you are taking your refuge in; if it isn't in the Son, your satisfaction will always be fleeting.

JOB 1 & 2:

I will be the first one to admit that the book of Job can be a hard book to read sometimes. Parts of it I just don't get, and let's face it, some if it is just plain depressing! But in the first two chapters, after Job has lost his kids (they were all killed), and his servants, and his property; in other words, pretty much all he had in this life, the scripture says this in verse 20, "At this (that was hearing the terrible news about his family, possesions, etc.), Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his heard.; Thken he fell to the ground in worship"

Anyone see anything strange in that sentence?

He just lost everything, he goes into mourning (that's the torn clothes & shaved head thing), and then he worships!

Can you imagine going to a funeral and worshipping God?!?! Yet, that is pretty much what Job did.

See, Job got what we often forget. In the bad, in the good, and in the in-between, God is still God and still deserves to be worshiped. When you are hurting, depressed, stressed, anxious, scared, or whatever, try a little bit of worship and see what happens. What a testimony to those around us that would be!

Job doesn't ignore his pain or his sorrow. He just puts it in the proper place. Maybe that is where we miss it so often. We focus so much on the problem, and not enough on the problem solver.

So, when my time comes. If you happen to be one of those that are at my funeral, don't forget to worship a little.

ISAIAH 1 - 6:

In the 60's people would have described the book of Isaiah like this, "Heavy man, heavy!"

These first few chapters are just that...heavy. They are loaded with so much stuff, that I don't know where to begin or end, so I'll just try and make this short and sweet.

If you haven't read it, here are some portions of the scripture. I'll just let the Word of God speak for itself without any comments from me.

"Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourselve clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right."

"Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

"Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord."

"Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?"

Now for just a few comments from me.

Chapter 5, vs. 20 says, "Woe to thos who call evil good and good evil."
(Ever find yourself calling a movie or tv show that takes the Lord's name in vain, or has excessive violence good...hmmm...something to think about)

And finally, there is one of the most famous of all passages of scripture found in the reading of Isaiah the other day, when Isaiah said, "Here am I, send me."

Oh, the impact we would have if every believer lived their lives with those five words as our life verse. Here am I, send me. I'll go. I'll do. I'll sacrifice. I'll give. I'll die. Here am I, send me.

And on that note, I'm outta here.

Pastor Dave