Wednesday
7-29-15 (Home Modesto, California)
Scripture
reading: Isaiah 57-59 Ps 103 2 Peter 3
S=Scripture O=Observation A=Application P=Prayer SOAP for
the soul.
S.
Ps 103:1-2
Praise the LORD, I tell myself; with my whole
heart, I will praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, I tell myself, and
never forget the good things he does for me. NLT
O. The 103rd Psalm
has special meaning for me. When I was 13 years old, my pastor, William
Booth-Clibborn, encouraged me to memorize and quote this entire psalm to the
congregation… and he added “with hand motions and expression.” He knew
that I was a skinny wimp that couldn’t stand up in front of anyone and
speak. He was probably trying to knock that wimpy attitude out of
me. Well, I did memorize the psalm and I did quote it for all… even with
hand motions. Back in those days there was never applause in the
church. The church was a place for honoring God, not men or even
kids. But he honored me with a book of missionary stories taken from his
personal library.
A. This psalm has to be one of
the most beautiful in the book. It encourages me to speak to my own soul,
“Bless the Lord, Oh my soul, and all that is within me, Bless His holy
name. Bless the Lord, Oh my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”
Then it starts listing His benefits: Forgiveness of my sins tops the list, then
healing me from all diseases. He redeems my life from destruction and
crowns me with loving kindness and tender mercy. He even satisfies my
mouth with good things and when I am getting old, He renews my youth like the
eagle. And the list goes on and on.
P. So I do bless You,
Lord. My soul cries out with praise. The list of things that you
have done for me is unending. But I praise You not only for what You have
done for me, but for Who You are. You are both my Creator and my
Savior. Like Adam, You breathed into my nostrils the breath of life and I
became a living soul. Then one day, when I was bent toward a sinful life,
You heard my childish cry and once more breathed on me, this time with Your
breath of spiritual life. And then at 17 years old, You breathed again on
me and I broke out praising You in tongues I did not know. Now Lord I am
83 years old. How about doing that “eagle thing” on me next? What’s
that You’re saying? You’ve already done it!? That’s the reason I
can still be active in Your service? Thank you, Lord! And now
please breathe again on me with Your special anointing for ministry.
Amen.
Ralph
The Breath
of God
Wonderful
song by my pastor, William Booth-Clibborn
There’s a
wind that blows full of life and power
As in all
creation’s most solemn hour
When God
gently breathed on a form of sod
And the
first man lived by the breathe of God
Chorus:
Let it
breathe on me
Let it
breathe on me
Let the
breath of God no breathe on me (repeat)
Sweet the
sound from heaven as with tongues of fire
Suddenly
the wind filled the room entire
As of old,
again send Thy Spirit, Lord
Let it
breathe on us, while in one accord.
Chorus:
Blessed
breath of Life, no one seems to know
From whence
this wind comes, neither where it goes.
But the
broken heart, the surrendered will,
And the
hungry soul it will surely fill.
Chorus:
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