From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Wed, Mar 22, 2023 at 6:02 AM

Subject: 3-22-23 THOUGHTS

3-22-23   THOUGHTS

Am I spending my life on that which matters?  Jesus asked the most important question ever in Matt 16:26   "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?  Listening to God is equated to LIFE in verse 3 below.  The blessings of the Lord are free, coming from His grace, mercy and love.  Verse 5 is prophetic, with Jew, Gentile and The Christ being considered.  God is so far above us!  The WORDS of God will accomplish His purposes.  They always have, they always will.  We must seek the Lord while He may be found!  We do intend to live a profitable life, don't we?  

Isa 55:1-11    "Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost.  2  "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance. 3  "Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies shown to David. 4  "Behold, I have made him a witness to the peoples, A leader and commander for the peoples.  5  "Behold, you will call a nation you do not know, And a nation which knows you not will run to you, Because of the LORD your God, even the Holy One of Israel; For He has glorified you."  6  Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.  7  Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.  8  "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.  9  "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. 10  "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;  11  So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

My Prayer:
Thank you, O Lord, for words that give us life.  Help us to receive them with all diligence and gratitude.  May we incline our ears and listen with our whole being.  Keep us from spending our lives on things that do not profit.  Pardon us abundantly, O God.  Have compassion on us.  May we consider that You are higher than the heavens, and may we continually exalt Your name. Help us to joyfully join the process of making Your word prosper.  
In the name of our Savior,      Amen.