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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Thu, Dec 21, 2023 at 5:41 AM

Subject: 12-21-23 THOUGHTS

12-21-23   THOUGHTS

We begin our day with some most pleasant thoughts!  We consider a psalm of simple thanks and praise,  mixed with some prophecy.  Jesus is the gate of God!  John 14:6   “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”  Verse 22 below says “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone.”   We must be glad in the Lord’s doing, for it was marvelous!  “He has given us light”.  Let us “give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His loving kindness is everlasting.”

Ps 118:19-29    Open to me the gates of righteousness; I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the LORD. 20  This is the gate of the LORD; The righteous will enter through it. 21  I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me, And You have become my salvation. 22  The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. 23  This is the LORD’S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. 24  This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. 25  O LORD, do save, we beseech You; O LORD, we beseech You, do send prosperity! 26  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD; We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.  27  The LORD is God, and He has given us light; Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar. 28  You are my God, and I give thanks to You; You are my God, I extol You. 29  Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

My Prayer:
O Father God, You are worthy of all praise and thanksgiving.  The blessings you have given us in Christ Jesus are truly marvelous in our eyes.  We exalt Your name.  We look to a final day and eternity with You, O God.  Keep us in Your watch-care until that time.  Help us to be the living sacrifice that is appropriate,  in view of the death-burial-resurrection of Your Son.  Help us to live in the shadow of the cross.   May we rejoice and be glad for and in, the light of Your doing.    In the name of our Savior,     Amen.