rosegarden

To bless and praise the Lord is to do it with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. To thank and praise Him for all He is and all He has done. In the church that God led me to, praise and worship was natural, lifting up hands, clapping and shouting praises to the Lord. My prayer is that I want to be more aware of His presence daily, acknowledging and being mindful of Him with thanks and praise. I have been getting into the habit of spending time with the Lord before my day begins, putting Him first. When I do that, its like he orders my day and gives me specials blessings during the day. I bless and praise and thank Him for who He is, what He has done - provided, protected, answered prayer and blessings He has given me during the day. We take so much for granted and now in my senior years thank Him for getting up, seeing, hearing, speaking, swallowing, walking, talking, an appetite and on and on. It is so great to receive His blessings, knowing He loves me, provides, protects, heals, encourages, strengthens, given me His promises, salvation, healing, deliverance and that He knew me before I was born and has a plan for me. What a great God and Savior and to know that the God who made heaven and earth wants to fellowship with me. Thank you so much Pastor Ralph for putting all these lessons together and I know that when you are doing them that they are a blessing to you, but want to tell you how much I appreciate your hard work. This lesson has been inspiring and heart rendering. God Bless You!

a. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Jesus is the chief unifier and without the Holy Spirit working in us, we cannot have unity. Jesus prayer, That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:21-23) b. Without God it is impossible. People wanting power and control, are self-centered, prideful, own opinions, always right, hateful, hurtful, nasty, without God and all the other things that come with human nature and a life that is not surrendered to the Lord. Then again, we need to see people as God sees them, not on the outward appearance or their faults, as hurt people ...Hurt people. We need to see their need of God for forgiveness, healing and deliverance. b. I don't know if it is an obstacle but I do want the God kind of love for others, unconditional love and compassion. The Bible says, And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given unto us. (Romans 5:5) In my own self, I don't have that kind of love but it is in really knowing God loves me by the Holy Spirit, that I can love others.

David wanted to build a house for the Lord, he found a place - Jerusalem, but God said because of the bloodshed during David's reign that his son Solomon would build the Temple. Solomon became king and built the Temple. The Davidic Covenant promises that David's dynasty would last forever. Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise and hope. He is the Son of David, born in Bethlehem, the City of David, and crucified with the title "King of the Jews" fastened to his cross. He was raised from the dead and now rightly sits on the throne of David's kingdom over what we now call the Kingdom of God. 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.'" (Revelation 11:15) "Every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10-11)

a. Demanding answers from God lead to stress because we are not trusting in Him, we are looking at the circumstances, we are worrying and trusting in ourselves. When we obey the Word - Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5 -6) When We rest in God's leading and guiding, we can have the peace of God and no stress. b. Unexplained events in my life made me angry because they were of my own doing and because of wrong choices I made or think I had to make because I had no one to talk to and I did not know the Lord at the time. But eventually I came to know the Lord and He turned things around and was there for me. c. There are times when I am oppressed, but I breakthrough in crying out to the Lord and saying what His Words says about me, I submit myself to God, resist the devil and put on the Armor of God and state that no weapon formed against me shall prosper. I come into His presence with thanksgiving and praise and bless His name. His Spirit is inside me and He gives me peace and rest. d. To Hope in the Lord means that even though there may be trouble on every side, family, personal, job, relationships, marriage, sickness, there is Hope in the Lord. He knows about every situation and is waiting for us to call upon Him and trust Him for the result.

Knowing that all have sinned and that God made a provision for us by sending His Son, Jesus to pay the price for our sin, that was passed down to us by Adam, we are filled with thanksgiving and gratitude. Also, if we do sin, 1 John 1:9 says, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We have a new found faith, hope and love for God. Knowing that God forgives us, we should have the same compassion for others in extending forgiveness to them. Its not who is right or who is wrong, but God's Word says: Forgive us as we forgive others. (Matt. 6:12) Meaning, if we don't forgive others how can God forgive us. Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:31)

Yes, when God delivered me from the pain of unforgiveness. It had to do with inheritance when my Mom died. Having arguments with my niece because I was the daughter and everyone was telling me I had more rights than she. I believed them and was miserable. Unforgiveness and bitterness will do that. At the time, on Christian radio, there was a song titled, "Seventy times Seven". I kept hearing that song every time I turned the radio on. Finally, I said Okay Lord , I know you are speaking to me. I called my niece and told her to come over and we embraced. I/We were healed of that terrible pain unforgiveness brings. Things are better than before and I have love and compassion for her. After forgiveness and my obeying the Lord, I have never heard that song again. Peace and love took the place of unforgiveness.

a. To fear the Lord means to reverence and respect Him and obey His commands. He is God Almighty creator of heaven and earth. b. God has bless me with supplying all my needs, He delivered me from a bad marriage and cared and provided for me being a single parent. I have had a good and long life, He has heaIed my body numerous time and protected me and I have peace and contentment. c. When we have struggles they cause us to trust in and lean on the Lord and that is how we grow. Hardships and a good attitude build character in us. It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. (Psalm 119:71) d.& e. Faith in God brings prosperity in many ways. Believing God brings His blessings to me.....That is Prosperity. Not necessarily money, but growth, healing, provision, peace, protection, His presence, and so much more.

a. Work without trust is inadequate because it is all self effort and does not accomplish a good result -you are overtired, you make mistakes. No one can do it like God. It reminds me of times when I water my garden myself with the hose - results - flowers a little perky but doesn't last too long. When God brings His wonderful showers, its like showers of blessings because flowers grow and inch or two, ground is soaked, flowers are nourished and don't have to water for awhile. b. You can trust God, but if you do nothing, nothing will happen. Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:17) c. Work hard, but know when to quit. If you did your best when you have strength, you will have satisfaction in what you have done. Don't overdo. God is our provider. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matt. 6:33) The Lord gives His beloved sleep. Your strength will be refreshed and restored for the next work day. d. Children are both a heritage and a reward because the Lord entrusts them to us - we love them, teach them values, bring them up in the Lord, train them, they return the favor of blessing, nurturing, and carrying for us in our senior years. Treasure them. The reward pays off in love, peace and contentment.

a. As we get to know the Lord, spend time with Him, believe, trust and have patience, He comes through. If we are from the "I want it now generation" nothing will happen. God is a personal God, and He knows what we need before we ask. He loves us and wants to perform miracles for us but sometimes it may be us who is hindering these miracles or, we are asking for the wrong things. Know that nothing is impossible with God. Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. (Heb. 10:36) b. Patience obedience over time is necessary, as we are pray and believe and as we are co-laborers with Christ, it builds our faith and relationship with God and helps us to grow. c. Yes, we can shout for joy now, knowing God loves us and we can trust Him. We may have trials and hardships, but Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30:5) If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Rom. 8:31-32) d. Praise, Worship and Thanksgiving for all He has done in the past and what He will do in the future. Come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods.

a. If we trust in the Lord we can be confident, strengthened and cannot be moved. He is in us, and all around us protecting and keeping us. b. Unrighteous rulers want control, power, are greedy, un-Godly, destroy rather than build up and think only of themselves, not the people. This is done by lies, deception, and control. c. When rulers are unrighteous they bring down the country, destroy it and no one is happy. In my perception, I believed when rulers are unrighteous in the land, that the same sin that they are involved in comes down on its people. If they are righteous and want right that their good qualities come down on the people. d. When we allow unrighteous in our hearts to continue to guide our actions and thoughts, we come away from our connection with God, we sin, and sin begets more sin and we become hard hearted.

a. In my marriage of 23 yrs. I suffered from many years of abuse by my husband - verbal and physical. The Lord protected me in many ways and made a way for me to escape, by him meeting someone he wanted to marry, so we were divorced. God gave me the ability to forgive him and even erased some of the bad memories from my mind. b.& c. I thank God for saving me when I was 35 and showing me how much He loved me and the experience he gave me to let me be established in that truth. Coming from a bad marriage that was not love, God showed me what love really was. d. My Daughter in law comes to mind, which I am working on. Help me Lord. Dr. Wilson - Thank you for these heart rendering questions that make you look deep within your soul.

a. This psalm teaches us that we can come to our Master with a problem or need, and we can trust Him to help us. He is merciful and forgives us as we lift up our eyes to him for help, humbly bringing needs and our shortcomings and patiently look to him to supply our needs, for we know he will. b. We are not to have contempt for anyone, as God created every one and loves each one individually. We are not to look on the outward appearance but to look at how God sees them with compassion and love, as we are all made in the image and likeness of God. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves and do unto other as you would have them do unto you. We would not want to be in some of the bad conditions that they are in or treated as they are, so put yourself in their place and see how you would feel. c. In my neighborhood community there are many Russian-Jewish families. They may seem different because many of them do not talk English but talk their native language, and a woman from Cambodia but I have patience and take time to listen. They all are the greatest people, all loving and caring, probably because they come from countries who have had wars and many trials and they appreciate America and all its freedoms. d. I have gone out of my way to share God's love with them by prayer, baking, sharing meals with them and gardening around the apartment complex with flowers to make it look pretty for all. I love doing things for them and sharing the love of God. I heard a message on seeds recently. Everything you do or say is a seed. So now I make it a point to sew good seeds out of my mouth or seeds that I do with my hands, like caring for the seeds I plant with people or those that I have put in the ground.

a. I have been in the same church for 47 yrs. and I have seen people come and go and wondering why they left. People you build bonds with when we were new Christians and it is so sad. The Word was being preached and there was no need to go any other place. Maybe they got offended, change of pastors, change of music style, not getting the teaching they need, under conviction, prayers not answered, all your old friends are gone and there is a totally different atmosphere, discouraged and no one reached out to them, feeling like the lone ranger, too busy, God came down on the priority list, not reading the Word, heart hardening, etc. b. Maybe because they didn't really feel connected. We have connect groups in our church and because of Covid we are doing zoom classes on line and finding that sharing our lives through a teaching we are doing on healing is bringing us closer together, building our faith and hearing testimonies of people healed or being healed. There are some great teachings on line and people are looking for truth and wanting to be fed and grow. Hopefully they have discernment on what to listen to. But we need each other and find we are all pretty much all going through the same things, opposition of the enemy , fighting the good fight, etc. c. & d. I can pray that people realize how much they need God and cry out to Him for what is really on their heart in truthfulness and be honest about ourselves to Him and watch Him come through to us. Be thankful in everything . He has given us everything we need to win this battle - His Blood, His Spirit, His Promises, His Name, His Righteousness, His Word, His Armor, His Peace, and so much more. We Win! Let your light shine that others can see Christ in you - The Hope of Glory!

He is with me and when I have a need, I can come to Him in prayer for help, for myself and others and He is faithful. When I didn't know if I could stay in my apartment because of increased rent, and a higher price on my car lease He provided for me, protected me numerous times while driving, has healed my body, has given me new strength for each day. Upon awakening, if maybe I was down, His Spirit brings to my mind an old chorus that encourages me. His Spirit keeps me from sin and sinning. My shade - sometimes when I am walking and seeing big stately trees, and the shade of them reminds me that He is my covering and my strength. He shields and protects me through His Word and because He loves me.

Stress pulls me away from God, as I sometimes think that I can solve the problem myself naturally, and look up this thing and that thing and forget that He is just waiting for me to trust in Him with the situation. When it is an impossible, I remember that nothing is impossible with God and I cry out to the Lord for help, he answers me and faith and love grows. Nothing can take the place of spending time with the Lord before your day and a lot of the stresses of the day will never happen. I am asking the Lord for me to be ever conscious of His presence throughout my day, to cast all my care on Him because He cares for me and to learn to trust Him in everything.