Quote from Forum Archives on October 25, 2010, 7:29 pm

Posted by: edwrather <edwrather@...>

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The Burning Bush websites have received visits from more than 170 countries.
Celebrating 11 years online since January 31, 1998. Since June 8, 1998 the
Burning Bush Devotional has been spreading the truth of God's Word to more
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Please join the Burning Bush Prayer Group. The group began in 1998 and is
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The Burning Bush Devotional
Welcome to the 2325 new subscribers since January 1, 2010!!
There were 1367 new subscribers during 2009!!
(Classic from 2002)

10.25.10

Better Than Life

So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise
You. - Psalm 63:2-3.

When David wrote the 63rd Psalm he was in the wilderness fleeing for his
life. I am amazed at how David, even in the most difficult circumstances;
continues to turn to God, continues to trust God, and continues to praise
God. I also marvel at Christians today in the midst of their own trials,
tribulations, and even persecutions who continue to praise and serve God. I
receive emails nearly every day from people who are going through very
difficult things in their lives, but still they persist in praising and
serving God.

The apostle Paul who also knew a little about serving under difficult
conditions, tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:57-58, "But thanks be to God, who
gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved
brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." What a wonderful
testimony of faith is given when those who from outward appearances have
little reason to praise God; but not only praise Him, but continue to serve
Him. Paul gives us the assurance that our "labor is not in vain in the
lord."

Why do Christians continue on in praising God, and serving Him during
difficult times? Because they have the witness of the Spirit within (1 John
5:10a), and as Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the
words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are
the Christ, the Son of the living God (John 6:68)."

So today if you are under pressure from the world, and thinking about giving
up, or giving in remember the great example we have of those who have gone
before us. Keep on praising and serving God, because as David says, "Your
loving kindness is better than life." Keep on praising and serving God,
because as Peter points out there is nowhere else to go because, "You
(Jesus) have the words of eternal life." Finally, keep on praising and
serving Godm because as the apostle Paul says, "your labor is not in vain."
So my much beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, continue to "be
steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." "Let us
continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our
lips, giving thanks to His name (Hebrews 13:15)."

Copyright © 2002-2010. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the
devotionals on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush
website has been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email
version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent. Ed Wrather began
writing devotionals in the early 1990s. The distribution of these first
devotionals was primarily through the Burning Bush Newsletter sent to prison
facilities throughout the United States and Canada.

Many prayer needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on the Prayer
Request page. You can also post your prayer requests there and they will be
forwarded to the Burning Bush Prayer Group (Of course, I am always in need
of prayer - please pray for me.).

If you are not my friend on facebook or myspace you can be, just add me. The
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designed just for Christians, however, this is an outreach project to reach
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Two videos of my sermons are posted on GodTube (now Tangle) at:
connect.tangle.com/Wrather

You can listen to services at my son, Clark Wrather's church (First Baptist
Church of Broken Bow, Oklahoma) live on Sunday mornings at 10:55am CST
www.kkbifm.com/

There is a complete devotional archive at the old Burning Bush website. Here
is the URL: www.theburningbush.org/33.html.

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