Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - "A Very Special Invitation" by J. K. Warrick" & "Getting Ready" & "Wisdom-The Gold Standard" by W. Talmadge Johnson – Sunday, 23 & Monday, 24 November 2014

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - "A Very Special Invitation" by J. K. Warrick" & "Getting Ready" & "Wisdom-The Gold Standard" by W. Talmadge Johnson – Sunday, 23 & Monday, 24 November 2014 - Scripture: Revelation 19: A White Horse and Its Rider
11-16 Then I saw Heaven open wide—and oh! a white horse and its Rider. The Rider, named Faithful and True, judges and makes war in pure righteousness. His eyes are a blaze of fire, on his head many crowns. He has a Name inscribed that’s known only to himself. He is dressed in a robe soaked with blood, and he is addressed as “Word of God.” The armies of Heaven, mounted on white horses and dressed in dazzling white linen, follow him. A sharp sword comes out of his mouth so he can subdue the nations, then rule them with a rod of iron. He treads the winepress of the raging wrath of God, the Sovereign-Strong. On his robe and thigh is written, King of kings, Lord of lords.
17-18 I saw an Angel standing in the sun, shouting to all flying birds in Middle-Heaven, “Come to the Great Supper of God! Feast on the flesh of kings and captains and champions, horses and their riders. Eat your fill of them all—free and slave, small and great!”
19-21 I saw the Beast and, assembled with him, earth’s kings and their armies, ready to make war against the One on the horse and his army. The Beast was taken, and with him, his puppet, the False Prophet, who used signs to dazzle and deceive those who had taken the mark of the Beast and worshiped his image. They were thrown alive, those two, into Lake Fire and Brimstone. The rest were killed by the sword of the One on the horse, the sword that comes from his mouth. All the birds held a feast on their flesh.
Scripturw: Proverbs 2: Make Insight Your Priority
1-5 Good friend, take to heart what I’m telling you;
    collect my counsels and guard them with your life.
Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom;
    set your heart on a life of Understanding.
That’s right—if you make Insight your priority,
    and won’t take no for an answer,
Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold,
    like an adventurer on a treasure hunt,
Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours;
    you’ll have come upon the Knowledge of God.
6-8 And here’s why: God gives out Wisdom free,
    is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding.
He’s a rich mine of Common Sense for those who live well,
    a personal bodyguard to the candid and sincere.
He keeps his eye on all who live honestly,
    and pays special attention to his loyally committed ones.
9-15 So now you can pick out what’s true and fair,
    find all the good trails!
Lady Wisdom will be your close friend,
    and Brother Knowledge your pleasant companion.
Good Sense will scout ahead for danger,
    Insight will keep an eye out for you.
They’ll keep you from making wrong turns,
    or following the bad directions
Of those who are lost themselves
    and can’t tell a trail from a tumbleweed,
These losers who make a game of evil
    and throw parties to celebrate perversity,
Traveling paths that go nowhere,
    wandering in a maze of detours and dead ends.
16-19 Wise friends will rescue you from the Temptress—
    that smooth-talking Seductress
Who’s faithless to the husband she married years ago,
    never gave a second thought to her promises before God.
Her whole way of life is doomed;
    every step she takes brings her closer to hell.
No one who joins her company ever comes back,
    ever sets foot on the path to real living.
20-22 So—join the company of good men and women,
    keep your feet on the tried-and-true paths.
It’s the men who walk straight who will settle this land,
    the women with integrity who will last here.
The corrupt will lose their lives;
    the dishonest will be gone for good.
"A Very Special Invitation" by J. K. Warrick
An invitation is special. Even if we can’t attend the event, it is nice to be invited. We get all kinds of invitations, and for the most part, we are honored that someone thought of us at an important time in their life. Being included is a beautiful thing.
The best invitation I have received to date is the invitation of our Lord when He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). I accepted that invitation and it changed my life. I am still discovering–and will continue to discover–all the blessings that are wrapped up in it.
I have another special invitation pending: “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” (Rev. 19:9). When the King of Kings comes to make all things new, those who believe in Him will be welcomed to that great supper. It will be last, and the best, of all the invitations I have received.
Many years ago I sent in my RSVP checked “Will attend!”
"Wisdom-The Gold Standard" by W. Talmadge Johnson
Our world has attained perhaps the greatest level of knowledge in recorded history. However, knowledge does not equate to wisdom. Wisdom, properly defined, means “the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight.”
The first human conversation on record is between Satan and Eve. Satan said, contrary to God’s warnings, “You will not certainly die . . . For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:4-5).
Today, the distinct lines between wisdom and understanding are blurred. This is due to a famine of discernment resulting from a deficiency of godly wisdom.
We gain clarity when we read Solomon’s words, “The LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” In other words, He is the source of wisdom, knowledge and understanding. He is the “gold standard” and the only changeless reference point for those who seek to “discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting.”
Let us learn to be still and listen for the voice of God. His words are truth, light, love and promise.
Hymn for Today:

"I Will Praise Him" by Margaret J. Harris
1. When I saw the cleansing fountain
Open wide for all my sin,
I obeyed the Spirit’s wooing,
When He said, Wilt thou be clean?
Refrain:
I will praise Him! I will praise Him!
Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;
Give Him glory, all ye people,
For His blood can wash away each stain.
2. Though the way seems straight and narrow,
All I claimed was swept away;
My ambitions, plans and wishes,
At my feet in ashes lay.
Refrain:
I will praise Him! I will praise Him!
Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;
Give Him glory, all ye people,
For His blood can wash away each stain.]
3. Then God’s fire upon the altar
Of my heart was set aflame;
I shall never cease to praise Him
Glory, glory to His name!
Refrain:
I will praise Him! I will praise Him!
Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;
Give Him glory, all ye people,
For His blood can wash away each stain.
4. Blessèd be the name of Jesus!
I’m so glad He took me in;
He’s forgiven my transgressions,
He has cleansed my heart from sin.
Refrain:
I will praise Him! I will praise Him!
Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;
Give Him glory, all ye people,
For His blood can wash away each stain.
5. Glory, glory to the Father!
Glory, glory to the Son!
Glory, glory to the Spirit!
Glory to the Three in One!
Refrain:
I will praise Him! I will praise Him!
Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;
Give Him glory, all ye people,
For His blood can wash away each stain.
"O Come, o Come, Emmanuel" from Latin Hymn, 12th Century; translated by Henry B. Coffin
1. O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
2. O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
3. O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
4. O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem,
unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o'er the grave.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
5. O come, O Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road
and bar the way to death's abode.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
6. O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
7. O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease

and be yourself our King of Peace.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel. 
Thought for Today: 

““Come!” say the Spirit and the Bride.
Whoever hears, echo, “Come!”
Is anyone thirsty? Come!
All who will, come and drink,
Drink freely of the Water of Life!"(Revelation 22:17).
"Hallelujah!
I give thanks to God with everything I’ve got—
Wherever good people gather, and in the congregation.
God’s works are so great, worth
A lifetime of study—endless enjoyment!
Splendor and beauty mark his craft;
His generosity never gives out.
His miracles are his memorial—
This God of Grace, this God of Love.
He gave food to those who fear him,
He remembered to keep his ancient promise.
He proved to his people that he could do what he said:
Hand them the nations on a platter—a gift!
He manufactures truth and justice;
All his products are guaranteed to last—
Never out-of-date, never obsolete, rust-proof.
All that he makes and does is honest and true:
He paid the ransom for his people,
He ordered his Covenant kept forever.
He’s so personal and holy, worthy of our respect.
The good life begins in the fear of God—
Do that and you’ll know the blessing of God.
His Hallelujah lasts forever!"(Psalm 111:1-10).
Please Pray:
For the leaders who cast the vision for today's ministry and strategize for the future work of Mesoamerica.
For the peace of God to comfort, encourage, and equip His people in Mesoamericaintheir times of sorrow, discouragement, or need.
____________________________
WordAction Publishing Company
Beacon Hill Press
Nazarene Publishing Company
2500 Troost Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64108 United States[
Embrace holy living…visit reflectinggod.com.
____________________________