“From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised. 

The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.

Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,

Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth.

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill.” PSALMS 113: 2-7

The Lord is worthy to be praised, even on bad days, hard days, and days we just aren’t feeling it.

God’s goodness cannot and will not ever be measured by our human standards, his goodness and his mercy are always there.

Constantly surrounding his children regardless of their cares, or their despair.

In goodness and plenty, in sorrow and want his love is unchanging.

From palaces and mansions where his name is never spoken to the innermost dungeons of darkness and tunnels where cries to him are made, he remains sovereign.

Sometimes answers are instant, sometimes we must wait, sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes it is a heartbreaking no.

But in all things his will and his plans for us have the final say and while we do not always understand, he does and no matter the answer, he loves us and nothing in this life to hurt us is from him.

Quite the opposite, he saw our beginning and end before creating us on this earth and he knows the best for us, and what we need in our lives and he also knows what we need to let go.

And everything else is accepting his sovereignty.

Paul said it this way:

PHILLIPIANS: 4:11-13:  “Not that I speak in respect of want (lack): for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both the be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

That’s the hard part, like the serenity prayer, accepting those things which we cannot change and having the courage to forge ahead and accept, trust, and know that he has our eternity kept safely in his hands.

And as all who belong to Christ celebrate with our brethren at their return, joy in their release and sorrow in those whose lives were taken away by those who are absolutely demonic.

My heart forever breaks at the thought of the precious Bibas boys and their mother, the family videos shown as the baby Kfir laughed as his dad played with him and Ariel running in his Batman cape, carefree and beautiful as childhood should be.

Not ever forgetting the babies burned and twelve hundred slaughtered simply because of their DNA.

A world in which many celebrated this evil and call for their complete destruction, many of this same crew would seek to have arrested those who refuse to use their chosen perceived gender pronouns, proving so blatantly that they believe themselves to be so much more,

Images I am sure are forever burned into the minds of all of us around the world who long for justice.

But at the end of the day, the return of the hostages is a victory, and justice will be had, even if that justice delays from this earth, we have God’s eternal promise.

ROMANS 12:19: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

Give him thanks, honor, praise for his mercy today.

PSALMS 136

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever.

The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever.

The moon and starts to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever.

And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever.

With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever.

And made Isreal to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth  for ever.

But overthrew Pharoah and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.

To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever.

And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Sihon of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever.

And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever.

And gave their land for an heritage (inheritance): for his mercy endureth for ever.

Even an heritage (inheritance) unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth  for ever.

And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Who giveth food to all flesh (peoples): for his mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.”

Young, old, small, or great, rich, poor, free or bound anywhere and everywhere, in all things his children have that promise, his mercy will endure for ever and his mercy is for ever to those who love him.

Φλογιζω  NBJ 2025/ Rev. N Brown Johnson