The Neely Team

Though I was bound in chains of sin,
I now am free; Christ reigns within.

His love and mercy I now trust,
For Satan’s rule my Saviour crushed.

My Master is the King of Kings;
His glorious praise, fore’er I’ll sing.

Someday on heaven’s blissful shore,
I’ll praise His name forever more.

‘Till all my life on earth is done,
In me may others see God’s Son.

A few days ago we were on our way to Greenville, SC when we were once again reminded of God’s presence and protection. We were going over a two-lane, curvy, mountain road before sunrise. As we rounded a bend, we suddenly saw two  sets of headlights coming straight toward the front of our van, as an oncoming vehicle passed another vehicle. God gave the driver of our van an extremely fast response, and moved us off the road, away from the on-coming vehicle. We were within inches of a head-on collision.

Looking back we realize that God had prepared a place for our van as we swerved off the road; there was a driveway at exactly the right place, and so we were able to swerve onto that instead of into a ditch. There was even a mailbox beside the road that the LORD allowed us to miss.

It is such a comfort to know that God is always with us. “Lo, I am with you always.” Our merciful Savior spared us from what would have ended with disaster.

“The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” -Psalm 34:7-

When I’ve been tested,
When I am tried,
God is my Shepherd,
He is my Guide.

He’s my Beloved,
He is my Friend,
Who sticketh closer
Than a brother can.

God is my Refuge,
In Him I Hide
He is my Comfort,
In Him I confide.

His love, amazing,
Is infinite;
His boundless mercy:
Completely free!

His riven side,
for you and me,
Shed perfect blood
On Calv’ry’s tree.

O, weak one, trust Him!
He’ll give you strength:
His yoke is easy,
His burden is light.

Christ is sufficient
For all your needs;
Give your life to Christ;
He deserves your praise!

“Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.” Psalm 22:4-5, 24-26

My God wants to hear from me.  God desires to hear me call upon Him. God allows the unfavorable circumstances so that He can deliver. Am I looking around at all my sins and problems or am I asking my dear Savior for strength, courage, and hope?

“We manifest in our bodies what we harbor in our thoughts.” – Unknown  Am I harboring thoughts of doubt, fear, and disobedience, and thus manifesting that in my actions? Even though we are Christians, we are nearly incurable of suspicion toward God.

He wants all of my trust to rest securely in Him. What promises He gives to those who will seek God and trust in Him. Isaiah 30:15 “For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.” I don’t want to be one of those who “would not,” but rather one who returns and trusts Christ. God most greatly covets mankind’s trust in Him. I must simply trust and obey.

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3

“…LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.” 2 Chronicles 14:11

“… and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD. And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.” Jeremiah 30:21b-22

Jesus is coming to earth again–
What if it were today?
Coming in power and love to reign–
What if it were today?
Coming to claim His chosen Bride,
All the redeemed and purified,
Over this whole earth scattered wide–
What if it were today?

Chorus
Glory, glory! Joy to my heart ’twill bring;
Glory, glory! When we shall crown Him King.
Glory, glory! Haste to prepare the way;
Glory, glory! Jesus will come someday.

Satan’s dominion will then be o’er–
O that it were today!
Sorrow and sighing shall be no more–
O that it were today!
Then shall the dead in Christ arise,
Caught up to meet Him in the skies;
When shall these glories meet our eyes?
What if it were today?

Faithful and true would He find us here
If He should come today?
Watching in gladness and not in fear,
If He should come today?
Signs of His coming multiply,
Morning light breaks in eastern sky;
Watch, for the time is drawing nigh–
What if it were today?

“Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” James 5:8

Romans 8:28  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”  Do you face difficulties in life? Well, I certainly do. Whenever those struggles appear I need to remember that Jesus always loves me. If there are family problems, Jesus loves me. If I am doubting my salvation, Jesus still loves me. If I am struggling, Jesus loves me. No matter what I face, Jesus will always love me. If I want whatever He deems best, even if it seems to be the worst for myself, I can still trust Him. He is using this problem in my life for MY good, and HIS glory. I must give him my struggles, my hurt, my desires, my relationships…EVERYTHING. When I focus on the fact  that He is by my side in this battle, and that He loves me no matter what, I can face anything. Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. ” May we all focus on Christ’s love as we strive to share it with others.

“…thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee… to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee. Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in His ways, and to fear him. For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land…. A land wherin…thou shalt not lack any thing in it…. When thou has eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee…

Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God…” –excerpts from Deuteronomy 8

At the edge of the promised land, the children of Israel were given a charge: a charge to not forget. Not to forget Jehovah, His workings on their behalf, and His commands for their lives in the Promised Land.

Many of you have probably already read a post from three years ago, A Legacy, A Trial, A Harp, and the Sovereignty of God. Well, today I would like to offer a brief sequel, specifically centered on “a harp.”

Following years of harp lessons and prayers, the Lord graciously provided a lovely pedal harp for me. This harp has been a special gift, opening up doors of opportunity for learning that have been barred in the past. But far more importantly, this harp has become a reminder of God’s everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) and never-failing mercy (Psalm 86:5).

As written so beautifully in Psalm 103, “…who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies… the LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy…He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east if from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we are dust…the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him…bless the LORD, O my soul.”

Each day, the mercies of the LORD are new (Lamentations 3:22-23). How has He demonstrated this to you? And how do you plan to remember His gracious acts? “That the generation to come might know them, even the children that should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:” –Psalm 78:6-7

So with thankfulness to the LORD and my family, I have named this blessing in my life Merci Morgen. Merci is French for “Thank you;” Morgen is German for “Morning.” I am filled with gratitude to the LORD for His mercies; they are new every morning.

I want to remember, and not forget.

May you, also, be blessed as you call to remembrance the faithful loving-kindness of our God!

We recently came across a letter from our dear friend, Uncle Bill, which contained some mottos that have blessed his life and ministry. Sometimes the most simple truth can be such a great encouragement.

• “For the Word of the Lord is right: and all His works are done in truth.” Psalm 33:4
• The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God will not sustain you.
• The knowing plus the doing of the will of God equals life.
• Little is much if God is in it, and much is little if God is not in it.
• The flesh (human nature apart from God) has a one-word vocabulary: more!
• He who does what he pleases is never pleased with what he does.
• Proper preparation prevents poor performance.
• Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God.
• No disaster is greater than underestimating the enemy.
• Faith demands obedience, with God being responsible for all consequences.
• “For of Him and through Him, and to Him are all things: to Whom be glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:36

As you read the following verses, let each word soak into your heart, allowing the truths of these promises to penetrate into your mind and transform your thinking.

“What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.” – Psalm 25:12-14

“But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children.” – Psalm 103:17

“He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.” – Psalm 145:19

“The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.” – Psalm 147:11

“The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.” – Proverbs 19:23

It’s spring time. The mountains are bursting out in new, vibrant color; blossoms are on the trees; flowers are making their appearance around the yard. With all the beauty of spring also comes pollen. In some areas of the country, cars will turn a greenish-hue as the little particles gather on them. Our porch was getting this way, and needed a good sweeping. With each brush of the broom a little cloud of pollen rose and vanished. I couldn’t help but think about the effects the pollen might have on me if I wasn’t careful….sneezing, watery eyes, and other undesirable reactions. It’s so small – just little bits of pollen. But if in the wrong place it can be very irritating.

I thought about how inconvenient and unwanted pollen-provoked allergies can be. Miserable, at times. But, more repulsive than pollen in my eyes is sin in the eyes of the just, holy God. To me, it might seem but a small sin, but to God, it is sin. Sin that is repulsive. Sin that made the Father turn His back on His Son. Sin that sent Jesus to the cross.

Makes my heart cry: “…Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:12b-14