then sings my soul,

Timely.

Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself? Take those thoughts that come to you the moment you wake up in the morning. You have not originated them but they are talking to you, they bring back the problems of yesterday, etc. Somebody is talking. Who is talking to you? Your self is talking to you. Now this man's treatment [in Psalm 42] was this: instead of allowing this self to talk to him, he starts talking to himself. 'Why art thou cast down, O my soul?' he asks. His soul had been depressing him, crushing him So he stands up and says, 'Self, listen for a moment, I will speak to you.' The main art in the matter of spiritual living is to know how to handle yourself. You have to take yourself in hand, you have to address yourself, preach to yourself, question yourself... You must turn on yourself, upbraid yourself, condemn yourself, exhort yourself, and say to yourself: 'Hope thou in God' - instead of muttering in this depressed, unhappy way, and they you must go on to remind yourself of God, Who God is, and... what God has done, and what God has pledged Himself to do. Then having done that, end on this great note. Defy yourself, and defy other people, and defy the devil and the whole world, and say with this man 'I shall yet praise him for the help of His countenance, who is also the health of my countenance and my God.'

He has not forgotten.

The altar of burnt offering was the first thing the Israelites saw as they entered the tabernacle courtyard. Here sacrifices were constantly made. Its vivid presence constantly reminded the people that they could only come to God by means of the sacrifice. It was the only way their sins could be taken away. Because of his love for the Israelites, God provided a way for them to substitute the life of an animal that was pure and without defects, in place of their own–a life for a life. So everyday, people would bring sacrifices to God in the courtyard of the Tabernacle. This system of sacrifice continued for hundreds of years, but these sacrifices were only a symbol of what was to come. God was preparing a final sacrifice that would pay for the world’s sins ... once and for all.

"When dismayed or distressed with the fear of wrath, the force of temptation, or the weight of affliction, we should apply to the Physician of our souls, who never rejects any, never prescribes amiss, and never leaves any case uncured. To Him we may speak at all times. To broken hearts and wounded consciences, all creatures, without Christ, are physicians of no value."

"Too often the great Author of all our comforts, and the manner in which they are conveyed to us, are not noticed, because they are received as things of course. In the ways of Providence, the experiences of some are encouragements to others, to hope the best in the worst of times; for it is the glory of God to send help to the helpless, and hope to the hopeless. And daring sinners are confounded, and forced to acknowledge the justice of God's proceedings."

"The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except that man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us... But we have the mind of Christ."

Remember, Jesus brought you through the red sea. Remember, mighty miracles that you have seen. Remember, you were slaves and now are free. Remember, that He is king. To the only God, our savior, Jesus Christ. The glory, honor, power, and dominion. Before all time, and now, and evermore.

"What kind of mischief can we get into today?!" "I don't ever want to get married or be a mom. I want to live with my mom and dad forever." "He's eating his chapstick!" "Let's play duck, duck, goose again!"