From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "C & P Greene" <greenehouse72@juno.com>
Subject: Blessings and Joy to All
Date: Sunday, June 11, 2000 7:55 AM

"The secret [of the sweet, satisfying companionship] of the Lord have they
who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and
reveal to them its [deep, inner] meaning."  Psalm 25:14  Amplified Bible

Imagine!  God, Himself is the one who reveals the secret of that sweet and
satisfying companionship that we can have with Him here and now.  That He
desires to have that kind of companionship with man is too wonderful.  How
can we not humbly bow down and worship so gracious a God and Savior?

Jesus said,
"You are My friends, if you keep on doing the things which I command you to
do.  I do not call you servants (slaves) any longer, for the servant does
not know what his master is doing (working out).  But I have called you My
friends, because I have made known to you everything.  [I have revealed to
you everything that I have learned from Him.]  John 15:14-15 Amp.

And what is this commandment that Jesus gave just before and a similar one
just after  these two verses?  "...that you love one another, just as I have
loved you." Vs. 12 and 17  It is because of God's great love that He draws
us unto Himself and reveals Himself to us in and through Jesus.

The Apostle Paul goes on to tell us as he quotes from Isaiah,
"But as it is written, 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered
into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love
Him.'"
1 Corinthians 2:9
He says in verse 10,
"But God has revealed them unto us through His Spirit.  For the Spirit
searches all things, yes the deep things of God."

In Ephesians, that wonderful Epistle that tells of the Believer's position
in Christ, Paul says,
"Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good
pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the
fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ,
both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him."  Vs. 9-10
Oh how wonderful!  For a glorious blessing today, read verses 3-23, and note
Paul's prayer for wisdom, revelation and understanding for all Believers
down through the centuries.

Yes, to Believers!  Why only Believers?  For this reason,
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is
from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which
things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those
taught by the Spirit...But a natural man does not accept the things of the
Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand
them..." 1 Corinthians 2:12-14

We rejoice as we read the words of the Psalmist,
"Good and upright is the Lord...
  The humble He guides in justice,
  And the humble He teaches His way.
  All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth,
  To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies."  Psalm 25:8-10

To God be the glory now and forever.  Amen.