Connie Terpack 9/15/2023
18:1 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.
18:2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will
trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
18:3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
18:4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
18:5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me.
18:6 In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God; he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
Psalm 18 is a victory song. God delivered David from the hand of his enemies and from Saul. David is speaking. He relates what the Lord is to him in vs 1-3; rehearses God’s deliverance in vs 4-19; relates the basis for that deliverance in vs 20-30; further rehearses the victory in vs 31-48; and resolves anew to continue praising God in vs 49-50.
It is the 4th longest in the Psalter. This psalm is also found in 2 Samuel 22. It was written after the death of Saul and the securing of David’s kingdom. Thus it commemorates David’s overall deliverance from his enemies rather than a specific victory.
Remember we don’t have to wait until we are having problems to call on the Lord. We can talk to him anytime – when we feel lonely; if we are worried or anxious; and most importantly, when we need to thank him for answered prayer or simply to tell him what a blessing it is to know him.
Buckler: is a small round shield held by a handle or worn on the forearm
Horn of salvation: This phrase is used again in Luke 1:69: The explanation in my Bible has that horn is often used as a metaphor for power; thus this phrase means “a powerful Savior.”
by Connie Terpack 9/1/23
Originally posted on November 19, 2021, but I thought I would share it again.
How many times when you were younger did you say, But Mommy or But Daddy? When you got a job did you ever say to your boss, But Boss? What about saying it to your husband or wife. I remember answering one of my sons with Don’t ‘But Mommy’ me. It seems to be a common phrase even in the Bible. Except in the Bible it is used in a better context.
Here are ten ‘but God’ verses from the King James Bible. I’m sure there are a lot more.
Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good, to bring it to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
1 Samuel 23:14 And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them and said unto them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
Acts 7:9 And the patriarchs, move with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt; but God was with him, …
Acts 13:30 But God raised him from the dead:…
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it.
by Connie Terpack
Following God’s will is not always easy. In Genesis 22 we have the story of God telling Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, his young son. Abraham obeyed, but I often wonder how reluctant he was. Did he mutter to himself – I can’t believe God would ask me to do this. Did he build the alter a little slower than he normally would have?
In verse 2, God tells Abraham to go to Moriah and offer his son there. Abraham and Isaac readied the alter, but his son did not know that he was to be the burnt offering. In verse 7, Issac asks his dad where the lamb was that they would sacrifice. His dad answered that God would supply one for them.
In verse 9 Abraham binds his son and lays him on the alter. He gets his knife out and stretched forth his hand, ready to slay his son. Then an angel of the Lord says, “Abraham, Abraham.”
Abraham said, “Here am I.”
I can imagine Abraham frozen with his arm extended and the knife pointed downward, ready to slay Isaac. Maybe he held his breath as he waited for God to speak and hoped he would tell him to not sacrifice Isaac.
The angel said, “Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him; for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.”
Verse 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
Can you imagine the relief Abraham felt, knowing that he would not lose his son. Maybe he used his knife to cut the bonds from his son’s hands and feet to free him quicker than it would have taken to untie him. Maybe he quickly folded Isaac into his arms and whispered a pray of thanks to God. None of that is in the Bible, but I expect Abraham would have expressed a simple prayer of thanks.
I doubt I could have done what Abraham was willing to do. Could any of us? We should all be glad that God does not ask us to that nowadays. He make want us to give up swearing, drinking alcohol, or giving a very generous donation, but he will not ask us to make a human sacrifice. Jesus was his sacrifice for us.
If you have not asked God to save you, consider doing it now. Having Jesus in your heart is the only way into heaven.
by Connie Terpack
Attitude: Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
Boldness: Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid?
Courage: Psalm 56:11
In God have I put my trust; I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
Discernment: Philippians 1:9-10
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.
Enthusiasm: Psalm 100:2
Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing.
Friendliness: Proverbs 18:24
A man that hath friends must show himself friendly, and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Generosity: 2 Corinthians 9:7
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Humility: Philippians 2:3-5
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let his mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
Initiative: 1 John 3:18
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
Joyfulness: Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice.
Knowledge: Proverbs 18:15
The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Listening: Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Maturity: 1 Corinthians 14:20
Brethren, be not children in understanding; howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
Neighbors: Mark 12:31
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is non other commandment greater than these.
Overflow: Romans 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Perseverance: Galatians 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Quiet: Proverbs 29:11
A fool uttereth all his mind, but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards
Respect: Romans 12:10
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;
Self-control: 2 Peter 1:5-7
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, charity.
Thankfulness: 1 Chronicles 16:34
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever.
Understanding: Psalm 119:130
The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Victory: Psalm 18:29
For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
Wisdom: James 3:17
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
X-cellence: Proverbs 3:9-10
Honor the Lord with thy substance and with the firstfruits of all thine increase; So shall thy barns be filled with plenty and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Youthfulness: 1 Timothy 4:12
Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Zeal: Romans 12:11-12
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Note: Bible used is King James Version
by Connie Terpack August 4, 2023
Recently I read a comment on Facebook that said that the name Christ was used only once in the Bible. I knew that could not be true since I have read the Bible a half dozen times and remember seeing it more often than that. Since I was curious about whether or not there was a difference between using Christ as a first or last name, this article is limited to those two.
Jesus was called by a variety of names and titles throughout the Bible. In John 6:35 Jesus referred to himself as the Bread of Life: And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. Then in John 8:12 Jesus says he is the Light of the World: Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. My last example is in John 10:11-12 where Jesus says he is the Good Shepherd: The thief cometh not, but for to steal and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Even in the Old Testament Jesus is talked about as the Wonderful Counselor in Isaiah 9:6: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Matthew chapter 1 starts with the lineage of Jesus Christ. Verse 18 begins the story of Jesus’ birth. In verse 21 an angel is talking to Joseph and tells him, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS for he shall save his people from their sins.”
My KJV Bible index lists 35 verses with Christ, 7 with Christ Jesus, and 44 for simply Jesus. I’m sharing only a few verses with you.
Matthew 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
Luke 2:11 – An angel tells the shepherds on the field: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever.
Revelations 22:20-21 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Faith Filled Friday, by Connie Terpack 7/21/23
Psalms 70:1-5
1 Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord.
2 Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul; let them be turned backward, and put to confusion that desire my hurt.
3 Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.
4 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee; and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.
5 But I am poor and needy; make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying.
This psalm is an urgent prayer for help and nearly identical to Psalms 40:13-17. David was petitioning God for his attention and action.
Psalms 40:13-17
13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make hast to help me.
14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee; let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified.
17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me; thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
Gen. Swing accepting the sword w/ Gen. Eichelberger
Even though Smitty had earned his points to go home, he was still an NCO on General Swing’s staff and was required to finish out his duties as such. After going through combat in the South Pacific, it would be in peaceful occupational Japan where Smitty’s temper would get the better of him.
Non-nonchalantly going about his business at the headquarters of Camp Schimmelpfennig, Smitty just happened to glance through the glass partition that sealed off Gen. Swing’s office. Inside was an officer holding and admiring the Japanese sword that his commander intended to keep and bring home as a souvenir. Smitty didn’t think much of it at the time; he was busy and many people commented on the weapon. so he continued down the hallway. A short while later, the entire office could hear the general demanding to know what had…
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Ammunition is removed from storage cave at Takatsuki Dump, Osaka.
General Swing made General Pierson commander of the 187th and 188th joint group which became known as the Miyagi Task Force. They set up their headquarters in an insurance company building in Sendai. The principle responsibility of the Miyagi Task Force was to collect and destroy all arms, munitions and armament factories. They were also charged with seeing that General MacArthur’s edicts were all carried out. Many of the military installations had underground tunnels filled with drill presses and machine tools of all types. The entire zone needed to be demilitarized and equipment destroyed. Colonel Tipton discovered a submarine base for the two-man subs and a small group of men still guarding them. They told the colonel that they just wanted to go home.
The Japanese mainland was still potentially a colossal armed camp, and there was an obvious military…
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