Routine had a lulling effect upon the senses, and he knew his security demanded that he be alert at any moment for whatever might come.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (North to the Rails)

    “He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known.”
              –Proverbs 10:9 (NKJV)
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There is no god like God.  Why should we worry or fret or tremble when the Lord God Almighty is watching over us?  Troubles, what are they to Him?  Toils and tears, He can quickly vanish them.  As you read this first part of Psalm 33, think of David sitting and contemplating God.  He might be alone, in the wilderness tending the sheep.

    1 – Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous ones; praise from the upright is beautiful.
    2 – Praise the Lord with the lyre; make music to Him with a ten-stringed harp.
    3 – Sing a new song to Him; play skillfully on the strings, with a joyful shout.
    4 – For the word of the Lord is right, and all His work is trustworthy.
    5 – He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the Lord’s unfailing love.
    6 – The heavens were made by the word of the Lord, and all the stars, by the breath of His mouth.
    7 – He gathers the waters of the sea into a heap; He puts the depths into storehouses.
    8 – Let the whole earth tremble before the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
    9 – For He spoke, and it came into being; He commanded, and it came into existence.

Every day we should begin with praise.  Our praise should be fresh, joyful, and skillfully presented to Him.  If His mercies are new every morning, how much then should our praise be new every morning.
    We are new creatures, old things are gone.  Augustine said, “Put off oldness.  A new man, a new testament, a new song.  A new song does not belong to the old man; none learn it but new men, renewed through grace from oldness, and belonging now to the new testament.”  Do you belong to the old world, or born again into the new kingdom of God?  Then sing a new praise to Him.
    The earth trembles, the earth shakes, yet the world, the system of antichrist only mocks.  Mock now, one day it will tremble.  One day all will see Him as He is!  Oh, what a minute, the world does not tremble, they scorn and ridicule, but the shame of it is so do many Christians.  Take time to see the Lord and let your words be grateful for His majesty.

         “Then let our songs abound,
          And every tear be dry;
          We’re marching through Emmanuel’s ground
          To fairer worlds on high.”
                  –Isaac Watts

Trouble often came out of nowhere to muddle up life.”
              –Cliff Hudgins  (Viejo and the Ranger)

    “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
              –1 Peter 3:14 (NKJV)
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I’ve mentioned this week that we need to have fellowship with master disciples from the past, as well as the idea of developing a personal mission statement.  Today, I want to share something from General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s private writings.  I picked this up from Terry Tuley’s book, Battlefields of Blessing:  Civil War.
    We must always be people of integrity, men and women of honor and righteousness.  Ponder the following by General Jackson.

         1)  Through life let your principle object be the discharge of duty.
         2)  Disregard public opinion.
         3)  Sacrifice life rather than your word.
         4)  Endeavor to do well everything which you undertake.
         5)  Never speak disrespectfully without cause.
         6)  Spare no effort to suppress selfishness.
         7)  Avoid trifling conversation.

In his notes he further said, “Avoid bad company; there is danger of catching their habits.”
    Good character takes work.  It doesn’t happen overnight.  There must be trials, tests, storms that need come your way to help knock off the rough edges of your character.  The Holy Spirit has His part as well, and He will look to it.  Don’t hinder Him.
    In years past I have written much about a key word that few understand today–DUTY.  People have their agenda or follow an immoral agenda posted by others.  Few really understand the concept of true duty.  Solomon spent a life of misery.  Oh, he had wealth, fame, and power.  The world was at his fingertips, but when old age came his way he said it was all vanity.  There was one thing required:  DUTY.

         “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:  Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”
                   –Ecclesiastes 12:13(NIV)

Come to think of it, that would make quite a personal missions statement!

It’s action that tells you who a man is.  We’ll see what kind of tracks he makes.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (Utah Blaine)

    “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”
              –Romans 12:15 (NASB)
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According to studies, the number one reason most people go to church is for fellowship.  Not really a striking comment, for we see it all the time.  There are constant events and meetings in the church.  Special groups meet to eat and have fellowship.  Why before and after church the foyer of the church is filled with people talking, don’t know if they have much to say, but they are wanting to say something to someone else.  And we also have our beloved phones–people continually look at them, text, they just have to hear from someone or tell something to someone.
    I would say fellowship is an important practice that is essential but not necessarily the most important.  I might discuss that on a later date, but I want to focus on fellowship.  Being a disciple implies that we have fellowship with the Lord.  One cannot be a disciple without being with the Master.
    We need fellowship with other disciples.  But, have you ever thought about fellowship with the disciples of the past?  We need to master the masters, they have so much to tell us.  You may want to study the life of an individual in the Bible.  What does this person have to say to you?  However, there are many other disciples.  Dallas Willard states,

         “Fellowship with other disciples, living and dead, is another practice essential to the ‘Christ focus.’  Some with whom we must have fellowship have been long dead, but they live on and are available to us through writings.  Of course, many of these are in the Bible.  Others are nearer to us in time, and some are our contemporaries.  We need to devote much time to knowing them well.  We must above all master the masters.  Spiritual reading is one of the major sources of light and strength for the disciple of Jesus.  But, as valuable as it is, it cannot take the place of fellowship with other disciples living and walking beside us.”

    When was the last time you read “Pilgrim’s Progress”?  Or maybe you have never read it!  Make it a practice this year to glean something from those disciples who have gone on before.  Read something from Fenelon, Lewis, or Pink, to name only three.  Let them speak to your life.  A different time perhaps, but truth never changes and we can always learn from the character of others.