Psalm 20:2

Continuing in Psalm 20 -

2 Send thee HELP from the SANCTUARY, and STRENGTHEN thee out of ZION.

I pray today that God shall send thee HELP! Practically speaking we sometimes feel so poorly that we can't go out and shop or cook or clean or take care of little ones. Perhaps you need HELP today. My prayer for you today is that the Lord will send thee practical HELP...Also I pray that He shall send thee financial HELP if you need it so that you can get the supple-
ments and medicines that you need or another house without gas or mold or carpet or what- ever. I've been HERE, too, and it's a desperate feeling to know that you will feel worse if the money doesn't come in. Yes, and may the Lord send HELP by giving you the "answers" - "the pieces of the puzzle" for better health. May He also give you an understanding friend if you are without one. I will try to "fill that bill" if you wish. But most importantly, may He send you HELP from the SANCTUARY..His sanctuary- the place of HOLINESS. May He fill you with HIMSELF...with purity and holiness. May He be to you a *"TREASURE CHEST OF HOLY JOY"-Your one true DELIGHT!

Perhaps you have also prayed this prayer from the bottom of your heart many times like I have-

"Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I DESIRE beside THEE. My flesh and my heart FAILETH: but GOD is the STRENGTH of my heart, and my PORTION for ever." (Ps. 73:25-26)

I have prayed to God that He would purify and cleanse me, and I believe He intensified my sickness in answer to my prayer. There is still so much sin and selfishness left in me, but my prayer is that He will send HELP from His SANCTUARY-His HOLY PLACE and "bathe me" in
His HOLINESS. My prayer is the same for you, my friend!

Two sets of tapes which have rejoiced my heart so much are the "Hope in God" series and "Called to Suffer and Rejoice." Both sets of tapes can be had by calling 1-888-DGM-4700 or by visiting www.desiringGod.org I have literally "bathed my mind" in Dr. John Piper's early sermons, and it has changed my life!

The word "strengthen" means to "support:-comfort..." COMFORT...This is my prayer for you today, too, my friend...that Christ will send you COMFORT as He has done for me.

Here is another of my prayer diary excerpts for Sept. 1999, dealing with comfort--

"...With great roarings (Ps. 22:1) You died for me, with great groanings in the spirit You wept with Mary and Martha when Lazarus died, (Jn. 11: 33, 35), and with great emotion You are crying now with me here, too. You FEEL MY INFIRMITIES (Heb.4:15), and You have
COMPASSION-for You also were "compassed with infirmity" as Heb. 5:2 says. It's interesting that the Greek word for "infirmity" can mean "feebleness (of body or mind)...sickness, weakness." Could it be that You, dear Jesus, had a bodily weakness like mine that was never
recorded in Scripture???You WERE a "man of sorrows and acquainted with grief" (Is. 53:3)...Yes, You FEEL my seemingly increasing INFIRMITIES and WEEP for me! You FEEL my distress at not being able to do anything about making my environment less toxic! Surely You FEEL my "PRISON" of pain! As I cry, You also weep bitter tears and demonstrate Your great and mighty LOVE! Thank-You, Lord, for Your wonderful comfort!

Yes, and God will strengthen us out of ZION. Zion is the church, and the true church of God is made up of all His little sheep who KNOW HIM in truth. What a blessing it has been for me to hear from other "hurting sheep" who have gone before. Their words have been a
STRENGTH to ME!...I am reminded of Cindy Duering's song- "...To live another day in the FULLNESS of GOD!" What a blessing Cindy's songs have been to me! Her testimony lives on even though the pesticide exposures finally took her HOME! And others who share their "meditations" from the Word of God are a "strength" to me, too!

Well, my friend, my song that I wish I could SING for you today is Psalm 20. You can't hear my tune because we are separated by miles, but as I go to my field and sing, know that I will be singing it for you! (Now you can hear it http://www.youtube.com/pilgrimhymns#p/c/4C49CD88256047C4/36/KhBlld4nU3o

Love in Christ,



*Termed by Dr. Piper