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[Silence] Heavens be glad and the earth rejoice. [Audience] Let the king of Rome and all men feel joy. Then shall all the trees of the woods sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes.

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[Audience] Let the trees of the woods sing for joy. us pray. Oh gracious God our Father we thank you for having brought us thus far along life's way. We bless your name for the privilege of worship. We pray that you would have mercy upon us and grant that the words of our mouths and the

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meditations of our hearts may be acceptable in your sight. Oh Lord our strength and our Redeemer. Amen. Good morning and welcome to the worship of God let us greet one another this morning. All right, let's turn to hymn number 222,

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and let's all sing this joyfully. We've come this far by faith. [music playing] ♪ (dramatic music)

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♪ From this far by faith ♪ ♪ Be of good cheer ♪ ♪ Trust in Him, His holy Word ♪ ♪ He hath upheld the earth ♪

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♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Never have I ♪ ♪ Missed a fish walk a day ♪ ♪ We've had fish walk a day ♪

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♪ We've been on the road ♪ ♪ Just to get a tall river ♪ ♪ He never failed me yet ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪

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♪ Never to run ♪ ♪ He could be as bold as he is ♪ ♪ He's a man ♪ ♪ With trouble ♪

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♪ Yes, in your life ♪ ♪ We'll build an earth full of burden ♪ ♪ And move all misery and strife ♪ ♪ Once we've won this war by faith ♪

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♪ Leaning on the Lord ♪ ♪ Trusting in His holy word ♪ He'll never fail in the end. Oh, oh, oh. We'll never fail. We've done this for our land. We are still continuing our sermon series based on the book of Psalms

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And we come now today to the 16th Psalm the 16th Psalm Preserve me, O Lord, for in thee do I put my trust. O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, thou art my Lord.

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My goodness extendeth not to thee, but to the saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight. Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another God.

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That drink offerings of blood. Will I not offer not take up their names into my lips. The Lord is the potion of mine inheritance and of my cup. Thou maintainest my lot.

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The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places. Yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the Lord who hath given me counsel. My reigns also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me because he is at my right hand. I shall not be moved.

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Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices. My flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to seek corruption. Thou will show me the path of life. In thy presence is fullness of joy. At thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

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Now is our time of prayer together. Let us gather around the altar as we unite our hearts in the blessed fellowship of prayer. More things are wrought through prayer than this world dreams of. [MUSIC]

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As we assemble now for prayer. May we bow our heads. O gracious God our Father, here we are, your children gathered in your house. We pause to say thank you. Thank you for having brought us thus far. Thank you for the privilege

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of coming to this holy place. Thank you for the love that you have showered upon us. Thank you for your forgiveness that has been granted us time and time again. Oh we confess that we are not worthy, we have faltered, we have stumbled, we have oft times failed because of lack of faith and and lack of uttermost surrender to you,

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but you have been gracious and you've been loving and kind. And we ask right now that you would renew the right spirit within us, grant to us the strength and the patience

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to continue the race that you've set before us. Have mercy upon us, oh Lord. Bless each one of us, our families, our loved ones. Guide us in our undertakings.

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Help us to recognize that you are our eternal companion along life's way. Our guide, our shield, our stay. We pray for those who are bereaved.

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Grant unto them the abiding assurance that earth has no sorrow, that heaven cannot heal. We pray for those who are sick, we shut in. For those who are discouraged along life's way, who have been wounded in the struggle,

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we pray, oh God, for the starving peoples of this earth. And particularly do we pray for the people of Ethiopia in this time of crisis. Help us throughout the world who know you

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that we may become increasingly concerned about struggling humanity, about starving children, men and women, wherever they may be. We pray for those who are involved in the struggle for justice.

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The people of South Africa and throughout the world, help us here. In this place, in what you have called us to do, to become more mindful of the opportunities that you have set before us and to be cognizant of the fact that we must work while it is day because the night cometh when no one can work. Oh bless and use us to your

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glory we ask in the strong and perfect name of Jesus Christ our Savior and our Lord amen [music playing] (gentle music)

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[Music] During this time of the year we focus attention on our college students who are here for Christmas and you note the names that have been listed in the bulletin we trust that all of them are there that members of our church family

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Maybe all of them are not back home during this time. Nevertheless, we recognize those who are members of our college group. We'd like to have those who may be present

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in the service this morning to stand. Any college young people in our audience this morning stand? I guess it's too early for most of them to be out. All right. Well, we recognize them anyway.

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All right, sir. [ Silence ] [Music] (dramatic music)

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[Music] [Music] [Music] ♪ Oh, my Lord, how long your glory last ♪

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♪ Give us, O God, to eat ♪ ♪ Like as our jealous hearts ♪ ♪ As long as I have breath ♪ I'll give you a ring of praise,

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Oh, how wonderful you are. Oh, oh, my love, How wonderful you are. ♪ You've done so much for me ♪

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♪ I cannot tell you how ♪ ♪ As long as I'm here ♪ ♪ I'll hear you say your praise ♪ ♪ Oh, how wonderful you are ♪

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♪ To be praised ♪ ♪ By true God ♪ ♪ Honor and legacy ♪ ♪ To hail we now proclaim ♪

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♪ The moment of death ♪ ♪ The healing and the praise ♪ ♪ To our one and only God ♪ ♪ Oh ♪

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♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh, the wonder of Newark ♪ ♪ As long as I have breath ♪

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♪ I hear your name I'm free ♪ ♪ Oh, the wonder of Newark ♪ [music] We worship the Lord in the dedication of our gifts. This is the last Sunday of the

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Let us all give according to how the Lord has prospered us as we close this year of 1984 Last Sunday, I announced that we would give opportunity for those who would to give For

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Ethiopian relief we took an offering in October and we sent $500 that often was $479. We made it out $500 and we sent that we've gotten another appeal since that time for more

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We cannot give enough so in the midst of our giving It would be well for us to give that those who do not have those who are dying because they do not have sufficient food might be fed

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So in addition to all that governments are doing our foreign mission board and others We're talking about this particularly through the Southern Baptist Convention, which is doing a great deal in this Connection to which we belong so we're going to ask that the ushers will be prepared for the

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Second offering for those who will give for that purpose Our Lighty Moon offering was down a little this year and we hope that we can make a good offering

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for Ethiopia today in addition to what we've already done. Let us pray. Lord, we thank you for the privilege of sharing for you did give of

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yourself abundantly in the gift of Jesus Christ. And as we celebrate his birthday during this season, help us to recognize that we most truly manifest the meaning of this season when we give of self and substance to your glory.

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Amen. On New Year's Eve, we will gather here at the church at 8 o'clock, all age groups. We will have activities arranged and every person, every family is asked to bring a covered dish. And if you have not turned in a slip indicating you will be here and the number in your family,

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we invite you to do that also today. This evening at six o'clock is the fifth Sunday mission program and we urge you to be present. The Brotherhood is in charge of the program today at six o'clock. We want to express appreciation to those who were responsible for the

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Social period the family fellowship hour that fellowship committee under the leadership of sister Justine Lewis and Brother Sam Austin it was indeed and all of the members of that committee. It was indeed a beautiful affair the food was delicious it was conducted in the most dignified and

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Praiseworthy manner and I cannot say enough to express my appreciation To those who are responsible for it. It was Arranged and served on time everything moved smoothly. We came into the sanctuary where we had the Christmas program and I

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Want to express appreciation for the members of the training union and all who helped in doing that And I my brothers and sisters we We are to go to the polls and vote on July, I mean January, January the 19th. January the 19th is the time when we are to vote.

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There will be a number of matters on the ballot and I want to talk about one of them just briefly and that has to do with the airport. airport Now a number of you came to me some time ago

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Concerning the airport. We're getting out a petition and so on about moving the airport Now this is the best time to for all of our thoughts and our efforts to be expressed because we have the best chance now to move to airport and

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I went to a briefing held by the Chamber of Commerce and the most economical Way that the city can approach this problem is to vote to move the airport It will not cost you anything if this is financed and the plans are that it will be financed by revenue bonds which means that the income derived from the airport will pay the

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mortgage or whatever the the indebtedness that may be incurred by Building a new airport if we do not build a new airport It's going to cost more to maintain the old airport because we'll have to buy up all the homes including brother Owens home and all that and I know he doesn't want that and

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So it's very important And don't be misled by all the things that you see in the paper They these things have been distorted and exaggerated About the airport costing a billion dollars and all of that

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If you vote to move the airport according to the plan that the City Council has it's not gonna cost you anything It's gonna cost in revenue bonds the air the income from the airport will pay the debt And it won't be any addition to your property tax. I want everyone to understand that and This is something that really affects the people of East Austin

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So it's it's imperative that we not take this matter lightly and expect somebody else across town To vote the way we want to vote we've got to get out there and vote the way we want this thing to go ourselves and it's very very important and It's significant that at this stage in our history that we

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Plan well and build a kind of the airport already is crowded last time. I was out there sometime ago I couldn't find my car It was that's the truth and I had to I took me longer to find my car than it did for me to fly from where I had been to get to Austin and I can remember the time when I could park my car at Austin and

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Out at the airport and it'd be out there and only other few cars stay out there all day You'd have it wouldn't have any problem seeing your car because there were very few others out there But we've changed we've come a become a big city and we need to plan for it and this issue Is most important to us and to the city of Austin. It's also another issue that has to do with rapid transportation

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rapid system that we will need to consider because if we don't get the The right-of-way buy up the property now so that we can get more people coming to town without bringing their cars When you get on IH 35, you're going to be you'll be worse than Houston. So these issues are very important

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not only for you, but tell others because These matters as well as others will be on our ballot on January the 19th Now do we have persons who are members of this church who are not Who haven't given cards if so, would you stay and I don't have any cards

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Persons who are worshiping with us who do not belong to this church. Would you stand now that we may recognize your presence? Everybody is a member of the Ebeneezer family All right [The sound of a man's footsteps.]

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[Piano music] (gentle music) [Music] [ Music ]

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I awake and I need thy strength and power to help me over my weakest hour. ♪ Watch me through the darkness ♪ ♪ Thy face to see ♪

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♪ Lead me, O Lord ♪ ♪ Lead me ♪ ♪ Lead me, guide me along the way ♪ ♪ For if you lead me I cannot stray ♪

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♪ Lord, let me walk with you ♪ ♪ His eye went to thee ♪ ♪ Lead me, O Lord, lead me ♪ ♪ Love me through in the paths of righteousness ♪

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♪ The force of righteousness ♪ ♪ Be my aid when Satan ♪ ♪ Under sin oppresses ♪ ♪ I am pledging all my trust in thee ♪

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♪ All my trust in thee ♪ ♪ Lead me, O Lord, lead me ♪ ♪ Lead me, guide me, O Lord, to thee ♪ ♪ The Lord awaits ♪

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♪ What if you need me ♪ ♪ I have the strength ♪ ♪ For it be one ♪ ♪ Each day will be ♪

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♪ They will be ♪ ♪ In me, oh Lord ♪ ♪ In me ♪ ♪ In me ♪

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♪ I will be ♪ ♪ The Lord of me ♪ ♪ I am unique ♪ ♪ I am not strange ♪

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♪ God has been gone ♪ ♪ He's there with me ♪ ♪ In me alone ♪ ♪ Is here ♪

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♪ In the old world ♪ ♪ Is here ♪ ♪ In the old world ♪ ♪ We ♪

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We consider the 16th Psalm. I call your prayerful attention to two verses that will be lifted up as the key verses in our interpretation of this passage of Scripture verses 5 and 11, Psalm 16 verses 5 and 11. The Lord is the potion of mine inheritance and of my cup, thou maintainest my lot. Thou wilt show me the path of life, in thy presence is

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fullness of joy at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore. The subject of the message the pilgrim's potion in the path of life the pilgrim's potion in the path of life. The pilgrim is on a journey from place to place. From beginning to end, the outcome depends on on the preparation which has been made for the journey and the condition of the road.

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All of us are pilgrims. We have participated in a journey through the year. And we come now today day to the last Sunday. We're traveling the last mile of the way in 1984. Psalm 16 bears the superscription "michtim" which means a memorial, a monument. There have been certain experiences in the life of the psalmist that have led him to write this poem or this song

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that it might serve as a memorial, as a monument of memory concerning what God has done in his life. He reflects on his way, he remembers. So we do well today to consider the distance we have come, the hills we have climbed, the valleys through which we have passed. As we pause at this last station we do well to refuel, to rest, and renew our commitment to continue the journey. As pilgrims

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each of us is a solitary individual responsible for our decisions in choosing the road that we will take. The road that we travel determines our destiny. As a pilgrim we have stations and stages. We inhabit infancy and childhood for a brief time, then we move to youth, adolescence, on to young adulthood,

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and then we become senior citizens. There the journey ends. The experience of the pilgrim is Israel's story as a people. The nation has her beginnings with Abraham who left Ur of Chaldees on the journey toward Canaan. Then we have a a rather vivid account of the journey from Egypt to Canaan. They are depicted

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as a nomadic people on the move. We too are on the move. The traveler has a portion of the road. Those who travel by auto from place to place in this country know quite well that they had to drive on the right side of the road in traffic with two lanes and where there are several lanes that the traveler is

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to stay in his or her lane and because this is true we can move safely and and securely from place to place. To be sure, each of us has received a pilgrim's potion of the year 1984.

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Each of us has received his or her share of the road. Each has received the same gift of time, the number of months, number of days, hours, and minutes, and even seconds we have received our potion.

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Now how we use it has to do with the decisions that we make. Some students enroll in the same class, they receive the same instruction, yet some excel, Some pass, some fail. How each pilgrim uses his potion is of utmost importance. Each pilgrim receives his share of bumps in the road because the road is the same

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for all who travel it. The road of life has its smooth places and its rough places, its hills and its valleys, its curves, its bumps along the way. We have our share of disappointments. We have our share of success and failure, our share of prosperity and adversity. What we have done is the investment of our life. In the story of the

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prodigal son, the younger son says to his father, "Give me my potion," and the father graciously complies with the son's request. He receives his potion and so the son is responsible for how he uses his potion and that there is something unique about your potion. It has your name on it. It belongs to you. It is to be used by you.

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it is to be used for a particular purpose and one must account for how he or she uses his or her potion. The psalmist considers his existence, he looks at the road he has traveled, the distance he's come and he realizes that he did not make the journey by himself. He says the Lord is the portion of my

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inheritance and often when we recollect we list our achievements in terms of that which is material. We consider our positions, we consider our prestige, we consider the honors that we have received, maybe the plaques we have on the wall or the certificates that are there, but the psalmist as he looks at the

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whole sweep of life he says the Lord is my potion. Sure we produce students who make A's in their courses and sometimes after having made them they do not retain the substance of the courses. Such students excel in the letter but without the Spirit. But think of the traveler who has his wagon with his mules

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and all of his possessions and he's on the journey and it's like a family with all of the things of this life, all of the comforts, and we can have all of of these things and yet not have the right spirit and this is most important. During this season when we focus so much on material gifts and there's a great

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deal of concern about cabbage patch dolls this is the popular wave now and they've been very difficult for some to get and the price has escalated on them because they are rare. But maybe there are many children today who do not have cabbage patch dolls who'd like to have them but just can't afford them. Not only

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do they not have dolls but they don't have even a sufficient amount of the basic necessities of this life. There are still many families in our world who are without the comforts and conveniences that are considered commonplace by many of us, many who seem to be without love, without concern. But here the psalmist

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says the Lord is my potion, the Lord is my potion. When the twelve tribes were dividing the land of Canaan the tribe of Levi did not receive an allocation of land it was said to them that the Lord is your potion. That which makes the difference in the life of the Psalmist along the journey is the fact that the

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Lord is my potion so my inheritance is secure. Oh he says I have walked in pleasant places and when you consider where you've come the journey that we've traveled during these months that have taken place. Some of us have walked in pleasant places and because of the fact that we have been privileged to

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have pleasant experiences in this life it's not because of our goodness it's because of the grace of God and so the pilgrim here recognizes that I do not deserve the credit for what has happened to me. Adam may walk in the garden but the garden is beautiful because the Lord made it and prepared it for Adam. The Lord

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makes the journey pleasant and then there is some pain along the way but the Lord makes the journey pleasant even in the midst of pain and hardship he makes it pleasant. The pilgrim who has the Lord as his potion can sing "On my journey now Mount Zion, on my journey now Mount Zion" well I wouldn't take nothing for my

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journey now because the Lord is my potion. The way that is traveled is not without danger. There are bandits, there are robbers hiding and waiting to plunder and to destroy wild and vicious animals along the path. And so the lives of those who have traveled the road have been in danger and then there have been those

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who have gone out after other gods. The psalmist recognizes this. He said there have been those who have served other gods but they have had their sorrows multiplied they have not had the joy they have not had the comfort they have not had the security that I have had along the way because the Lord has been

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my potion and the Lord he says has shown me the path of life the Lord has shown me he has shown me the way that I should take he has instructed me as to how I should conduct myself the Lord has done this and then he cries out preserve me Oh God for in thee do I put my trust oh so he says I'm going to erect I'm going

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to erect right here a monument I want to commemorate the fact that I have come a long way, not by myself, but I have come this way. I've had my hills and I've had my valleys, but the Lord has been my potion. And he has somehow strengthened me, and he has walked with me, and he has comforted me along the way so that I have come to this point in life, and I

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want to erect here a monument of memory so that those who come this way will know of the testimony of my experience that the Lord is my potion. He keeps my soul. Who is it that keeps us? Who is it that protects us? Who is it that shelters us, who is it that sustains us and gives us the will to go on. The psalmist says that the

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Lord is my potion. The Lord is my potion. Viktor Frankl who was in a Nazi concentration camp came to realize that which is most meaningful in life under the suffering that he experienced. Oh he thought that the most important thing he had to do was write a book but the manuscript was destroyed and he thought a lot of other things

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were most important next to that far more important than he found out that they really were because he had to do without having sufficient clothes, he didn't have sufficient heat, many of them talked about the prisoners their feet swelling and sometimes just some soup with and they would be very fortunate

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just to have a pea or two in that soup but he said it was the will to go on that kept them going on. Some of them just died but those who had the will to go on that there was something that was indispensable that has to do with the spirit. Not that which is material, not that which we can point to in some...

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[ Silence ]