A Song In My Heart

Psalm 59:16-17

But I will sing of Your strength, in the morning I will sing of Your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble: O my Strength, I sing praise to You; You, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.

God has put a song in my heart, that often bubbles up into my mouth. Sometimes it's the last song I heard, or thought about. Sometimes one song will repeat in my mind continuously, then later I find another song playing. I find that the music that plays in my head is usually a prayer. Sometimes I debate with myself if I really want God to answer that request, but I end up asking anyway. And I find that He will answer it in my life, my attitudes, my circumstances. He is always so good to me.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Unity

Ephesians 4:1-6

I am to live a life worthy of the calling [I] have received: completely humble and gentle; patient, bearing with one another in love; making every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit--just as [we] were called to one hope when [we] were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of [us] all, who is over all and through all and in all.

My dear Father, please help me to live my life according to the honorable ethics and attitudes that are worthy of Your kingdom. Help me to be completely humble, thinking of others more than I think about myself, and remembering to be gentle with others and patient with their failings. Strengthen me to make every possible effort to keep the unity of heart and mind in Your Spirit.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Just And Justifier

Romans 3:26

. . . So as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

God is just in extracting full payment for sin, so that the debt is paid in full. Now, with the debt paid, He is free to justify those who have put their faith, their trust in Christ Jesus, as the Lamb of God, the atoning sacrifice for our sin. As the priest and people in the Old Testament put their hands on the head of the bull, ram or goat to transfer their sins to it, then it would be sacrificed to pay the price for those sins, and the blood was poured out at the foot of the altar. Jesus poured out His blood at the foot of the Cross, His altar. Now that the debt has been fully paid for each of us, God is now free to forgive each of us. O the depth and breadth and height of His love for us to extend to us this amazing Grace, to grant us the good we could never deserve, because of His Mercy to not put on us the punishment we deserve, putting it on His own Son instead. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Importance Of Love

Mark 12:32-34

"Well done, Teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other than Him. To love Him with all your heart, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."

It is far more important to have right attitudes than anything we do or say. Without love, everything else is empty and useless.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Curbing Our Own Freedom

Romans 14:16, 22, 23 (See whole chapter)

Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. . . .So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. . . .Everything that does not come from faith is sin (misses the mark).

V. 15

If your brother is distressed by what you (do, say or) eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your (doing, saying or) eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died.

O my Father, please help me to curb the self-centeredness & selfishness in me that only considers what Bonnie wants. Teach me to honor myself and others as Yours.

Even so, Lord Jesus, come!

My Prayer, Too

Philippians 1:9-11

And this is my prayer: that [our] love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that [we] may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the Day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God.

Amen!

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Faultless!

Jude 24

To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy.

You are able to keep me from falling! You are able to keep me from even stumbling! O my Father, continue to strengthen me in Your grace and faith; continue to hold me securely in Your hand. Keep Your arm around my shoulders and Your hand over my mouth, to say only what words You give me, and nothing from my flesh. Flood my heart and soul with Your peace.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Numbers Or Spiritual Growth?

I Thessalonians 3:6-7

But Timothy has just now come to see us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. . . . Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.

Paul was not concerned about numbers. The church in Thessalonica had most likely grown numerically, too, but Paul focused only on their spiritual growth in faith and love. This is not so easy to quantify, like numbers are, but is so much more important! Each of us needs to see about our spiritual growth to maturity, both in ourselves personally, and as a group together. Then we need not worry about the numbers.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

To Understand

Luke 24:45

Then He opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures.

O my Father, open my mind to understand the scriptures.Thank you for Your promised Holy Spirit to dwell in me and enlighten my understanding as I seek to learn of Your ways. Let me not put obstacles in the way of obeying Your edicts. Humble me before You that You may be glorified in me.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Business

Matthew 20:15

"Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?" 

(See Matthew 20:1-16, The Parable of the Workers In the Vineyard.)

Already in America business owners don't have the right to pay what they want to their employees when unions have legislative support to hold them over a barrel to do what they want instead; and owners cannot be generous when they are forced to pay more than the business can sustain. The City of Detroit is an example of the results of these policies. Envy and jealousy are rampant today, and they are officially encouraged.

O my Father, please continue to wake up Your church. Teach us how to be Your hands and feet and voice to do what each of us can do to bring Your righteousness back to America before the end. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

God's Promises

Matthew 6:8

. . . Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. . . .

O my dear Father, Thank you for your promises, and Your faithfulness to keep them. Please, as a mercy to me, Father, draw my adult children to Yourself. Please show them Yourself, redeem them and teach them Your ways. Save them from themselves, and the poor decisions they have made. Lead them in Your ways of righteousness, and grant them new, eternal life. Teach them to be the Godly, gifted persons You designed each of them to be. Show me how I can be used of You in their lives, saying Your words, with Your compassion, and lead me in Your ways, open their eyes to observe my life as a demonstration of how Your ways benefit us, and You will receive all the credit. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Perfect!

Colossians 1:22

But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation.

Reconciled = Made to conform, changed to agree with, like I reconcile my checkbook to agree with the bank statement.

Holy = Set apart, separate from the world.

Without blemish = Perfect, whole, without any defect or imperfection.

Free from accusation = Above reproach, not blamable for anything.

O my Father, continue to work Your work in me, make me holy, perfect and above reproach. I cannot be any of these without Your supernatural working in me.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

My Words

Job 2:10

. . . In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

O my Father, help me, teach me to not sin, not miss the mark by my words. Keep Your arm around my shoulders and Your hand over my mouth. I put a guard on my mouth to think before I speak, write or type a word. Father, I know that my words have in the past missed the mark so far that much trouble and heartache resulted. 

Strengthen me to always remember to consider how my words will affect the hearer, to realize how I will be heard, and not just my own selfish motives.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

The Race Of Life

I Corinthians 9:27

. . . So that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Paul took great pains to discipline himself for the "race," so that, even after helping others to be able to "win the prize," he himself did not want to miss out. To enter into a race, the participant has to qualify, according to the rules of the race, whether running, swimming, driving, shooting, whatever. If a participant tries to compete without following the rules, he will be disqualified from receiving any rewards at all, and probably punished for interfering with those who do qualify. It would be ironic for a trainer who prepared other athletes, to try to compete himself and be thrown out, while his students win!

We need to be sure we know the rules, and that we're following them, in the race of life. We want to be sure to qualify to compete for the rewards we are promised, and not end up being disqualified from receiving anything.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Night Is Nearly Over

Romans 13:11-14

And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the Day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime. . . . Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

O my Father, Wake us up! Continue to wake up Your church, especially in America! Teach us how to put on Christ in our every day drugeries; to live decently, as in bright daylight, totally on display to the world: That we will have the victory through the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony!

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Cycle Of Blessing

II Corinthians 9:11

You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion . . .

This is an amazing cycle of blessing that we can initiate by our "hilarious" giving! (See vs. 8-15)

We give hilariously in obedience to God, then He increases our means so that we can continue to give in obedience, on every occasion; and our giving not only meets the needs of others, but results in much praise and worship in thanks to God. And their prayers for us will turn their hearts toward us because of the abundant riches He has granted us, to be even more generous. Our and their needs are met, love goes out and is returned, and God gets all the glory!

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

May God Relent

Jonah 3:10, 4:2,4,9,11

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction He had threatened. 
[Jonah] prayed to the Lord, "O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to to Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity."
But the Lord replied, "Have you any right to be angry?"
But God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry?"
But "Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left [or, what is right or wrong], and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?"

Jonah knew that this city-nation deserved to be destroyed, and that's what he wanted: Justice! But he also knew God, and knew that He would have compassion on them and relent from sending the calamity. So when the people and their leaders turned from their evil ways, God was true to Himself to withhold the punishment. That's why Jonah was upset.

O my Father, Let me never, not ever rejoice in any calamity, but rejoice when Your Truth wins out, as it did in Nineveh at that time. Jonah did not have the right to be angry with God for having compassion instead of destroying them, and I will never have the right to relish the destruction of people who are caught up in the evil deceptions of our enemy, this world system and their own flesh. Help me always to have Your compassion to desire their redemption from the wickedness that has trapped them and bring them into Your glorious Light.

I know that you "are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity." O Father, I pray for America. Please cause our people and leaders to turn from our wicked and evil ways, to turn to You and acknowledge Your power and sovereignty; and that You would have compassion and relent from visiting upon America the destruction she has invited upon herself. Please bring us back to Your righteousness before the end.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Our Teacher

I John 2:27

As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing  teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in Him.

God's Holy Spirit is the anointing we have received, He is the seal to guarantee our eternal life. When we are taught by good and great Bible teachers, our pastors and Bible School professors, we should not just take them at their word and blindly believe everything they say, but use it as a basis for our own study, to see how God teaches us, as the Bereans did, who, "received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." (Acts 17:11)

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Love

I Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the Truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

O my Father, teach me to love as you love! Show me were I am failing to love, when I am rude or self-seeking, or any other way I am not displaying Your generous love for others. Forgive me and teach me Your ways.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

The Perfect Time

Galatians 4:4-7

But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

O my Father God, my Abba, Daddy! You have done everything at just the right time, and you will complete and finish all Your plans in Your perfect time. I will wait on You for my inheritance.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Our Only Lord God

Isaiah 45:23-24

By Myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked; Before Me every knee will bow; by Me every tongue will swear. They will say of Me, "In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength."

Romans 14:11-12

It is written,"As surely as I live," says the Lord, "every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God." So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Philippians 2:10-11

That at the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

And here is the fulfillment:

Revelation 5:12-13

In a loud voice they sang, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them singing: "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever!"

The Lord Jesus Christ is the One we worship and adore. He alone is the One we know, who is worthy of all praise and honor and credit for all that has been done since the creation of all things to the very end of time itself, from eternity to eternity, to the glory of God the Father.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

This Present Time

Romans 3:11-12

And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the Day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Dear Father, please wake up Your church; arouse each one of us from our slumber of denial and normalcy bias. Show us how each of us can be Your hands and Your feet, teach us Your words to speak and strengthen us to do Your work in this broken world to promote Your glorious Kingdom.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus, our soon-coming King!

Lamenting

Lamentations 3:31-40

For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love. For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men. To crush underfoot all prisoners in the land, to deny a man his rights before the Most High, to deprive a man of justice--would not the Lord see such things? Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come? Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins? Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

God Is All, We Are Nothing

Job 42:5-6

My ears had heard of You but now my eyes have seen You. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.

The revelation of God, who He is, showed the inherent sinfulness and shame of Job's humanity. 

God is utterly good, holy, beautiful. When we as humans see the actual Truth of who God really is, we always are fully aware of our own deficiencies. We are never enough in ourselves to stand before Almighty God, but are forced to our knees in obeisance. God is all and we are nothing.

Only in Christ do we have standing and authority.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Job, A Mere Man

Job 40:3-4

The Lord spoke to Job, Then Job answered the Lord, "I am unworthy--how can I reply to You? I put my hand over my mouth."

Job realized how unworthy he was, he had no standing to accuse God or even to defend himself. He had nothing to say to the Lord God of the Universe. He understood that God was the beginning and end of everything and all-good and all-wise; and himself only a man. 

No matter what happens, whether I see good times or trouble and sorrows, God is still in His Heaven, and I am still here on Earth, waiting on Him to accomplish His purposes in His time.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Reconciliation With God

Romans 5:10

For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!

When my bank sends me my statement, I will go through my checkbook register and reconcile it to the statement. If they don't agree on the balance, I don't tell the bank to change the statement, I change my checkbook register. The bank statement is the standard, and the error is in my register. When I correct the mistake, then it agrees with the statement. 

God has reconciled us to Himself. He is the standard and we have made the errors. He forgives our sins through the price of our debt being paid on our behalf by Christ, He corrects our errors, and makes us right with Him, righteous. He writes our sin on Jesus' side of the register, then, to balance the books, He writes Jesus' righteousness on our side. Jesus didn't deserve to pay, and we don't deserve to receive. That's G.R.A.C.E.: God's Riches At Christ's Expense. His mercy is not giving us the punishment we deserve, and His grace is giving us His riches that we don't deserve. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Sin and Righteousness

II Corinthians 5:21

God made Him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus became sin: That means He took upon Himself our very sin-nature, the root and fountainhead of every sin from the least to the very greatest. He did not die for individual sins, but He took the whole basket, and everything in it. While He bore our sin-nature on the Cross, the sun refused to shine, and the Earth could not withstand without the sun, so after three hours it upheavaled and God used the earthquake to rip the curtain in half from top to bottom, revealing the Holiest of Holies to the common people, letting us know that we no longer need any priest or go-between to get to God, each one of us can enter into His very throne room through what Jesus accomplished on the Cross.

So that we might become His righteousness; not to do right things, but be righteousness. Jesus became sin and died; we become righteousness and live, to live out that righteousness. We are to work out in our attitudes, actions and words that great salvation that God has worked into us. To live His righteousness.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Stop What? Start What?

40 Days of Purpose:

Day 4 Question

What is the one thing I need to stop doing today?

What is the one thing I need to start doing today?

I need to stop defending myself and making excuses. This is a habit I started in childhood, and I have continued to practice it in my adulthood. Today I determine not to defend myself and stop making excuses and blaming others for my choices; instead to admit my fault, my guilt, that I only am to blame, and confess it as the sin it is.

I need to start listening, really listening to what my cherished ones are telling me, to listen between the lines to the emotions, pains and wounds that they are suffering, and find my own responsibility in causing the hurts they feel. Only then will I be able to see how God will be able to heal their hearts and minds and emotions, maybe even through me.

O my Father, open my ears and heart to really hear what is on the hearts of those speaking to me, especially those who are dearest to me. Teach me to love them the way You have loved me, and to be a help to them as You heal them.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Changing Others

Proverbs 27:22

Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding him like grain with a pestle, you will not remove his folly from him.

O my Father, I know that I can never change another person. I can only invite and inspire them, to influence them, and even teach them if they are teachable. Please, teach me to apply this wisdom of Yours in my daily life, and not try to change those I care about. Show me how I can inspire them to seek You and how to graciously invite them to Your table.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.