Psalm 142: 5-6
I pray to You, O Lord, I say, "You are my place of refuge." You are all I really want in life. Hear my cry, for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.
Our persecutors can be debts, they can be wayward children, they can be a circumstance forced on you by the weather. Anything that makes us feel overwhelmed, not able to do whatever is needed to resolve the situation.
O my Father, You are my place of refuge, Lord. You really are all I want in this life. I am feeling the pressure right now of this pressing situation. Please rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. Please provide the help I need to deal with all the mud and trash and destruction this flood has put on me in my basements. Show me what I can do to clear out all the mess, and return this house into the home it should be.
Then, Father, any prospective buyer will see it's possibilities and take this property off my hands at last. I know You have been preparing the person(s) You would have here, who would be able to use this place for Your purposes.
Strengthen me, now, to go downstairs and deal with this enemy.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, July 31, 2017
Sunday, July 30, 2017
Had Not Yet Directed Their Hearts
II Chronicles 20: 31-33
Now Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years.
And he walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not depart from it, doing right in the sight of the Lord. The High Places, however, were not (did not stay) removed; the people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers.
Asa reigned 41 years, and his son Jehoshaphat reigned 25 years. They both had removed these shrines, these "High Places" (Asa in 14:3 and Jehoshaphat in 17:6), but the people kept replacing them, because even after 66 years of godly leaders, the people still "had not directed their hearts" to the Lord Who was their God. They still kept turning to the pagan deities of the peoples around and among them. They were just too seductive.
And people today also are seduced by the same ideas that these pagan idols represented. Our enemy is still deceiving us into believing that God is holding out on us, and we're smart, we're intelligent, we can make our own decisions; we can be our own god. We don't need to ask God what we are to do in every circumstance, what worked before should work again.
But God is still God, He is still our Creator, Who knows us better than we know ourselves, and He still loves us more than we can imagine. He always wants what's best for us, even if what we're going through right now doesn't seem very pleasant. But He has purpose for everything He allows in our lives.
Here in this World we are children in school, and we must endure the testings that come with that. They are all for our benefit. And His glory.
And one day, when we're adult children in God's Family, in the New Heaven and the New Earth, then we will be mature and ruling with Him in His Family Business, His Kingdom.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Now Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years.
And he walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not depart from it, doing right in the sight of the Lord. The High Places, however, were not (did not stay) removed; the people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers.
Asa reigned 41 years, and his son Jehoshaphat reigned 25 years. They both had removed these shrines, these "High Places" (Asa in 14:3 and Jehoshaphat in 17:6), but the people kept replacing them, because even after 66 years of godly leaders, the people still "had not directed their hearts" to the Lord Who was their God. They still kept turning to the pagan deities of the peoples around and among them. They were just too seductive.
And people today also are seduced by the same ideas that these pagan idols represented. Our enemy is still deceiving us into believing that God is holding out on us, and we're smart, we're intelligent, we can make our own decisions; we can be our own god. We don't need to ask God what we are to do in every circumstance, what worked before should work again.
But God is still God, He is still our Creator, Who knows us better than we know ourselves, and He still loves us more than we can imagine. He always wants what's best for us, even if what we're going through right now doesn't seem very pleasant. But He has purpose for everything He allows in our lives.
Here in this World we are children in school, and we must endure the testings that come with that. They are all for our benefit. And His glory.
And one day, when we're adult children in God's Family, in the New Heaven and the New Earth, then we will be mature and ruling with Him in His Family Business, His Kingdom.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, July 29, 2017
Jacob And Esau
Genesis 33: 4
Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
Wow! Jacob didn't know what to expect from his brother. The last he knew, 20 years earlier, Esau wanted to kill him. But God told him it was time for him to go home, and what an eventful journey that was!
Jacob was very highly on edge with approaching Esau and hearing that Esau had 400 men with him! That must've been a very nerve-wracking night, with everyone up all night, driving the animals, and the women with their children, crossing the river, as they approached the meeting. And then Jacob was alone and wrestled with the Angel that night, resulting in a limp to remind him to rely on God.
Then his trepidation turning to relief and joy when Esau accepted him favorably, no wonder they both wept! Their emotions went from one extreme to the other.
We are not given any information at all about what happened to Esau, to change his attitude toward his brother from hatred to love. But God knew that those 400 men with him weren't an army to wipe out Jacob's whole family. God knew it was time for Jacob to return home, to the land God had promised to give his descendants. And now God has made Jacob His prince, in changing his name to Israel (a prince with God).
O my Father, You took special care of Jacob the whole time he lived with Laban; and You also took care of Esau, changing his thinking processes so that he would welcome his brother home.
And, Father, you are also taking care of me, teaching me what I need to know, shaping my understanding to conform to Your Truth, and molding me into a vessel suitable for Your King's Table; making me fit to be Your own child, to work with You in Your Family Business, Your Kingdom.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
Wow! Jacob didn't know what to expect from his brother. The last he knew, 20 years earlier, Esau wanted to kill him. But God told him it was time for him to go home, and what an eventful journey that was!
Jacob was very highly on edge with approaching Esau and hearing that Esau had 400 men with him! That must've been a very nerve-wracking night, with everyone up all night, driving the animals, and the women with their children, crossing the river, as they approached the meeting. And then Jacob was alone and wrestled with the Angel that night, resulting in a limp to remind him to rely on God.
Then his trepidation turning to relief and joy when Esau accepted him favorably, no wonder they both wept! Their emotions went from one extreme to the other.
We are not given any information at all about what happened to Esau, to change his attitude toward his brother from hatred to love. But God knew that those 400 men with him weren't an army to wipe out Jacob's whole family. God knew it was time for Jacob to return home, to the land God had promised to give his descendants. And now God has made Jacob His prince, in changing his name to Israel (a prince with God).
O my Father, You took special care of Jacob the whole time he lived with Laban; and You also took care of Esau, changing his thinking processes so that he would welcome his brother home.
And, Father, you are also taking care of me, teaching me what I need to know, shaping my understanding to conform to Your Truth, and molding me into a vessel suitable for Your King's Table; making me fit to be Your own child, to work with You in Your Family Business, Your Kingdom.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, July 28, 2017
The Tree Of Life
Genesis 3: 22, 24
Then the Lord God said, "Behold, the Man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, lest he stretch out his hand, and take also from the Tree of Life, and eat, and live forever--"
... He stationed the Cherubim, and the flaming sword which turned every direction, to guard the way to the Tree of Life.
Wow, the Man, the Adam, was now like God, in being able to distinguish what was good from what was evil. So when Satan told Eve that they would be "like God," she didn't realize that she would still need God to be God, not herself.
When God made the Angels, He made them so they wouldn't be vulnerable to death, they would live forever. But when they sinned, since they couldn't die, then they also couldn't have a Savior to die for them to redeem them, so they now must bear their sin forever.
When God made Man, He made him to be able to live forever, but if He would disobey and sin, then he would be subject to death. So he would have to die. But now he could also have Someone to die for him, and pay that debt.
But the Tree of Life was also there in the Garden of Eden with him, with no command to not eat of it. Now that he had sinned in disobeying the direct command of God, God didn't want him ruining his chances of redemption by not being able to die.
God does not change. He wouldn't change His mind and decide to forbid Adam from eating from this Tree, after already giving it freely to him along with all the other trees. So God drove him from this paradise, stationing His guards to make sure Mankind would never be able to upset the apple cart of God's Plan for us all; plans to save us from the power of the sin that would now plague us, and finally redeem us out of the very presence of sin.
O my Father, You are so smart to devise a plan wherewith Mankind could live forever if he obeyed You, but would also be subject to death and able to be redeemed if he disobeyed, which he did.
Father, please forgive our rebellions and selfishness in wanting to be our own god, making our own decisions for ourselves instead of depending on You to lead us. Forgive us for considering the intelligence and the abilities and skills You have given us to be our license to make our own choices without considering You, Lord.
Forgive us for putting our faith and trust in our own wisdom and ways, instead of seeking You and Your wisdom and ways. Since Your ways are not our ways, and our thoughts are not Your thoughts, Father, teach us Your ways and thoughts, because they are so far above our own that we would never attain to them without You teaching us, my Lord.
O Father, our enemy deceived our original mother into thinking that she could be her own god. And he has whispered that same temptation to every one of her children through the ages. Most of us have swallowed this idea whole, without even chewing on it to examine it in the light of Your Revelation to us in Your Word. Please forgive us for even considering this rebellion against You, to count You irrelevant, You Who are our Life!
Show me, my Father, whenever I begin to entertain the thought of making my own choices in life, bring me to the realization of how foolish I am to neglect to consult You and Your Word to learn Your ways for me. Help me to remember to seek Your direction, even if this situation is so similar to the other one You already helped me through. May I ask You every time. Don't let me go on automatic, doing what you showed me before.
Strengthen me, O Lord, in my dependence on You for my every step. And may I be molded and formed in Your gentle, loving hands, into a vessel fit for the Master's royal table.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Then the Lord God said, "Behold, the Man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, lest he stretch out his hand, and take also from the Tree of Life, and eat, and live forever--"
... He stationed the Cherubim, and the flaming sword which turned every direction, to guard the way to the Tree of Life.
Wow, the Man, the Adam, was now like God, in being able to distinguish what was good from what was evil. So when Satan told Eve that they would be "like God," she didn't realize that she would still need God to be God, not herself.
When God made the Angels, He made them so they wouldn't be vulnerable to death, they would live forever. But when they sinned, since they couldn't die, then they also couldn't have a Savior to die for them to redeem them, so they now must bear their sin forever.
When God made Man, He made him to be able to live forever, but if He would disobey and sin, then he would be subject to death. So he would have to die. But now he could also have Someone to die for him, and pay that debt.
But the Tree of Life was also there in the Garden of Eden with him, with no command to not eat of it. Now that he had sinned in disobeying the direct command of God, God didn't want him ruining his chances of redemption by not being able to die.
God does not change. He wouldn't change His mind and decide to forbid Adam from eating from this Tree, after already giving it freely to him along with all the other trees. So God drove him from this paradise, stationing His guards to make sure Mankind would never be able to upset the apple cart of God's Plan for us all; plans to save us from the power of the sin that would now plague us, and finally redeem us out of the very presence of sin.
O my Father, You are so smart to devise a plan wherewith Mankind could live forever if he obeyed You, but would also be subject to death and able to be redeemed if he disobeyed, which he did.
Father, please forgive our rebellions and selfishness in wanting to be our own god, making our own decisions for ourselves instead of depending on You to lead us. Forgive us for considering the intelligence and the abilities and skills You have given us to be our license to make our own choices without considering You, Lord.
Forgive us for putting our faith and trust in our own wisdom and ways, instead of seeking You and Your wisdom and ways. Since Your ways are not our ways, and our thoughts are not Your thoughts, Father, teach us Your ways and thoughts, because they are so far above our own that we would never attain to them without You teaching us, my Lord.
O Father, our enemy deceived our original mother into thinking that she could be her own god. And he has whispered that same temptation to every one of her children through the ages. Most of us have swallowed this idea whole, without even chewing on it to examine it in the light of Your Revelation to us in Your Word. Please forgive us for even considering this rebellion against You, to count You irrelevant, You Who are our Life!
Show me, my Father, whenever I begin to entertain the thought of making my own choices in life, bring me to the realization of how foolish I am to neglect to consult You and Your Word to learn Your ways for me. Help me to remember to seek Your direction, even if this situation is so similar to the other one You already helped me through. May I ask You every time. Don't let me go on automatic, doing what you showed me before.
Strengthen me, O Lord, in my dependence on You for my every step. And may I be molded and formed in Your gentle, loving hands, into a vessel fit for the Master's royal table.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, July 27, 2017
A Little Child
Mark 9: 36
... Taking the Child into his arms ...
I see myself as that Child was, with my Lord taking me into His arms, curling up in His lap. He is my Good Shepherd and I am His little wounded lamb that He carries in His arms.
One day He will return, and I will no longer be this little child that I am now, but I will then attain adulthood in His family and rule with Him on His throne, the "family business."
Until then I am still learning of Him, depending on Him, and trusting Him to finish the work He began in me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
... Taking the Child into his arms ...
I see myself as that Child was, with my Lord taking me into His arms, curling up in His lap. He is my Good Shepherd and I am His little wounded lamb that He carries in His arms.
One day He will return, and I will no longer be this little child that I am now, but I will then attain adulthood in His family and rule with Him on His throne, the "family business."
Until then I am still learning of Him, depending on Him, and trusting Him to finish the work He began in me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Don't Be Afraid
Matthew 10: 26-31
But don't be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything will be revealed; all that is secret will be made public. What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ears, shout from the housetops for all to hear!
Don't be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, Who can destroy both soul and body in Hell. Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to Him than a whole flock of sparrows.
O my Father, thank You for valuing me so highly. Your care for me surpasses all the care of everyone on Earth who has ever cared for me, all together!
You have begun this good work in me, and You are performing it to perfect me. You are continuing to make progress in me and in my life, and You will eventually complete it when I am finished, when Jesus returns.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
But don't be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything will be revealed; all that is secret will be made public. What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ears, shout from the housetops for all to hear!
Don't be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, Who can destroy both soul and body in Hell. Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to Him than a whole flock of sparrows.
O my Father, thank You for valuing me so highly. Your care for me surpasses all the care of everyone on Earth who has ever cared for me, all together!
You have begun this good work in me, and You are performing it to perfect me. You are continuing to make progress in me and in my life, and You will eventually complete it when I am finished, when Jesus returns.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
To Be Satisfied
Psalm 17: 14-15
Men of the world, whose portion is in this life, ... they are satisfied with children, and leave their abundance to their babes. As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.
The people who live only for this life may accumulate things, which they leave to their children, and that's all they can do.
Those who delight in the Lord and believe that He has done exactly as He said He would do in them, for them, and on them, making them His own family; they will one day bear the same likeness as Jesus' Resurrection body, and glow like the Sun. They will be able to look at God and not be blinded by His brilliance. That is the day we will wake up in His glory.
O my Father, I know that I will be satisfied when I awake, resurrected, bearing Your likeness; for I will see You face-to-face, and behold Your glory and Your beauty! I will never be separated from You, for I will dwell with You forever, serving You. And You will display me, along with the rest of Your Bride, as Your trophy of Grace.
You are taking this weak, broken vessel and re-forming me into Your vessel of honor, suitable for the King's table.
O Father, thank You so much for choosing me! Please continue Your work in me, molding my character into the very image of Your Son, my Lord Jesus!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Men of the world, whose portion is in this life, ... they are satisfied with children, and leave their abundance to their babes. As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.
The people who live only for this life may accumulate things, which they leave to their children, and that's all they can do.
Those who delight in the Lord and believe that He has done exactly as He said He would do in them, for them, and on them, making them His own family; they will one day bear the same likeness as Jesus' Resurrection body, and glow like the Sun. They will be able to look at God and not be blinded by His brilliance. That is the day we will wake up in His glory.
O my Father, I know that I will be satisfied when I awake, resurrected, bearing Your likeness; for I will see You face-to-face, and behold Your glory and Your beauty! I will never be separated from You, for I will dwell with You forever, serving You. And You will display me, along with the rest of Your Bride, as Your trophy of Grace.
You are taking this weak, broken vessel and re-forming me into Your vessel of honor, suitable for the King's table.
O Father, thank You so much for choosing me! Please continue Your work in me, molding my character into the very image of Your Son, my Lord Jesus!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, July 24, 2017
Believing, You Shall Receive
Matthew 21: 22
And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.
God has created this Universe and put His order into it. He has made this Earth and put it in its place among the other planets and suns, in the perfect place to sustain life. And He has made us of this Earth and put us here so we can live and have everything we need. And God decided to give Mankind the prerogatives of free will, to choose. And He has built into this system of life the principle of faith.
We choose to believe so much in living every day: that the sun will come up, that our job is still there waiting for us to show up, and that we will get a check on payday; that our spouse is faithful to us, or we suspect otherwise; that our children will or will not make right choices in their lives; we even have faith to believe that the chair we sat down in will hold our weight without collapsing.
We trust other drivers to stay in their lanes as we stay in our lane, and to signal when they will change lanes. We trust that people will stop at their red light as we proceed with our green light.
We trust that the food we order at the restaurant will nourish our bodies without poisoning us. We trust other people to be as honest with us as we are with them. Our faith, belief and trust guide our every decision every day, in all that we do.
God has built this principle of Faith into our lives in order that we would put our faith in Him--to trust Him to be faithful to us, to believe that He will do exactly what He has said He will do. Because He has.
And He has told us that if we delight in Him that He will put His desires for us into our hearts (Psalm 37:4), and then when we ask Him for what He wants for us, He delights to give it to us!
We delight in Him and He delights in us, a happy circle, a joyful upward spiral.
This is the life He wants for us, trusting in God to have sent His Son Jesus to take our place in death so that we can be forgiven and cleansed and be His children, so He can lavish His love on us. And answer all our prayers, even those unspoken, because He hears our thoughts.
So, dear reader, delight yourself in our Lord, believe what He has said to us, and live that life of faith that lets you ask what you will, believing, and receive all the blessings our Father delights in showering on us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.
God has created this Universe and put His order into it. He has made this Earth and put it in its place among the other planets and suns, in the perfect place to sustain life. And He has made us of this Earth and put us here so we can live and have everything we need. And God decided to give Mankind the prerogatives of free will, to choose. And He has built into this system of life the principle of faith.
We choose to believe so much in living every day: that the sun will come up, that our job is still there waiting for us to show up, and that we will get a check on payday; that our spouse is faithful to us, or we suspect otherwise; that our children will or will not make right choices in their lives; we even have faith to believe that the chair we sat down in will hold our weight without collapsing.
We trust other drivers to stay in their lanes as we stay in our lane, and to signal when they will change lanes. We trust that people will stop at their red light as we proceed with our green light.
We trust that the food we order at the restaurant will nourish our bodies without poisoning us. We trust other people to be as honest with us as we are with them. Our faith, belief and trust guide our every decision every day, in all that we do.
God has built this principle of Faith into our lives in order that we would put our faith in Him--to trust Him to be faithful to us, to believe that He will do exactly what He has said He will do. Because He has.
And He has told us that if we delight in Him that He will put His desires for us into our hearts (Psalm 37:4), and then when we ask Him for what He wants for us, He delights to give it to us!
We delight in Him and He delights in us, a happy circle, a joyful upward spiral.
This is the life He wants for us, trusting in God to have sent His Son Jesus to take our place in death so that we can be forgiven and cleansed and be His children, so He can lavish His love on us. And answer all our prayers, even those unspoken, because He hears our thoughts.
So, dear reader, delight yourself in our Lord, believe what He has said to us, and live that life of faith that lets you ask what you will, believing, and receive all the blessings our Father delights in showering on us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, July 23, 2017
To Ponder Or To Pour Out
Proverbs 15: 28
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out wicked things.
I know that every time I just blurt out something to someone, it's been the wrong thing to say at the time. Even when the words themselves were true, they were spoken in the wrong way at the wrong time, which makes them wrong. If only I had paused to think about what to say, then I could have avoided the humiliation of apologizing, and the sticky mess of making things right between us again.
I need rather to be able to listen to what the other person is saying, to hear the passion of their heart, instead of just letting them go on while I'm formulating my answer. Even when they say something that triggers a reaction in me, especially then I need to pause and listen to what else they say. Then I will be able to let Christ speak to them through me, while I express His compassion and tenderness to them.
O my Father, I pray that You would put Your arm around my shoulders and Your hand over my mouth whenever I am in conversation with those who don't know You yet, so that I may be Christ to them. For I may be the only Jesus they have encountered in their life.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out wicked things.
I know that every time I just blurt out something to someone, it's been the wrong thing to say at the time. Even when the words themselves were true, they were spoken in the wrong way at the wrong time, which makes them wrong. If only I had paused to think about what to say, then I could have avoided the humiliation of apologizing, and the sticky mess of making things right between us again.
I need rather to be able to listen to what the other person is saying, to hear the passion of their heart, instead of just letting them go on while I'm formulating my answer. Even when they say something that triggers a reaction in me, especially then I need to pause and listen to what else they say. Then I will be able to let Christ speak to them through me, while I express His compassion and tenderness to them.
O my Father, I pray that You would put Your arm around my shoulders and Your hand over my mouth whenever I am in conversation with those who don't know You yet, so that I may be Christ to them. For I may be the only Jesus they have encountered in their life.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, July 22, 2017
God's Unseen Provision
Habakkuk 3: 17-19
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will be joyful in the God of my Salvation. The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.
All this world's goods are as nothing compared to what our God is preparing for us! And even when we have none of this world's provisions, still our Lord will not neglect to meet our every need.
Knowing this, trusting God as our Provider even when we don't see any provisions, will enable us to rejoice in the Lord and give us the strength to go on.
It has been said that, "When all you have is God, you find that God is all you need." May our Father teach us this truth, as we know Him better each day. And knowing Him better, we will love Him even more. And our faith will be strengthened and deepened to really believe He is Who He says He is, and that He does exactly what He did for others before us, and will also do for us, too.
He has always kept to the letter every promise He has ever made, and will never change; He will always be God over us all, and will never love us any less than He does right now.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will be joyful in the God of my Salvation. The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.
All this world's goods are as nothing compared to what our God is preparing for us! And even when we have none of this world's provisions, still our Lord will not neglect to meet our every need.
Knowing this, trusting God as our Provider even when we don't see any provisions, will enable us to rejoice in the Lord and give us the strength to go on.
It has been said that, "When all you have is God, you find that God is all you need." May our Father teach us this truth, as we know Him better each day. And knowing Him better, we will love Him even more. And our faith will be strengthened and deepened to really believe He is Who He says He is, and that He does exactly what He did for others before us, and will also do for us, too.
He has always kept to the letter every promise He has ever made, and will never change; He will always be God over us all, and will never love us any less than He does right now.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, July 21, 2017
Faith To Believe
Matthew 15: 26-28
And He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." But she said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their master's table."
Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; be it done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once.
I'm amazed that Jesus seems to be calling this woman a dog! I think He was testing her. And she passed the test, humbling herself before Him, admitting her unworthiness to receive the "bread" intended for the children, yet still asked for the mere "crumbs that fell from the table," as the family pet would.
And Jesus commended her for her faith! And her humbleness allowed her to trust the Lord to do for her what she knew she could not do for herself--heal her daughter.
O my Father, please strengthen my faith to really believe that You will do what I know I can't. Help me to begin to do those things I cannot accomplish, believing that You will do them through me. Keep me close to Yourself, that I will hear Your still, small voice behind me, saying, "This is the path, walk here," not wandering to the left or to the right.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
And He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." But she said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their master's table."
Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; be it done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once.
I'm amazed that Jesus seems to be calling this woman a dog! I think He was testing her. And she passed the test, humbling herself before Him, admitting her unworthiness to receive the "bread" intended for the children, yet still asked for the mere "crumbs that fell from the table," as the family pet would.
And Jesus commended her for her faith! And her humbleness allowed her to trust the Lord to do for her what she knew she could not do for herself--heal her daughter.
O my Father, please strengthen my faith to really believe that You will do what I know I can't. Help me to begin to do those things I cannot accomplish, believing that You will do them through me. Keep me close to Yourself, that I will hear Your still, small voice behind me, saying, "This is the path, walk here," not wandering to the left or to the right.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Nailed To The Cross
Galatians 5: 24
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His Cross and crucified them there.
I actually wrote "My Retirement" on a card and physically nailed it to a life-size wooden cross, thinking about the funds I realized I had been hoarding at the time. But I didn't write, "My Retirement Funds," and God took me at my word, and has now taken to Himself this retirement portion of my life.
I am amazed that the Almighty God would want my puny, insignificant life and make it an integral and important part of His great, grand Plan of the Ages. And He also thinks that your life is also that significant.
O my Father, thank You so much for Your enormous love for me! For Your knowledge of me, and Your tender care for me.
Please remind me of whatever else I have "nailed to the Cross" so I will recognize when You are working in those areas, too, and not resist You. All I am belongs to You, and is under Your total control. Lead me and direct me, take my hand to guide me surely and confidently in Your path, Your ways; not stumbling or wandering off to the right or to the left.
And You will receive all the glory, Lord, for everything You are doing in my life, in my family, in my country and in my world.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His Cross and crucified them there.
I actually wrote "My Retirement" on a card and physically nailed it to a life-size wooden cross, thinking about the funds I realized I had been hoarding at the time. But I didn't write, "My Retirement Funds," and God took me at my word, and has now taken to Himself this retirement portion of my life.
I am amazed that the Almighty God would want my puny, insignificant life and make it an integral and important part of His great, grand Plan of the Ages. And He also thinks that your life is also that significant.
O my Father, thank You so much for Your enormous love for me! For Your knowledge of me, and Your tender care for me.
Please remind me of whatever else I have "nailed to the Cross" so I will recognize when You are working in those areas, too, and not resist You. All I am belongs to You, and is under Your total control. Lead me and direct me, take my hand to guide me surely and confidently in Your path, Your ways; not stumbling or wandering off to the right or to the left.
And You will receive all the glory, Lord, for everything You are doing in my life, in my family, in my country and in my world.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
The Manufacturer's Instructions
Matthew 7: 21b
... The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in Heaven.
We need to know God.
We need to know His Word and His ways.
But just knowing is not enough.
What makes the difference is when we obey God. When we know to do good, but don't do it, it is sin (James 4:17). And when we go on our own understanding of what we think would be the best thing to do, we go astray (Proverbs 3:5); because His ways are not our ways, and our thoughts are not His thoughts (Isaiah 55:8).
He has told us in His Word everything we need to know to live in this world, and to live with Him forever (II Timothy 3:16-17). But we need to listen to what He says, and obey all the laws by which our World operates, just like we will follow the Owner's Manual that came with our new car.
So, "The decisive issue is whether they obey." If you don't obey your car's Owner's Manual, and put gas in a diesel engine, it won't operate properly. And when we don't take into account God's instructions, then our lives won't operate well, either.
And if we don't see ourselves as our Maker sees us, we would be deceiving ourselves (I Corinthians 3:18). So we need to see our need, and God's provision for us in pouring out His wrath on His own Son, Who not only covers, but washes away all of our sinfulness. All the wrath we deserve, Jesus took in our place on the Cross as the Lamb of God.
And when each of us lets Jesus take our place in that death as our personal sacrifice (Leviticus 1), then God places us into His own Kingdom, and replaces our filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) with the purity of His own Righteousness (Revelation 19:8).
And He places His own Holy Spirit into our spirit, making our dead spirit alive, as His deposit on the Redemption Jesus bought for us (II Corinthians 1:22).
So if you, dear reader, have never considered yourself as deserving that death, then I suggest you ask God to gift you with the faith to believe what He says; and He will impress on you how much He loves you to do that.
He's coming soon.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
... The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in Heaven.
We need to know God.
We need to know His Word and His ways.
But just knowing is not enough.
What makes the difference is when we obey God. When we know to do good, but don't do it, it is sin (James 4:17). And when we go on our own understanding of what we think would be the best thing to do, we go astray (Proverbs 3:5); because His ways are not our ways, and our thoughts are not His thoughts (Isaiah 55:8).
He has told us in His Word everything we need to know to live in this world, and to live with Him forever (II Timothy 3:16-17). But we need to listen to what He says, and obey all the laws by which our World operates, just like we will follow the Owner's Manual that came with our new car.
So, "The decisive issue is whether they obey." If you don't obey your car's Owner's Manual, and put gas in a diesel engine, it won't operate properly. And when we don't take into account God's instructions, then our lives won't operate well, either.
And if we don't see ourselves as our Maker sees us, we would be deceiving ourselves (I Corinthians 3:18). So we need to see our need, and God's provision for us in pouring out His wrath on His own Son, Who not only covers, but washes away all of our sinfulness. All the wrath we deserve, Jesus took in our place on the Cross as the Lamb of God.
And when each of us lets Jesus take our place in that death as our personal sacrifice (Leviticus 1), then God places us into His own Kingdom, and replaces our filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) with the purity of His own Righteousness (Revelation 19:8).
And He places His own Holy Spirit into our spirit, making our dead spirit alive, as His deposit on the Redemption Jesus bought for us (II Corinthians 1:22).
So if you, dear reader, have never considered yourself as deserving that death, then I suggest you ask God to gift you with the faith to believe what He says; and He will impress on you how much He loves you to do that.
He's coming soon.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Rest For Our Souls
Matthew 11: 28-30
Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.
Why does Jesus say that His yoke is easy, and His load is light? Christians today in the world are facing more persecution than at any time in history. How can His yoke be easy when facing torture and imprisonment; or His load light when the family is left to starve, being cut off from any help?
This is what is happening in many parts of the World today.
But those who have faced these horrendous hardships for their faith have testified that God is faithful, and has met every need, comforting and holding them in His arms. Because He invites us into His yoke, to pull His load, with Him. He is taking the brunt of the weight, and He really does give them (us) rest for our souls.
As their brothers and sisters, we can pray for them to be strengthened, which is the only thing they ask of us. To know that they are connected to the greater Body of Christ is very encouraging to them.
And we can thank God for the freedoms we have to practice our Faith without fear of even arrest or harassment.
As we face the problems and troubles of each day, we can also turn to our Savior, taking on us His yoke with Him, to bear His load, instead of the weight of our own sorrows, as He has instructed us all. It doesn't matter if we're facing torture and death or a broken fingernail, He calls us all to lay on Him our load and take His.
And His rest of soul is available to each one of us, regardless of the circumstances we face today. He's bigger than them all.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.
Why does Jesus say that His yoke is easy, and His load is light? Christians today in the world are facing more persecution than at any time in history. How can His yoke be easy when facing torture and imprisonment; or His load light when the family is left to starve, being cut off from any help?
This is what is happening in many parts of the World today.
But those who have faced these horrendous hardships for their faith have testified that God is faithful, and has met every need, comforting and holding them in His arms. Because He invites us into His yoke, to pull His load, with Him. He is taking the brunt of the weight, and He really does give them (us) rest for our souls.
As their brothers and sisters, we can pray for them to be strengthened, which is the only thing they ask of us. To know that they are connected to the greater Body of Christ is very encouraging to them.
And we can thank God for the freedoms we have to practice our Faith without fear of even arrest or harassment.
As we face the problems and troubles of each day, we can also turn to our Savior, taking on us His yoke with Him, to bear His load, instead of the weight of our own sorrows, as He has instructed us all. It doesn't matter if we're facing torture and death or a broken fingernail, He calls us all to lay on Him our load and take His.
And His rest of soul is available to each one of us, regardless of the circumstances we face today. He's bigger than them all.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, July 17, 2017
Peace Or A Sword
Matthew 10: 34
Do not think that I came to bring peace on the Earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
God is so good to us all. He made this Earth for us and put in it everything we need for every contingency. He's given us one another to help each other and uphold each other. He taught us His ways, which are the right and righteous and practical ways that work.
Yet we refuse to thank Him or honor Him for all the good gifts He showers upon us. We rebel against God and His ways, we destroy this Earth as we ravish it for our own selfish, short-term needs with no thought to caring for it for future generations; we desire only to satisfy our own lusts for power, pleasure and self.
No wonder Jesus came to bring a sword, to set the wicked against the righteous and against each other.
O Father, continue to wake up Your church! Empower us to become one, even as Father, Jesus and Spirit are One! Then the World will see and finally give You the glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Do not think that I came to bring peace on the Earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
God is so good to us all. He made this Earth for us and put in it everything we need for every contingency. He's given us one another to help each other and uphold each other. He taught us His ways, which are the right and righteous and practical ways that work.
Yet we refuse to thank Him or honor Him for all the good gifts He showers upon us. We rebel against God and His ways, we destroy this Earth as we ravish it for our own selfish, short-term needs with no thought to caring for it for future generations; we desire only to satisfy our own lusts for power, pleasure and self.
No wonder Jesus came to bring a sword, to set the wicked against the righteous and against each other.
O Father, continue to wake up Your church! Empower us to become one, even as Father, Jesus and Spirit are One! Then the World will see and finally give You the glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, July 16, 2017
God's Favor As A Shield
Psalm 5: 11-12
But let all who take refuge in You be glad, let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, that those who love Your Name may exult in You. For it is You Who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield.
O my Father, surround me with the shield of Your favor; put Your guard on my tongue (and fingers as I type or text) that I will convey Your Truth and Your compassion. Help me to think before I speak, and to say only what would be encouraging and uplifting to the hearer.
Father, let Your joy be my strength; show me how to value the day over the night, so I won't want to return to my dream instead of facing the day each morning. Show me Your purpose in every moment of each day so I will not waste any time.
Teach me Your ways, Lord, that I may put away laziness and selfishness, and serve You in righteousness and further Your purposes in this World according to Your plan.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
But let all who take refuge in You be glad, let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, that those who love Your Name may exult in You. For it is You Who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield.
O my Father, surround me with the shield of Your favor; put Your guard on my tongue (and fingers as I type or text) that I will convey Your Truth and Your compassion. Help me to think before I speak, and to say only what would be encouraging and uplifting to the hearer.
Father, let Your joy be my strength; show me how to value the day over the night, so I won't want to return to my dream instead of facing the day each morning. Show me Your purpose in every moment of each day so I will not waste any time.
Teach me Your ways, Lord, that I may put away laziness and selfishness, and serve You in righteousness and further Your purposes in this World according to Your plan.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Don't Be Anxious
Matthew 6: 34
Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
God has given us each morning of every new day. A new day to begin again, forgetting the things that lie behind (not being wrapped up in the past, or controlled by the past), and not being anxious, worrying about the future. Concentrating, focusing on today and what I need to do today will help me to follow closely to God in His footsteps, on His path for me (WWJD).
When I accomplish today what I am to do, then everything will be set up for tomorrow, too. All the little things of this day will arrange and set up how things will be tomorrow. When I take care of today's trouble, it will not intrude on tomorrow's trouble and multiply.
Father, teach me Your wisdom to walk with You today. Teach me to think before I speak, to have the Law of Kindness upon my lips, and to follow Your direction in every step I take this day.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
God has given us each morning of every new day. A new day to begin again, forgetting the things that lie behind (not being wrapped up in the past, or controlled by the past), and not being anxious, worrying about the future. Concentrating, focusing on today and what I need to do today will help me to follow closely to God in His footsteps, on His path for me (WWJD).
When I accomplish today what I am to do, then everything will be set up for tomorrow, too. All the little things of this day will arrange and set up how things will be tomorrow. When I take care of today's trouble, it will not intrude on tomorrow's trouble and multiply.
Father, teach me Your wisdom to walk with You today. Teach me to think before I speak, to have the Law of Kindness upon my lips, and to follow Your direction in every step I take this day.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, July 14, 2017
God's Blessing
Genesis 1: 20-22
Then God said, "Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the Earth, in the open expanse of the Heavens." And God created the great sea monsters, and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the Earth."
The first instance of God's blessing recorded in Scripture is to the cold-blooded creatures of the seas and the warm-blooded birds of the air and earth, in multiplying after their kinds, i.e. producing young.
It is God's blessing that enables all His creatures to participate with Him in "pro-creation," having young. Even the fishes, who apparently do not feel emotions, experience God's blessing in producing young.
How much more should we rejoice in God's blessing of children, our heritage from Him, even when we don't feel blessed!
Dear Father, thank You so much for giving me the children I bore. Thank You for letting me rear and raise them in Your Truth. Now, Father, please draw them to Yourself; remind them of the Truth they learned as children, and open their minds and hearts to realize Your love for them.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Then God said, "Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the Earth, in the open expanse of the Heavens." And God created the great sea monsters, and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the Earth."
The first instance of God's blessing recorded in Scripture is to the cold-blooded creatures of the seas and the warm-blooded birds of the air and earth, in multiplying after their kinds, i.e. producing young.
It is God's blessing that enables all His creatures to participate with Him in "pro-creation," having young. Even the fishes, who apparently do not feel emotions, experience God's blessing in producing young.
How much more should we rejoice in God's blessing of children, our heritage from Him, even when we don't feel blessed!
Dear Father, thank You so much for giving me the children I bore. Thank You for letting me rear and raise them in Your Truth. Now, Father, please draw them to Yourself; remind them of the Truth they learned as children, and open their minds and hearts to realize Your love for them.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, July 13, 2017
No Blood From A Turnip
Genesis 4: 2-5
So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the first fruit of the ground. And Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.
So you can't get blood from a turnip!
God showed very clearly from the very beginning with Adam and Eve that death was necessary to give them clothing to cover their nakedness, their sin.
God was teaching us even that early in our human existence that blood had to be shed, that we deserve death because of sin. So Cain was taught this by his parents, but he expected that his own works, his vegetables, should be enough, that he was good enough and didn't deserve death. But God talked to him, and told him that he was very close to being overcome by sin, and that he would need to fight to overcome it.
It seems that some of us have a hard time admitting our culpability, and others of us don't seem to have a problem admitting when we're wrong. Abel seems to be in the latter group, and Cain in the former. He may have wondered why it was so "easy" for Abel to offer the "correct" sacrifice, when he worked just as hard as his brother did, even harder.
People today face the same dilemma. One person works and slaves and can't seem to get ahead, and another person just sits in an office, or does something else where he never has to break a sweat, and he rakes in the riches. It just doesn't seem fair, does it?
So we need to learn that life in this world isn't "fair." Fair would be everyone getting the same outcome, regardless of the effort put in; it would be that the baby gets the same steak as Dad, or that Dad has to eat pablum. God is not "fair," He is Just.
Those who put their trust in this world's benefits will find in the end that they will not do them any good in the long run, and they don't even satisfy in this life. But putting our trust in the Sacrifice of the Lamb of God to not just cover but take away all our sinfulness, and learning God's ways of living in this world can bring us this world's benefits, bringing the credit for our success to God.
So just working hard is not the key to success, it's working smart, according to the ways God designed this world to work, trusting Him and giving Him the glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the first fruit of the ground. And Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.
So you can't get blood from a turnip!
God showed very clearly from the very beginning with Adam and Eve that death was necessary to give them clothing to cover their nakedness, their sin.
God was teaching us even that early in our human existence that blood had to be shed, that we deserve death because of sin. So Cain was taught this by his parents, but he expected that his own works, his vegetables, should be enough, that he was good enough and didn't deserve death. But God talked to him, and told him that he was very close to being overcome by sin, and that he would need to fight to overcome it.
It seems that some of us have a hard time admitting our culpability, and others of us don't seem to have a problem admitting when we're wrong. Abel seems to be in the latter group, and Cain in the former. He may have wondered why it was so "easy" for Abel to offer the "correct" sacrifice, when he worked just as hard as his brother did, even harder.
People today face the same dilemma. One person works and slaves and can't seem to get ahead, and another person just sits in an office, or does something else where he never has to break a sweat, and he rakes in the riches. It just doesn't seem fair, does it?
So we need to learn that life in this world isn't "fair." Fair would be everyone getting the same outcome, regardless of the effort put in; it would be that the baby gets the same steak as Dad, or that Dad has to eat pablum. God is not "fair," He is Just.
Those who put their trust in this world's benefits will find in the end that they will not do them any good in the long run, and they don't even satisfy in this life. But putting our trust in the Sacrifice of the Lamb of God to not just cover but take away all our sinfulness, and learning God's ways of living in this world can bring us this world's benefits, bringing the credit for our success to God.
So just working hard is not the key to success, it's working smart, according to the ways God designed this world to work, trusting Him and giving Him the glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
To Tame Our Tongues
Psalm 19: 14
May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
We all need to be careful and watch what we allow to escape from our mouth or fingertips. James tells us that, "If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect person, able to keep his whole body in check" (3:2). This means that we are all vulnerable to letting something unseemly slip out now and then.
O my Father, please help me! I am weak, I am helpless in my thoughts and words without Your guidance and discipline.
Please give me, give us all, accountability among our spiritual brothers and sisters, to hold each other up and to teach us Your ways, O Lord! that we not slip into a fool's ways.
We are foolish whenever we open our mouths or click send before thinking, or without thinking at all. Help us to remember to pause and consider how this will be received by the hearer, if it would be encouraging or critical.
Forgive us for the times we have wounded a dear sibling, and show us how to make our apologies and amends to one another, so that we all may be healed in our emotions and relationships.
And You, O God, our Creator, our Beginner and Finisher, will receive all the credit, all the glory, all the honor and all the blessing for everything You have done, are doing, and will finish, according to Your will, at Your pleasure, by Your plan and in Your time.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
We all need to be careful and watch what we allow to escape from our mouth or fingertips. James tells us that, "If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect person, able to keep his whole body in check" (3:2). This means that we are all vulnerable to letting something unseemly slip out now and then.
O my Father, please help me! I am weak, I am helpless in my thoughts and words without Your guidance and discipline.
Please give me, give us all, accountability among our spiritual brothers and sisters, to hold each other up and to teach us Your ways, O Lord! that we not slip into a fool's ways.
We are foolish whenever we open our mouths or click send before thinking, or without thinking at all. Help us to remember to pause and consider how this will be received by the hearer, if it would be encouraging or critical.
Forgive us for the times we have wounded a dear sibling, and show us how to make our apologies and amends to one another, so that we all may be healed in our emotions and relationships.
And You, O God, our Creator, our Beginner and Finisher, will receive all the credit, all the glory, all the honor and all the blessing for everything You have done, are doing, and will finish, according to Your will, at Your pleasure, by Your plan and in Your time.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Who Is Babylon?
Revelation 18
Therefore these plagues will overtake her in a single day--death and mourning and famine. She will be completely consumed by fire. ... And the kings of the world will ... mourn as they see the smoke rising from her charred remains. They will stand at a distance, terrified. ... The merchants of the world will weep and mourn for her, for there is no one left to buy their goods ... will stand at a distance, terrified. ... And all the captains of the merchant ships and all their passengers and sailors and crews will stand at a distance ... as they watch the smoke ascend, and they will say, "Where is there another city as great as this?"
And all three groups of rulers and businessmen cry out, "How terrible, how terrible!"
So this city, this harlot that rides on the Beast (in Chapter 17), this center of the whole world's economies, will be completely consumed by fire all at once, and they will all stand at a distance watching the smoke ascend (like mushroom clouds?) and be terrified!
What Nation among the Nations, what group of powerful people, have so much influence that they affect all the other World's Nations' economies?
We need to recognize where this is, because God calls us to:
Come out of her, My people,
so that you will not share in her sins,
so that you will not receive any of her plagues (v. 4).
This is a group of arrogant people who never think anything disastrously bad will ever happen to them (see v. 7).
This will be such a complete destruction that no society will ever be able to occupy this land again (see vs. 21-24). That's why God wants His people to leave before this happens.
So there are also God's people there. God has called to Himself people from every Nation, every tribe, every language, all over the World. So we need to pay attention to the political machinations in every Nation, and be discerning as to recognizing what our leaders are doing, in both politics and economics, and in their religions, too, as this Nation has persecuted, tortured, imprisoned and martyred God's children.
The merchants of this "city" were the World's great men.
By their "magic spell" or "trance" all the Nations were led astray (v. 23).
This is economic "Armageddon."
In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints,
And of all who have been killed on the Earth" (v. 24).
This is the "World religion" that will dominate in the "one-World government."
Let's all, all of God's people, who know and worship our Creator, Owner, King and Lord, pay attention to what is going on in the World, and continue to grow closer to our dear Father to follow His direction each day of our lives.
Look, He is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see Him,
even those who pierced Him;
and all the peoples of the Earth will mourn because of Him.
So shall it be! Amen. (Chapter 1:7).
"Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God forever. Amen." (7:12).
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Therefore these plagues will overtake her in a single day--death and mourning and famine. She will be completely consumed by fire. ... And the kings of the world will ... mourn as they see the smoke rising from her charred remains. They will stand at a distance, terrified. ... The merchants of the world will weep and mourn for her, for there is no one left to buy their goods ... will stand at a distance, terrified. ... And all the captains of the merchant ships and all their passengers and sailors and crews will stand at a distance ... as they watch the smoke ascend, and they will say, "Where is there another city as great as this?"
And all three groups of rulers and businessmen cry out, "How terrible, how terrible!"
So this city, this harlot that rides on the Beast (in Chapter 17), this center of the whole world's economies, will be completely consumed by fire all at once, and they will all stand at a distance watching the smoke ascend (like mushroom clouds?) and be terrified!
What Nation among the Nations, what group of powerful people, have so much influence that they affect all the other World's Nations' economies?
We need to recognize where this is, because God calls us to:
Come out of her, My people,
so that you will not share in her sins,
so that you will not receive any of her plagues (v. 4).
This is a group of arrogant people who never think anything disastrously bad will ever happen to them (see v. 7).
This will be such a complete destruction that no society will ever be able to occupy this land again (see vs. 21-24). That's why God wants His people to leave before this happens.
So there are also God's people there. God has called to Himself people from every Nation, every tribe, every language, all over the World. So we need to pay attention to the political machinations in every Nation, and be discerning as to recognizing what our leaders are doing, in both politics and economics, and in their religions, too, as this Nation has persecuted, tortured, imprisoned and martyred God's children.
The merchants of this "city" were the World's great men.
By their "magic spell" or "trance" all the Nations were led astray (v. 23).
This is economic "Armageddon."
In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints,
And of all who have been killed on the Earth" (v. 24).
This is the "World religion" that will dominate in the "one-World government."
Let's all, all of God's people, who know and worship our Creator, Owner, King and Lord, pay attention to what is going on in the World, and continue to grow closer to our dear Father to follow His direction each day of our lives.
Look, He is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see Him,
even those who pierced Him;
and all the peoples of the Earth will mourn because of Him.
So shall it be! Amen. (Chapter 1:7).
"Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God forever. Amen." (7:12).
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, July 10, 2017
Salvation And Redemption
Romans 3: 23-26
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
The word "sin" is an archery term that refers to "missing the bull's eye." We have all fallen short of the Perfection that is God's standard.
being justified
Being declared just, not made just in our human lives.
as a gift
We can't earn it, we can only accept it as a free gift we don't deserve.
by His grace
Grace is God giving us the good we don't deserve, whereas mercy is God not giving us the punishment we do deserve.
through the redemption
To redeem a coupon is to trade it for the benefit it represents. Our redemption is the trading in of our mortal physical body for the eternal spiritual body like Jesus' Resurrection body. It includes all the benefits of Eternal Life.
which is in Christ Jesus,
Only God, Himself, in shedding His own (God's own) Blood on the altar of the Cross could not just cover, but actually wash away all the stain of our sinfulness, thereby fitting us to live with Him in His Heaven.
whom God displayed publicly
God the Father determined that God the Son would be sacrificed publicly for everybody to witness, in full view of the general populace.
as a propitiation
A big word that means, "that which gains or regains the favor or goodwill of," or "an atoning sacrifice" (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). What makes up for wrongdoing. Jesus suffered the whole punishment for our sins, as our substitute in death.
in His blood
His blood is the very blood of God, Himself, with endless value; more than enough worth to pay for all sin and sins everywhere. But not everyone is willing to admit that they deserve death.
through faith.
Our faith is believing what God says in His Word about ourselves, Who Jesus is, what He has done, and that God loves us that much to go through all of this just for me, for each one of us. God saves us one by one.
This was to demonstrate His righteousness,
This was to show everybody how good God is, how right and perfect He is.
because in the forbearance of God
Because God is so patient with us.
He passed over the sins previously committed;
All the animal sacrifices could never take away any sins, but only cover the sins of those individual people who let the animal die in their place on the altar.
for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time,
To show all of us today how righteous God is.
that He might be just
God's justice was satisfied by Jesus' suffering.
and the justifier
And the one who declares that justice has been done.
of the one
Each individual person must come to God through Jesus. The only "group" He died for is all of the whole Universe, including this Earth, the World System on it, and every person who ever lived, to purchase us all as His possession. Now, as our Owner, He also is the rightful judge of us all.
who has faith in Jesus.
Each one of us who puts our faith in the Sacrifice Jesus made as our substitute in death, will have His blood wash away our sins, and our sinfulness, saving us from the power of sin over us now (salvation), and will deliver us from the very presence of sin or any wrong-doing forever in Heaven (redemption).
Thank You, Father, for keeping Your promise to Eve, and all the other promises You have made, in sending Your own Son, Christ Jesus, to be our Savior and our Redeemer. Thank You Jesus, for being willing and going through all the deprivation of Heavens glory when You became Man, and even suffering the execution death we all deserve, so that we could be cleansed and made fit for Heaven with You. And thank You, Spirit, for being the Deposit and the Seal to guarantee that nothing will ever separate us from God again, forever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
The word "sin" is an archery term that refers to "missing the bull's eye." We have all fallen short of the Perfection that is God's standard.
being justified
Being declared just, not made just in our human lives.
as a gift
We can't earn it, we can only accept it as a free gift we don't deserve.
by His grace
Grace is God giving us the good we don't deserve, whereas mercy is God not giving us the punishment we do deserve.
through the redemption
To redeem a coupon is to trade it for the benefit it represents. Our redemption is the trading in of our mortal physical body for the eternal spiritual body like Jesus' Resurrection body. It includes all the benefits of Eternal Life.
which is in Christ Jesus,
Only God, Himself, in shedding His own (God's own) Blood on the altar of the Cross could not just cover, but actually wash away all the stain of our sinfulness, thereby fitting us to live with Him in His Heaven.
whom God displayed publicly
God the Father determined that God the Son would be sacrificed publicly for everybody to witness, in full view of the general populace.
as a propitiation
A big word that means, "that which gains or regains the favor or goodwill of," or "an atoning sacrifice" (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). What makes up for wrongdoing. Jesus suffered the whole punishment for our sins, as our substitute in death.
in His blood
His blood is the very blood of God, Himself, with endless value; more than enough worth to pay for all sin and sins everywhere. But not everyone is willing to admit that they deserve death.
through faith.
Our faith is believing what God says in His Word about ourselves, Who Jesus is, what He has done, and that God loves us that much to go through all of this just for me, for each one of us. God saves us one by one.
This was to demonstrate His righteousness,
This was to show everybody how good God is, how right and perfect He is.
because in the forbearance of God
Because God is so patient with us.
He passed over the sins previously committed;
All the animal sacrifices could never take away any sins, but only cover the sins of those individual people who let the animal die in their place on the altar.
for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time,
To show all of us today how righteous God is.
that He might be just
God's justice was satisfied by Jesus' suffering.
and the justifier
And the one who declares that justice has been done.
of the one
Each individual person must come to God through Jesus. The only "group" He died for is all of the whole Universe, including this Earth, the World System on it, and every person who ever lived, to purchase us all as His possession. Now, as our Owner, He also is the rightful judge of us all.
who has faith in Jesus.
Each one of us who puts our faith in the Sacrifice Jesus made as our substitute in death, will have His blood wash away our sins, and our sinfulness, saving us from the power of sin over us now (salvation), and will deliver us from the very presence of sin or any wrong-doing forever in Heaven (redemption).
Thank You, Father, for keeping Your promise to Eve, and all the other promises You have made, in sending Your own Son, Christ Jesus, to be our Savior and our Redeemer. Thank You Jesus, for being willing and going through all the deprivation of Heavens glory when You became Man, and even suffering the execution death we all deserve, so that we could be cleansed and made fit for Heaven with You. And thank You, Spirit, for being the Deposit and the Seal to guarantee that nothing will ever separate us from God again, forever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Sunday, July 9, 2017
Faithful To All His Promises
Psalm 145: 8-9, 13-14
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.
The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up those who are bent beneath their loads.
The Lord God of the Old Testament that David wrote about here is the One we know today as Jesus Christ. God the Son has always been the One to deal with Mankind, and the One Who agreed before He created with His Father and Spirit, that He would come to suffer the wrath we deserve for our sinfulness.
He told us to turn to Him when we are under heavy loads (Matthew 11:28-30), and He fulfilled over 400 of the promises, the prophesies, that were made to encourage His people. God would never say He would do something that He knows He won't do, and He sees the end from the beginning (Revelation 1:8), so He knows what He plans to do. And His plans for us are for our good, because He loves us so much (Jeremiah 29:11).
O my Father, You are so dear to me! You are my gentle, powerful Daddy Who takes such good care of me. You are my Husband Who loves me passionately and comforts me. You are my Good Shepherd Who carries me when I am weak and wounded.
And You know what You have planned for my life, why I am still in this Desert of waiting, still teaching me precious truths and how I can trust You for more every day.
Thank You so much, Father, for all You are doing in me, on me, and through me to further Your good purposes for me and for this World You have made.
And You will receive all the glory, for You have planned it all and are executing Your plan, Your way, in Your time.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.
The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up those who are bent beneath their loads.
The Lord God of the Old Testament that David wrote about here is the One we know today as Jesus Christ. God the Son has always been the One to deal with Mankind, and the One Who agreed before He created with His Father and Spirit, that He would come to suffer the wrath we deserve for our sinfulness.
He told us to turn to Him when we are under heavy loads (Matthew 11:28-30), and He fulfilled over 400 of the promises, the prophesies, that were made to encourage His people. God would never say He would do something that He knows He won't do, and He sees the end from the beginning (Revelation 1:8), so He knows what He plans to do. And His plans for us are for our good, because He loves us so much (Jeremiah 29:11).
O my Father, You are so dear to me! You are my gentle, powerful Daddy Who takes such good care of me. You are my Husband Who loves me passionately and comforts me. You are my Good Shepherd Who carries me when I am weak and wounded.
And You know what You have planned for my life, why I am still in this Desert of waiting, still teaching me precious truths and how I can trust You for more every day.
Thank You so much, Father, for all You are doing in me, on me, and through me to further Your good purposes for me and for this World You have made.
And You will receive all the glory, for You have planned it all and are executing Your plan, Your way, in Your time.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, July 8, 2017
Take Control, O Lord!
Psalm 141: 3, 5
Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.
Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they correct me, it is soothing medicine. Don't let me refuse it.
O my Father, my Abba Dad! Please take control of what I say and how I say it, with a guard on my lips and fingertips to pause before I express it. Please let the people in my study groups have the courage to confront me when I need it. Let them strike me to teach me the lessons You know I need to learn and apply in my life. And keep me humble before them to accept their counsel and rebukes.
Father, help me to see them all as You see them, and give me the sisterly affection toward them that I need to feel as they are my sisters and brothers. Help me to build bridges between us, and to tear down any walls that may separate us. Help us all to be accountable to one another, confessing our sins to one another and praying for one another so that we may all be healed (James 5:16).
And as we obey You in following Your loving ways, You will get all the glory, for that's how You designed it to work.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.
Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they correct me, it is soothing medicine. Don't let me refuse it.
O my Father, my Abba Dad! Please take control of what I say and how I say it, with a guard on my lips and fingertips to pause before I express it. Please let the people in my study groups have the courage to confront me when I need it. Let them strike me to teach me the lessons You know I need to learn and apply in my life. And keep me humble before them to accept their counsel and rebukes.
Father, help me to see them all as You see them, and give me the sisterly affection toward them that I need to feel as they are my sisters and brothers. Help me to build bridges between us, and to tear down any walls that may separate us. Help us all to be accountable to one another, confessing our sins to one another and praying for one another so that we may all be healed (James 5:16).
And as we obey You in following Your loving ways, You will get all the glory, for that's how You designed it to work.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, July 7, 2017
All Glory And Honor And Power
Revelation 4: 11
You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and they exist because You created what You pleased.
God is Creator. He spoke everything that is into existence. It's like we're His imagination, and if He wasn't thinking about us, we wouldn't exist. That's why He is our Lawgiver, the One Who determines how everything is to work, and work together. Our God is Love, so He decided to base all workings on Order, the expression of His Love. He put Order into the Chaos, which placed His Beauty into everything He made.
God is good, and all His ways are good for us, and help us get along and find happiness in the happenings that result from doing things His way. And He also gives us His joy, which goes far deeper than happiness, and is our strength when we face trials. This World is our classroom, as we are children in school here. All the trials we face are the tests our Teacher gives us, as we learn.
But sin is the monkey-wrench that has been thrown into the works, so we need to watch out for all the twistings and misapplication of His ways, which are our "natural" way of thinking, because we are born defective by our nature that we inherited from our first human father, Adam. That's why we are admonished repeatedly to "be careful" to notice the difference God's ways make from our own ways. On our own, we would never be able to come up with the "right" ways, that's why God gave us His Word to study and understand.
When we do understand, then we can do things His way: we will love Him and always put Him first, and we will love one another, never doing or saying or even thinking any harm to anyone else. This is the basis and foundation of all of His Law.
And all of Natural Law is in obedience to His Love. True Science is the searching for God's beauty and order in His Creation, and will always support the Truth of His Word He has given us.
All this is why He really does deserve all the credit and fame for everything.
O my Father, my Lord, my Sovereign King, You alone are worthy of all honor, all credit for everything that is done, all authority to do whatever You please with all that You have created, for You made it all for Your own pleasure. And when You smile, all goes well with us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and they exist because You created what You pleased.
God is Creator. He spoke everything that is into existence. It's like we're His imagination, and if He wasn't thinking about us, we wouldn't exist. That's why He is our Lawgiver, the One Who determines how everything is to work, and work together. Our God is Love, so He decided to base all workings on Order, the expression of His Love. He put Order into the Chaos, which placed His Beauty into everything He made.
God is good, and all His ways are good for us, and help us get along and find happiness in the happenings that result from doing things His way. And He also gives us His joy, which goes far deeper than happiness, and is our strength when we face trials. This World is our classroom, as we are children in school here. All the trials we face are the tests our Teacher gives us, as we learn.
But sin is the monkey-wrench that has been thrown into the works, so we need to watch out for all the twistings and misapplication of His ways, which are our "natural" way of thinking, because we are born defective by our nature that we inherited from our first human father, Adam. That's why we are admonished repeatedly to "be careful" to notice the difference God's ways make from our own ways. On our own, we would never be able to come up with the "right" ways, that's why God gave us His Word to study and understand.
When we do understand, then we can do things His way: we will love Him and always put Him first, and we will love one another, never doing or saying or even thinking any harm to anyone else. This is the basis and foundation of all of His Law.
And all of Natural Law is in obedience to His Love. True Science is the searching for God's beauty and order in His Creation, and will always support the Truth of His Word He has given us.
All this is why He really does deserve all the credit and fame for everything.
O my Father, my Lord, my Sovereign King, You alone are worthy of all honor, all credit for everything that is done, all authority to do whatever You please with all that You have created, for You made it all for Your own pleasure. And when You smile, all goes well with us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, July 6, 2017
The Last Page
Amos 9: 13
"The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes . . ."
"The time will come," says the Lord, "when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested . . ."
This comes at the end of Amos' dire prophesies. He describes all the horrors that God will inflict on those who have turned from Him. But He never leaves them there. God always gives the "last page" of the story, to give hope to the readers that all will not be lost.
At the end of our story, the story of Humanity, our prosperity will be so abundant that we won't be able to keep up with it. Food will grow faster than we can harvest it, which demonstrates how everything we do will prosper, in His eternal Kingdom.
The way I see it, circumstances will get worse before they get better. But they will get better, better than we can even imagine. Our God is just, and will administer justice to this World System, this Earth we have defiled, and this whole Universe that has been inflicted with the results of our sin, the Curse of Death (Entropy).
Then there will be the New Heaven (Universe) and the New Earth, and the Curse of Death will no longer exist. Things will no longer "wind down" or wear out. What is, will be. What we do, will last. Nothing will ever again hinder any process from achieving its intended purpose. It will be eternal Paradise. And we will be the administrators, under our Father, running His family business, His Kingdom. How glorious it will be!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
"The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes . . ."
"The time will come," says the Lord, "when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested . . ."
This comes at the end of Amos' dire prophesies. He describes all the horrors that God will inflict on those who have turned from Him. But He never leaves them there. God always gives the "last page" of the story, to give hope to the readers that all will not be lost.
At the end of our story, the story of Humanity, our prosperity will be so abundant that we won't be able to keep up with it. Food will grow faster than we can harvest it, which demonstrates how everything we do will prosper, in His eternal Kingdom.
The way I see it, circumstances will get worse before they get better. But they will get better, better than we can even imagine. Our God is just, and will administer justice to this World System, this Earth we have defiled, and this whole Universe that has been inflicted with the results of our sin, the Curse of Death (Entropy).
Then there will be the New Heaven (Universe) and the New Earth, and the Curse of Death will no longer exist. Things will no longer "wind down" or wear out. What is, will be. What we do, will last. Nothing will ever again hinder any process from achieving its intended purpose. It will be eternal Paradise. And we will be the administrators, under our Father, running His family business, His Kingdom. How glorious it will be!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
The Godly And Wicked Rulers
Psalm 125: 3
The wicked will not rule the land of the godly, for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong.
Our land elects our leaders. So when our people were godly, we elected godly rulers. But in the process of time, we have slid down slippery slopes, like the frog in the pot over a simmering heat, we hardly notice how far we have fallen morally.
Ungodly people will support wicked rulers, but godly people will support righteous rulers. This is the principle set forth here. And we have seen it work out in politics in our Nations.
Revelation 2: 10
Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.
We see today that evil people are imprisoning and torturing God's faithful ones in some areas of the World today. This persecution is growing and spreading into more areas of Nations.
As Christians, we all need to face the fact that we could suffer persecution for our faith, as non-Christian religions spread all over the World. So we need to be prepared for this eventuality, by growing strong in our faith in the knowledge of our Lord and His ways. We are to be praying for our brothers and sisters who are now facing these trials, as in prison with them.
But God has told us that this will not last long--ten days is a short time. Even then, many of us will be martyred and/or lose our families and other loved ones in this process.
Even in America, the "land of the free," if we return this Nation to God's righteousness, our enemy the devil, in great wrath, will have His minions destroy what they can, to remove God's ways from us, and that's when persecution will come here, too.
We are not to be afraid of it, but continue to stand on the Promises, for they are trustworthy, and run from the temptation to do evil to "get along." God has proven Himself to be faithful and will never subject His children to His wrath, because He already satisfied that on His Son in our place. We only need to face the wrath of Man, from our enemy, and He Who is in us is greater than he who is in the World (I John 4:4).
God has graciously told us what is ahead, so we can be prepared to face it. "To be forewarned is to be forearmed," if we are wise to prepare ourselves.
My desire is that we all will apply ourselves to seeking God's face to know Him better, love Him more, and understand His ways more extensively every day. He has given us His Word, so we can know everything we need to know and apply to our thinking and our talking and our doing every moment every day. Then we will face the enemy in strength and confidence in our Lord.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The wicked will not rule the land of the godly, for then the godly might be tempted to do wrong.
Our land elects our leaders. So when our people were godly, we elected godly rulers. But in the process of time, we have slid down slippery slopes, like the frog in the pot over a simmering heat, we hardly notice how far we have fallen morally.
Ungodly people will support wicked rulers, but godly people will support righteous rulers. This is the principle set forth here. And we have seen it work out in politics in our Nations.
Revelation 2: 10
Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.
We see today that evil people are imprisoning and torturing God's faithful ones in some areas of the World today. This persecution is growing and spreading into more areas of Nations.
As Christians, we all need to face the fact that we could suffer persecution for our faith, as non-Christian religions spread all over the World. So we need to be prepared for this eventuality, by growing strong in our faith in the knowledge of our Lord and His ways. We are to be praying for our brothers and sisters who are now facing these trials, as in prison with them.
But God has told us that this will not last long--ten days is a short time. Even then, many of us will be martyred and/or lose our families and other loved ones in this process.
Even in America, the "land of the free," if we return this Nation to God's righteousness, our enemy the devil, in great wrath, will have His minions destroy what they can, to remove God's ways from us, and that's when persecution will come here, too.
We are not to be afraid of it, but continue to stand on the Promises, for they are trustworthy, and run from the temptation to do evil to "get along." God has proven Himself to be faithful and will never subject His children to His wrath, because He already satisfied that on His Son in our place. We only need to face the wrath of Man, from our enemy, and He Who is in us is greater than he who is in the World (I John 4:4).
God has graciously told us what is ahead, so we can be prepared to face it. "To be forewarned is to be forearmed," if we are wise to prepare ourselves.
My desire is that we all will apply ourselves to seeking God's face to know Him better, love Him more, and understand His ways more extensively every day. He has given us His Word, so we can know everything we need to know and apply to our thinking and our talking and our doing every moment every day. Then we will face the enemy in strength and confidence in our Lord.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
True Halls Of Justice
Amos 5: 11-15
So those who are smart keep their mouths shut, for it is an evil time. Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the Lord God of Heaven's Armies will be your Helper, just as you have claimed. Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice. Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven's Armies will have mercy on the remnant of His people.
O my Father, I thank You for Your great faithfulness to Your Word and Your ways. You never change. You reward obedience and right living and You punish evil. Help us, Lord, in our Nations; forgive us, have mercy on us and send us righteous judges and governors and other high officials, to make our courts true halls of justice, and to rule and lead us in Your righteousness according to Your very practical ways.
Teach our leaders how Your ways really do work, and how the misguided policies that failed in the past will still fail today. Surround those in power and position with Your godly children who will teach and advise them of Your good ways.
O Father, I know we deserve Your wrath, please forgive us and return us to Your righteousness before the end. That the World may know that You are Lord God Almighty.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
So those who are smart keep their mouths shut, for it is an evil time. Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! Then the Lord God of Heaven's Armies will be your Helper, just as you have claimed. Hate evil and love what is good; turn your courts into true halls of justice. Perhaps even yet the Lord God of Heaven's Armies will have mercy on the remnant of His people.
O my Father, I thank You for Your great faithfulness to Your Word and Your ways. You never change. You reward obedience and right living and You punish evil. Help us, Lord, in our Nations; forgive us, have mercy on us and send us righteous judges and governors and other high officials, to make our courts true halls of justice, and to rule and lead us in Your righteousness according to Your very practical ways.
Teach our leaders how Your ways really do work, and how the misguided policies that failed in the past will still fail today. Surround those in power and position with Your godly children who will teach and advise them of Your good ways.
O Father, I know we deserve Your wrath, please forgive us and return us to Your righteousness before the end. That the World may know that You are Lord God Almighty.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, July 3, 2017
Law And Joy
Psalm 128: 1
How joyful are those who fear the Lord, all who follow His ways!
Proverbs 29: 18
When people do not accept Divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the Law is joyful.
When people are lawless, chaos abounds. God gave us His Laws so that we will have order in our lives and our relationships.
O my Father, Your goodness to us is unsearchable. Your ways are beyond fully knowing. Your ways are so far above our ways, we would never be able to discern them had You not revealed them to us. We don't even want to know You until You grant us that desire.
O Father, forgive our rebellion and defiance! Remove our stony hearts and give us a heart of flesh; vulnerable and teachable and moldable by You. Teach us Your ways and strengthen us to walk in them. Open our ears to hear Your still, small voice behind us, saying, "This is the path, walk ye in it." Strengthen our resolve to do and act on what You have taught us, instead of following our own ideas; to accomplish Your purposes in our daily, moment-to-moment lives.
Please help us to obey You, to do Your will Your way. Then You will reward us for our obedience and we will experience Your joy.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
How joyful are those who fear the Lord, all who follow His ways!
Proverbs 29: 18
When people do not accept Divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the Law is joyful.
When people are lawless, chaos abounds. God gave us His Laws so that we will have order in our lives and our relationships.
O my Father, Your goodness to us is unsearchable. Your ways are beyond fully knowing. Your ways are so far above our ways, we would never be able to discern them had You not revealed them to us. We don't even want to know You until You grant us that desire.
O Father, forgive our rebellion and defiance! Remove our stony hearts and give us a heart of flesh; vulnerable and teachable and moldable by You. Teach us Your ways and strengthen us to walk in them. Open our ears to hear Your still, small voice behind us, saying, "This is the path, walk ye in it." Strengthen our resolve to do and act on what You have taught us, instead of following our own ideas; to accomplish Your purposes in our daily, moment-to-moment lives.
Please help us to obey You, to do Your will Your way. Then You will reward us for our obedience and we will experience Your joy.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, July 2, 2017
Little Time
Revelation 12: 12
But terror will come on the Earth and the Sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.
O my Father, I thank You and praise You for Your great power and might, and for Your wondrous Plan that You have purposed for this World and the whole Universe. I thank You and praise You for Your mighty warrior Angels to whom You have given power and strength to defeat the enemy and his host of demons.
I pray that You would continue to be faithful to Your promises, as I know You are and will do, to protect and strengthen Your children to withstand the onslaught of our enemy as he is cast to the Earth. His fury is great, so our passion for You must be greater. Continue to wake up Your church, O Lord; draw us to Yourself for Your strength, because we are weak; protect our reputations, as they reflect Your character; and bring us through this "little time" victoriously, through the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimonies.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
But terror will come on the Earth and the Sea, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.
O my Father, I thank You and praise You for Your great power and might, and for Your wondrous Plan that You have purposed for this World and the whole Universe. I thank You and praise You for Your mighty warrior Angels to whom You have given power and strength to defeat the enemy and his host of demons.
I pray that You would continue to be faithful to Your promises, as I know You are and will do, to protect and strengthen Your children to withstand the onslaught of our enemy as he is cast to the Earth. His fury is great, so our passion for You must be greater. Continue to wake up Your church, O Lord; draw us to Yourself for Your strength, because we are weak; protect our reputations, as they reflect Your character; and bring us through this "little time" victoriously, through the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimonies.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, July 1, 2017
Search Me O God
Psalm 139: 23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
O my dear Father, my Abba Dad, please search my heart and my attitudes and point out to me those things there that offend You because they are not surrendered to Your will and Your ways. Show them to me so I can confess and forsake them, and You will forgive, cleanse and heal me.
Give me Your wisdom, discernment and strength to turn from my idols--anything that acts as a wall between me and You--and turn to You, to seek Your face. I want to know You better and love You more every day. I want Your light to shine upon me, in me, and through me to others, that they will be drawn toward You by my life.
Hide me in the cleft of the Rock and cover me with Your hand, so that others seeing me will not see my flesh, but the beauty of Your Spirit, and be attracted to You.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
O my dear Father, my Abba Dad, please search my heart and my attitudes and point out to me those things there that offend You because they are not surrendered to Your will and Your ways. Show them to me so I can confess and forsake them, and You will forgive, cleanse and heal me.
Give me Your wisdom, discernment and strength to turn from my idols--anything that acts as a wall between me and You--and turn to You, to seek Your face. I want to know You better and love You more every day. I want Your light to shine upon me, in me, and through me to others, that they will be drawn toward You by my life.
Hide me in the cleft of the Rock and cover me with Your hand, so that others seeing me will not see my flesh, but the beauty of Your Spirit, and be attracted to You.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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