Psalm 110: 1
David wrote, The Lord said to my Lord ...
David worshiped Jesus (my Lord) as well as God the Father (the Lord). Whether he realized the full import of his words, God used him to pen this important revelation.
This is the Scripture Jesus referred to in declaring His own relationship as son of David as well as Son of the Father (See Matthew 22:41-46). David was called "a man after God's own heart" because God had his heart (I Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22-23).
May we also be known as people who are after "God"s own heart" as we give our hearts wholly to Him.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Monday, November 28, 2016
Our "Mother Hen"
Deuteronomy 32: 11-12
Like an eagle that rouses her chicks and hovers over her young, so He spread His wings to take them in and carried them aloft on His pinions. The Lord alone guided them; they lived without any foreign gods.
O my Father, as You carried Your chosen son Israel from the howling desert to the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey; so You have also carried me through my howling in the wasteland of my widowhood. I need no other gods but You alone; You are the Great Creator of all that exists, and all the minuscule details that make up the world and the galaxy and the universe. And all the
details of my life.
I want to follow You in Your paths; I place my hand in Yours, and I know that You will not let go of me. Let me not pull away from You, or turn off to the right or to the left, or wander away; but keep me firmly in the center of that path You have laid out before me. Strengthen me this day to take the step or two I take today in the true direction You are leading me; that You will receive all the honor and glory and credit for what You are doing in and through me today, and every day.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Like an eagle that rouses her chicks and hovers over her young, so He spread His wings to take them in and carried them aloft on His pinions. The Lord alone guided them; they lived without any foreign gods.
O my Father, as You carried Your chosen son Israel from the howling desert to the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey; so You have also carried me through my howling in the wasteland of my widowhood. I need no other gods but You alone; You are the Great Creator of all that exists, and all the minuscule details that make up the world and the galaxy and the universe. And all the
details of my life.
I want to follow You in Your paths; I place my hand in Yours, and I know that You will not let go of me. Let me not pull away from You, or turn off to the right or to the left, or wander away; but keep me firmly in the center of that path You have laid out before me. Strengthen me this day to take the step or two I take today in the true direction You are leading me; that You will receive all the honor and glory and credit for what You are doing in and through me today, and every day.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, November 27, 2016
Our Frame Of Mind
Ephesians 4: 31-32
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
______________
Bitterness=acidity, especially poison.
Wrath=(breathing hard) fierceness, with indignation.
Anger=(excitement of the mind) violent passion, vengeance.
Clamor=an outcry of tumult or grief, crying.
Slander=vilification, railing, evil speaking.
Malice= depravity, malignity, evil, wickedness.
______________
Kind=useful in manner or morals, better, easy, goodness, gracious, kind.
Tender-hearted=well-compassioned, sympathetic, full of pity.
Forgiving=grant as favor, gratuitously, in kindness, pardon, rescue, deliver, frankly forgive, freely give, grant.
_______________
So we are to depart from all that would be hurtful or would injure the other person; and freely forgive them, having compassion for them, seeking to do them good, to bless them. To be Christ to them.
God has freely forgiven us in Christ, when we did not deserve to be forgiven. No matter what we do, we could never deserve forgiveness, but God forgives us anyway. So we shouldn't wait for the other to apologize before we extend forgiveness to them. This frees us from the bitterness that grows from blaming and holding grudges.
God always provides an example for how He wants us to think, speak and do. He has already given us His best, His firstborn, and He forgives us freely, drawing us to Himself and filling us with His good Holy Spirit to give us the ability to do what He asks us to do.
God is changing us, molding our characters to think and act according to the rightness and righteousness of Christ Jesus our Lord. He only asks us to cooperate with Him in conforming our thinking processes to align with His. And to deliberately depart from any attitude that is contrary to His grace and graciousness.
We are responsible for everything we choose; what we allow our eyes to see, or our ears to hear, or our minds to dwell on any kind of entertainment or teaching or attitude; to decide if it is edifying or breaking down that good character God is building in us.
May we continually watch ourselves, so that we don't slip into any of these negative frames of mind; and keep ourselves always in the attitude of prayer, practicing the presence of God, as Brother Andrew put it, having a running conversation with Him all day every day.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
______________
Bitterness=acidity, especially poison.
Wrath=(breathing hard) fierceness, with indignation.
Anger=(excitement of the mind) violent passion, vengeance.
Clamor=an outcry of tumult or grief, crying.
Slander=vilification, railing, evil speaking.
Malice= depravity, malignity, evil, wickedness.
______________
Kind=useful in manner or morals, better, easy, goodness, gracious, kind.
Tender-hearted=well-compassioned, sympathetic, full of pity.
Forgiving=grant as favor, gratuitously, in kindness, pardon, rescue, deliver, frankly forgive, freely give, grant.
_______________
So we are to depart from all that would be hurtful or would injure the other person; and freely forgive them, having compassion for them, seeking to do them good, to bless them. To be Christ to them.
God has freely forgiven us in Christ, when we did not deserve to be forgiven. No matter what we do, we could never deserve forgiveness, but God forgives us anyway. So we shouldn't wait for the other to apologize before we extend forgiveness to them. This frees us from the bitterness that grows from blaming and holding grudges.
God always provides an example for how He wants us to think, speak and do. He has already given us His best, His firstborn, and He forgives us freely, drawing us to Himself and filling us with His good Holy Spirit to give us the ability to do what He asks us to do.
God is changing us, molding our characters to think and act according to the rightness and righteousness of Christ Jesus our Lord. He only asks us to cooperate with Him in conforming our thinking processes to align with His. And to deliberately depart from any attitude that is contrary to His grace and graciousness.
We are responsible for everything we choose; what we allow our eyes to see, or our ears to hear, or our minds to dwell on any kind of entertainment or teaching or attitude; to decide if it is edifying or breaking down that good character God is building in us.
May we continually watch ourselves, so that we don't slip into any of these negative frames of mind; and keep ourselves always in the attitude of prayer, practicing the presence of God, as Brother Andrew put it, having a running conversation with Him all day every day.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, November 26, 2016
Every Generation
Psalm 78: 5-7
For He issued His decree to Jacob; He gave His Law to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them--even the children not yet born--that they in turn might teach their children. So each generation can set its hope anew on God, remembering His glorious miracles and obeying His commands.
We who know the Lord have the responsibility to teach His ways to our own children and grandchildren. The purpose of this is so that this Truth will not be lost, which can happen in only one generation. If we love our children, and their children, and theirs, then we will take seriously this charge to make sure they understand how God has made this world for us, and how to interact with it, as well as all the supernatural miracles He has done.
As our Maker, He can do whatever He wants. Because He is good, what He wants will always be good for us. His Word shows us how to take care of this world and each other, and also tells us how He has already met all of our needs. He has met our eternal need by sending His only Son to be our Sacrificial Lamb, Who has taken our death for each of us in payment of the debt we each owe to God.
He has also given us His rules and regulations, like the instruction book you get with a new car, explaining all the functions you can play with, along with how to take care of your vehicle in the type of fuel to use and when to change the oil. The same way, our Maker wants us to follow His instructions so that we can enjoy this world and have beneficial relationships with others in our path of life.
So love really does make the world go 'round! God's love! And when we know this love, and love others with this genuine love, and take care of our environment where He has placed us, then we will enjoy all the good things God has prepared for us to enjoy. And we will enjoy Him forever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
For He issued His decree to Jacob; He gave His Law to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them--even the children not yet born--that they in turn might teach their children. So each generation can set its hope anew on God, remembering His glorious miracles and obeying His commands.
We who know the Lord have the responsibility to teach His ways to our own children and grandchildren. The purpose of this is so that this Truth will not be lost, which can happen in only one generation. If we love our children, and their children, and theirs, then we will take seriously this charge to make sure they understand how God has made this world for us, and how to interact with it, as well as all the supernatural miracles He has done.
As our Maker, He can do whatever He wants. Because He is good, what He wants will always be good for us. His Word shows us how to take care of this world and each other, and also tells us how He has already met all of our needs. He has met our eternal need by sending His only Son to be our Sacrificial Lamb, Who has taken our death for each of us in payment of the debt we each owe to God.
He has also given us His rules and regulations, like the instruction book you get with a new car, explaining all the functions you can play with, along with how to take care of your vehicle in the type of fuel to use and when to change the oil. The same way, our Maker wants us to follow His instructions so that we can enjoy this world and have beneficial relationships with others in our path of life.
So love really does make the world go 'round! God's love! And when we know this love, and love others with this genuine love, and take care of our environment where He has placed us, then we will enjoy all the good things God has prepared for us to enjoy. And we will enjoy Him forever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, November 25, 2016
A Disgrace To Any People Group
Psalm 106:35-37
Instead, they (Israel) mingled among the pagans and adopted their evil customs. They worshiped their idols, which led to their downfall. They even sacrificed their sons and daughters to the demons.
Proverbs 14:34
Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
We see here the example God gives us of His people, the twelve tribes of Israel, who were given God's wise rules to live by, but didn't. They looked instead at the world around them, at what the people did, and lived how they did, instead of considering that God was the Maker and Owner of the world, and had given them His Manufacturer's Instructions. They wandered away from God and made foolish choices, which always causes problems for us. They even went so far as to kill their newborn children to try to appease these other gods.
So God took them out of the good land He had given them and scattered them over the face of the whole Earth.
When we tell God we want to do it our own way, He lets us have our way, and suffer the consequences. But we can always turn back to God and His ways.
When America was founded, the government was based on the godly principles found in Scripture. And we enjoyed much prosperity and peace, in following God's directions. As time has progressed, however, we have gotten away from our good roots, we decided that the world also had "good ideas" and started to follow them, instead. So now in America, good is being called evil, love is called hatred, darkness is considered light, and we are killing our children even before they can be born. But God still has His people here, who have risen up and noticed what has been going on, and we have rejected the evil for the good.
Now those who have rejected the godly ways are throwing temper tantrums because they didn't get their way in the election, like two-year-olds.
I trust that God will continue to stand with His Own here, keeping us strong, and leading us back into His righteousness and the good that results from it, in spite of the backlash from those who have been deceived by the enemy.
Pray with me, as I continue to lift up America to the Lord's care every day, to lead and guide us in His faithfulness, to show the world His wisdom and love.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Instead, they (Israel) mingled among the pagans and adopted their evil customs. They worshiped their idols, which led to their downfall. They even sacrificed their sons and daughters to the demons.
Proverbs 14:34
Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
We see here the example God gives us of His people, the twelve tribes of Israel, who were given God's wise rules to live by, but didn't. They looked instead at the world around them, at what the people did, and lived how they did, instead of considering that God was the Maker and Owner of the world, and had given them His Manufacturer's Instructions. They wandered away from God and made foolish choices, which always causes problems for us. They even went so far as to kill their newborn children to try to appease these other gods.
So God took them out of the good land He had given them and scattered them over the face of the whole Earth.
When we tell God we want to do it our own way, He lets us have our way, and suffer the consequences. But we can always turn back to God and His ways.
When America was founded, the government was based on the godly principles found in Scripture. And we enjoyed much prosperity and peace, in following God's directions. As time has progressed, however, we have gotten away from our good roots, we decided that the world also had "good ideas" and started to follow them, instead. So now in America, good is being called evil, love is called hatred, darkness is considered light, and we are killing our children even before they can be born. But God still has His people here, who have risen up and noticed what has been going on, and we have rejected the evil for the good.
Now those who have rejected the godly ways are throwing temper tantrums because they didn't get their way in the election, like two-year-olds.
I trust that God will continue to stand with His Own here, keeping us strong, and leading us back into His righteousness and the good that results from it, in spite of the backlash from those who have been deceived by the enemy.
Pray with me, as I continue to lift up America to the Lord's care every day, to lead and guide us in His faithfulness, to show the world His wisdom and love.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Thanksgiving
Psalm 107
(V. 22) And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare His works with rejoicing.
This whole Psalm, all 43 verses of it, recount the downward spiral of how God's people were blessed by the Lord, then turned from Him and suffered the consequences, then turned back to Him and His ways, and were again blessed. Over and over again.
Our thanksgiving is a sacrifice when we are thanking God for His goodness even though we are experiencing troubles or sorrows. God is still good, and He still wants to bless us with every blessing in every area of our lives. Our attitude of thanksgiving will put us in the place where we will be able to receive His goodness.
What we focus on becomes magnified in our view, and other things fade into the background. So if we're focusing on our troubles, they will loom large, and the good things will fade. Likewise, when we decide to focus on God's goodness that He never stopped showering on us, then that will fill our consciousness, letting our problems fade away, doing the things in life that will tend to solve the problems, and bring more goodness into our daily living.
We will never be without troubles and sorrows in this world, but let's focus instead on how God's blessings bestow upon us the Sun to rise every morning, the rain to water our food crops, and the beautiful Moon every night. And God's people will never be without clothes to wear or food to eat, that is promised.
This Psalm ends with the conclusion:
(V. 43) Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.
Amen, and Amen!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
(V. 22) And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare His works with rejoicing.
This whole Psalm, all 43 verses of it, recount the downward spiral of how God's people were blessed by the Lord, then turned from Him and suffered the consequences, then turned back to Him and His ways, and were again blessed. Over and over again.
Our thanksgiving is a sacrifice when we are thanking God for His goodness even though we are experiencing troubles or sorrows. God is still good, and He still wants to bless us with every blessing in every area of our lives. Our attitude of thanksgiving will put us in the place where we will be able to receive His goodness.
What we focus on becomes magnified in our view, and other things fade into the background. So if we're focusing on our troubles, they will loom large, and the good things will fade. Likewise, when we decide to focus on God's goodness that He never stopped showering on us, then that will fill our consciousness, letting our problems fade away, doing the things in life that will tend to solve the problems, and bring more goodness into our daily living.
We will never be without troubles and sorrows in this world, but let's focus instead on how God's blessings bestow upon us the Sun to rise every morning, the rain to water our food crops, and the beautiful Moon every night. And God's people will never be without clothes to wear or food to eat, that is promised.
This Psalm ends with the conclusion:
(V. 43) Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.
Amen, and Amen!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Stone To Remember Help
I Samuel 7: 12
Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer (stone of help), for he said, "Up to this point the Lord has helped us."
God has helped us at so many times and in so many ways that we may not even be aware of. Samuel knew that it was the Lord who enabled him to accomplish everything he had been able to do, so he set up this stone to remember to give God the credit.
May we always recognize that without Him we can do nothing, and that everything we accomplish is through His strength and wisdom. Then we will give Him the glory that is due Him, for He planned it all out before any of it existed, and He is carrying out His plans in and through all of us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer (stone of help), for he said, "Up to this point the Lord has helped us."
God has helped us at so many times and in so many ways that we may not even be aware of. Samuel knew that it was the Lord who enabled him to accomplish everything he had been able to do, so he set up this stone to remember to give God the credit.
May we always recognize that without Him we can do nothing, and that everything we accomplish is through His strength and wisdom. Then we will give Him the glory that is due Him, for He planned it all out before any of it existed, and He is carrying out His plans in and through all of us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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