Psalm 115: 1, 11, 14-15, 18b
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your Name goes all the glory for Your unfailing love and faithfulness.
All you who fear the Lord, trust the Lord! He is Your helper and Your shield. May the Lord richly bless both you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord Who made Heaven and Earth.
Praise the Lord!
O my Father, You are my helper and my shield. I trust You, because You have shown unfailing love and faithfulness to me. It is You Who has made Heaven and Earth, and You it is Who sustains them.
O Father, I pray that You would continue to bless me and my children; draw them close to Yourself and teach them Your Truth, as You are teaching me.
And to You goes all the glory, both now and forevermore, because it is You Who are unfolding and accomplishing Your will, Your Plan of the Ages, which includes each plan You have for each one of us; plans not to harm us, but to give us prosperity and hope--because what is good for us brings glory to Your Name. Praise Your holy Name!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Friday, December 2, 2016
New Nature, New Person
Ephesians 4:24
You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness--righteous, holy and true.
O my Father, my holy God, my Lord and my King; teach me to live this new life, a righteous life, holy to You and true to Your Word and Your ways. Strengthen me to put off the old nature and attitudes that rebel against You in promoting self. You alone deserve all the credit for everything that is done, and You will receive all the glory and honor, for You are perfect and You have done all things according to Your perfect will.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness--righteous, holy and true.
O my Father, my holy God, my Lord and my King; teach me to live this new life, a righteous life, holy to You and true to Your Word and Your ways. Strengthen me to put off the old nature and attitudes that rebel against You in promoting self. You alone deserve all the credit for everything that is done, and You will receive all the glory and honor, for You are perfect and You have done all things according to Your perfect will.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Jonathan And David And Saul
I Samuel 20: 41
As soon as the boy was gone, David came out from where he had been hiding near the stone pile. Then David bowed three times to Jonathan with his face to the ground. Both of them were in tears as they embraced each other and said good-bye, especially David.
David and Jonathan had a friendship so deep and genuine, this parting is particularly heart-wrenching. They both knew that they probably would never see each other again. Jonathan was heart-sick over his father Saul's shameful behavior toward David (see v. 34), and David was willing to do whatever he could to get along with Saul (see v. 1). Both David and Jonathan were godly men whose lives were disrupted by an ungodly man, Saul. If Saul had not turned away from the Lord, he would have ensured that his own dynasty would have reigned, and Jonathan would have been the king after him. But, having turned away from God, he made himself an enemy to those who were godly, including his own son. And Jonathan and David suffered because of Saul's sins.
May we, like Jonathan and David, remain faithful to God even when our own friends and family would turn against us; even if we find ourselves running from the persecution, as David did. Let us keep our focus on our good God Who loves us and will protect and care for us, as He did David.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
As soon as the boy was gone, David came out from where he had been hiding near the stone pile. Then David bowed three times to Jonathan with his face to the ground. Both of them were in tears as they embraced each other and said good-bye, especially David.
David and Jonathan had a friendship so deep and genuine, this parting is particularly heart-wrenching. They both knew that they probably would never see each other again. Jonathan was heart-sick over his father Saul's shameful behavior toward David (see v. 34), and David was willing to do whatever he could to get along with Saul (see v. 1). Both David and Jonathan were godly men whose lives were disrupted by an ungodly man, Saul. If Saul had not turned away from the Lord, he would have ensured that his own dynasty would have reigned, and Jonathan would have been the king after him. But, having turned away from God, he made himself an enemy to those who were godly, including his own son. And Jonathan and David suffered because of Saul's sins.
May we, like Jonathan and David, remain faithful to God even when our own friends and family would turn against us; even if we find ourselves running from the persecution, as David did. Let us keep our focus on our good God Who loves us and will protect and care for us, as He did David.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
The Scope Of God's Plan
Ephesians 3: 14-21
When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray ...
The scope, the wisdom; how high, wide, long, and deep; glorious, unlimited resources; love so great I will never fully understand it; by His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope--all for our good and His glory!
O my Father, thank You for the encouragement that my dream that You have placed in my heart is not dead, that I will be able to access all the resources You have already arranged to work out all the plans to accomplish this dream.
Keep me constantly aware of Your presence each day, to show me how to proceed in this path You have placed before me; to think Your thoughts, say Your words and do Your works. And as I focus on the big picture, let my notice not escape all the little things, the details, also.
May we all realize our God-given dreams, working out all His plans in this world, spreading the seed of the Gospel and demonstrating His love to the world, to prepare for His great Kingdom on this Earth.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray ...
The scope, the wisdom; how high, wide, long, and deep; glorious, unlimited resources; love so great I will never fully understand it; by His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope--all for our good and His glory!
O my Father, thank You for the encouragement that my dream that You have placed in my heart is not dead, that I will be able to access all the resources You have already arranged to work out all the plans to accomplish this dream.
Keep me constantly aware of Your presence each day, to show me how to proceed in this path You have placed before me; to think Your thoughts, say Your words and do Your works. And as I focus on the big picture, let my notice not escape all the little things, the details, also.
May we all realize our God-given dreams, working out all His plans in this world, spreading the seed of the Gospel and demonstrating His love to the world, to prepare for His great Kingdom on this Earth.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
After God's Own Heart
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!
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!
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!
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