Love Is Patient And Kind. … It Is Not Irritable, And It Keeps No Record Of Being Wronged.

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Numbers 24; Numbers 25; Numbers 26; Numbers 27; 1 Corinthians 13 

Love Is Patient And Kind.

… It Is Not Irritable,

And It Keeps No Record Of Being Wronged.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 13 

⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Observation

Can you honestly place your name in the place of “love” in 1 Corinthians 13? If you read 1 Corinthians 13 to your spouse, to your coworkers, children, or grandchildren, would they agree or would they say to themselves (or maybe even out loud – that is a joke, you are kidding me!)

I don’t think I will place my name in the place of “love” and read it to Kathy this morning. Nope, I am smarter than that!

There is only One name that can replace “love” in this chapter and only One … That One name is Jesus! 

⁴ Jesus is patient and kind. Jesus is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. Jesus does not demand His own way. Jesus is not irritable, and He keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ He does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷ Jesus never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

But I do think that the closer we are to Jesus the more of 1 Corinthians 13 shines through us to those around us!

Application

I will strive to love people today with Agape (God’s) love. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help others see Jesus in me today. I pray for Evelyn Hartley today. Heal her body. Give her and James supernatural peace that only comes from You. I pray for others that are sick or have family members that are in the hospital. Help them trust in You during this difficult time. I pray for Bea, Julie, Sherry, and Wesley on their birthdays today.

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He Had Compassion On Them Because They Were Like Sheep Without A Shepherd.

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Numbers 21; Numbers 22; Numbers 23; Mark 6; Mark 7 

He Had Compassion On Them Because 

They Were Like Sheep

Without A Shepherd.

Scripture

Mark 6

³⁴ Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Observation

One of the many images still fresh in my mind from my recent Mission trip to Southern India were the many shepherds herding their flocks of sheep along the roadside. The shepherds had long poles to keep the sheep in order as they walked along the road in the middle of traffic.

Buses, cars, ox carts, and motorcycles all shared the road with the flock of sheep being led by usually several shepherds. Draped over the shoulders of the shepherds would be baby lambs too small to walk along the dangerous road. It was amazing how those shepherds directed those sheep. I couldn’t imagine those sheep without a shepherd!

When we got off the road and went into the surrounding villages crowds of people came to the medical clinics and received medicines and eye glasses and heard the Gospel. They were introduced to the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ!

People in our city need our Savior. They need Jesus!  

Application

I will have compassion on the people that I see today because many of them are sheep without a Shepherd.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, because You are my Shepherd I have everything I need. You let me rest in the meadow grass and lead me beside the quiet streams. You give me new strength. You help me do what honors You the most. Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way. You provide delicious food for me in the presence of my enemies. You have welcomed me as Your guest; blessings overflow! Your goodness and unfailing kindness shall be with me all of my life, and afterwards I will live with You forever in your home. Psalm 23:1-6

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“Don’t Be Afraid. Just Have Faith.”

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Numbers 19; Numbers 20; Psalm 28; Mark 5

“Don’t

Be Afraid.

Just Have Faith.”

Scripture

Mark 5

³⁵ While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”
³⁶ But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”

³⁷ Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go with him except Peter, James, and John (the brother of James). ³⁸ When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing. ³⁹ He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.”

⁴⁰ The crowd laughed at him. But he made them all leave, and he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying. ⁴¹ Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!”

 ⁴² And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed. ⁴³ Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone what had happened, and then he told them to give her something to eat.

Observation

Don’t be afraid. Just have faith. This is what Jesus told Jairus after Jairus was told that his daughter was dead. Jairus had gone to get Jesus so that Jesus could heal his dying daughter, but along the way they were delayed as Jesus healed a woman who had been sick for a long time and had spent all of her money on doctors who had only made her worse.

When we are afraid it is always a sign of unbelief. Over and over and over again in scripture we are told, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” There is a good reason why God has to repeat this so many times in His Word, we are hard headed. 

Fear is our natural response to circumstances. We immediately think of the worse case scenario instead of trusting in an All-Powerful-God. In the middle of the night when you begin to think of things what begins to happen – fear begins to creep in.

Jairus had nothing to fear. He was with Jesus.

You and I have nothing to fear. “… Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

Application

When fear tries to creep in I will trust Jesus and quote His promises.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You have said in Your word, “Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” “…When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise You for what You have promised. I trust in You, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? Isaiah 41:10   Psalm 56:3-4 

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“Who Is This Man?” They Asked Each Other. “Even The Wind And Waves Obey Him!”

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Numbers 17; Numbers 18; Psalm 29; Mark 4

“Who Is This Man?”

They Asked Each Other.

“Even The Wind And Waves Obey Him!”

Scripture

Mark 4

³⁵ As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” ³⁶ So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). ³⁷ But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

³⁸ Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

³⁹ When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

⁴¹ The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

Observation

“Even the wind and waves obey Him?” Who is this Man? His name is Jesus!

He can also calm every storm that comes into over lives.

We can criticize the disciples for their lack of faith, but you and I do the same thing every day. Every time we worry rather than pray we are acting exactly as the disciples did that night in the boat.

When they finally went to Jesus He calmed the storm. Sometimes you and I wait until the very last moment before we go to Jesus with our problems. We try everything else first then we go to God.

Hmmm…what would happen if we would just go to Him first? It would save us a lot of anxiety wouldn’t it?

What is going on in your life right now? Got some storms … some rough water? Are you being tossed around? Are you drowning? Jesus does care. Why not take those worries to Him right now.

    Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Application

I will take all my concerns to the Lord today because He cares about me. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that I read this passage for a reason today. I will cast all of my cares upon You because I know that You care about me. Be with those that are carrying heavy burdens today. I pray that they roll them off unto You. 

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But My Servant Caleb Has A Different Attitude Than The Others Have.

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Numbers 14; Numbers 15; Numbers 16; Mark 3

But My Servant Caleb

Has A Different Attitude 

Than The Others Have.

Scripture

Numbers 14

²⁴ But my servant Caleb has a different attitude than the others have. He has remained loyal to me, so I will bring him into the land he explored.

Observation

Attitude … everybody has one! Do you and I have a different attitude than others have? God’s servant Caleb had a different attitude than the rest of the spies. He believed God could do what He promised to do.

Monday is a great day to establish our attitude. Are we in desperate need of an attitude adjustment?

Will we be men and women of faith this week? What are you and I trusting God for?

This week by faith I trust God for ______________________________________. Just fill in the blank!

 Application

I choose on this Monday to believe that my God is able and willing to take care of any and every giant that comes into my life. I choose an attitude of faith.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give me the attitude of Joshua and Caleb. Help me believe You no matter what the circumstances. Joshua and Caleb were different than the other spies. Give me a heart like theirs. Don’t let me be someone who doubts your Power. You are my God. Nothing is too hard for You.

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And May The Lord Our God Show Us His Approval And Make Our Efforts Successful. Yes, Make Our Efforts Successful!

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Numbers 12; Numbers 13; Psalm 90; Mark 2

And May The Lord Our God Show Us His Approval

And Make Our Efforts Successful.

Yes, Make Our Efforts Successful!

Scripture

Psalm 90

¹⁷ And may the Lord our God show us his approval
    and make our efforts successful.
    Yes, make our efforts successful!

Observation

When I got to India I opened up a card that Kathy had placed in my suitcase! In it I found Psalm 90:17.

She also included Daniel 12:3 “Those who are wise will shine like the bright expanse of the heavens and those who lead many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.”

She also wrote down Psalm 91:14-16

    "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

“Whoever dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1

She wrote in her card, “I am praying God uses you to lead many to righteousness. I pray that He blesses the team and everything you do. I pray His protection on your life.

She wrote some other stuff that I will not include in this blog! J 

 Application

I will pray for people when they go on mission trips like Kathy prayed for me. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me a wife that is spiritually mature and knows how to pray. Thank You that she is mine. I don’t deserve such a wonderful gift. You are a God full of grace and mercy. She is the best gift that You could have ever given me. Thank You for hearing her prayers for our team as we went to India. Thanks for going before us and thanks for being with us every step of the way. You are worthy of praise!

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“Be Healed!” Instantly The Leprosy Disappeared And The Man Was Healed.

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Numbers 10; Numbers 11; Psalm 27; Mark 1

“Be Healed!”

Instantly

The Leprosy Disappeared And The Man Was Healed. 

Scripture

Mark 1

⁴⁰ A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said.

⁴¹ Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” ⁴² Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.
 

Observation

I only saw one man with leprosy while I was in India. He came up while we were sharing the Gospel with a group of people in a village. He sat off to the side by himself, smiled and listened intently to everything that was shared. I had planned to go over and pray for him but when I turned around he was gone.

My heart went out to him. I did pray for him and since then I have thought about him a lot. Does he get to see his family? I am sure that he is not able to touch and hold his grandchildren if he has any. Does everyone shun him? Does he have medicine that will help him with the open sores?

What he needed that day was Jesus! If he places his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ I know that God will take care of him. God may or may not cure him of the leprosy, but God will take care of him.

I think that if God had instantaneously healed people like this man with leprosy while we were in those villages praying for them even though that would have been wonderful it may have caused all of us to glory more in the miraculous healing than glorifying the God who did the healing. It is okay with me if the healing comes later. I know that God heard our prayers for the sick and He will respond.

I know that today I am still praying for that man with leprosy for both his salvation and his healing.

Application

I will continue to pray for those that are sick and I will not give up.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, nothing is too hard for You. There is no sickness that You cannot heal. I know that You can respond to my prayer for that man with leprosy and You can heal him right now. I put him in Your hands and I ask that You have mercy on him and touch his body with healing. I pray that You also guide someone to him that can share the Gospel with him so that he can be saved. 

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Paul Went In And Prayed For Him, And Laying His Hands On Him, He Healed Him.

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Numbers 8; Numbers 9; Acts 28

Paul Went In 

And Prayed For Him,

And Laying His Hands On Him, He Healed Him.

Scripture

Acts 28

⁸ As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him.

Observation

You and I have the opportunity to do just like the Apostle Paul did in Acts 28. We can lay hands on the sick and ask our God to heal them. While we were in India we had the opportunity every day to lay hands on people and pray for them to be healed and ask God to bless them.

One of the girls that was living at the Holy Wings boarding school where we were staying while we were in India had her mother show up one day to tell her that her father was dying of Malaria. She was going to take the daughter to see him before he died. The little girl was probably around 8 years old. All of us were heart broken and tears were flowing. Our team circled around the mom and the daughter, we laid hands on them and we asked our God to save her father.

It was a few days later that we heard that the father was doing better and a week later the father was back home. God had healed him. Praise God! We serve a powerful and wonderful God!

We prayed for men and women who were too sick to get up from their cots. We prayed with faith knowing that our God hears us and He delights in us and He loves to answer our prayers. Those in the villages we walked in served gods made with human hands. Their gods were powerless to help them in their times of need. We introduced them to the One true God who can heal them, who can save them and who cares about them.

As I shared my testimony with the Indian people about how God had brought me back to life because of the prayers of so many people it became clear to me that I am alive today as a demonstration of God’s Mighty power to heal and to save. I wasn’t brought back to life a little over two years ago for my benefit. I was allowed to live so I could go to places like India (and Tampa) to share with them and show them the mighty power of my God.

As I shared with them I would unbutton my shirt and show them how the surgeon had cut open my chest and worked on my heart for 14 hours and then I showed them my pacemaker/defibrillator. I told them that my surgeon had shared with his assistant that I was not going to survive. Then I told them that God had brought me back to life just so I could tell them about His mighty power!

You should have seen their eyes! The Indian pastor that worked in that village said, “we have never heard of God doing something like that before.”

Application

I will continue to brag on the Mighty power of our God. How about you? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You have called us to be Your hands and feet. Show us who You want us to pray for. We will watch You do miracles. Nothing is too hard for You.

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The LORD Is My Shepherd; I Have All That I Need.

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Numbers 7; Psalm 23; Acts 27 

The LORD Is My Shepherd;

I Have All That I Need. 

Scripture

Psalm 23

¹ The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.

Observation

I have just come back from Southern India. Images of rural India still fill my head. Outside of the cities, out in the villages most people live a very simple and difficult life. Along the roadside women and men are seen carrying huge loads of all sorts of things somehow balancing them on their heads. Out in the fields men and women are seen working the fields bent over using a very short handle hoe to work the fields. Many are seen walking down the roads bare footed. Their feet show the wear and tear of the difficult life.

Believers and non-believers in those villages many living in small thatched huts were overjoyed that we would come into their homes and pray for them. In fact, they couldn’t believe that we would actually put our hands on them and touch them as we prayed for them. In their humble homes they would want us to sit down and they would offer us tea or coffee or “thumbs up” (their cola drink like Coke or Pepsi). If they didn’t have chairs we would sit on their cots and we would talk to them. By American standards they had nothing. They had no running water in their homes, no bathrooms, no kitchens. Most American’s have way more in one room of their house than any of these people have ever seen.

In every village we went into we preached the Gospel, gave out medicines, and fitted people for eyeglasses. The believers in those villages even though they didn’t have many of the things that we have here in the U.S. had everything that they needed. They had tremendous “joy”. They had Jesus Christ!

I admire and have tremendous respect for the Indian pastors that I met who work in those villages.  Sometimes we Americans think we know everything about everything, but I think we could learn a lot about how to live from those Christians that I met out in those villages!

Application

I am so blessed. I will thank the Lord for His goodness. I have everything that I need.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for providing for me. I have everything that I need. Help me to never forget the believers and non-believers in India. Give me Your heart for them. Help me be content. I am blessed. You have provided so much for us here in the United States. I know that you have blessed us so much so that we can travel to other countries and take the Gospel to those who have not yet heard about Jesus Christ. Don’t let me waste my resources on myself. 

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May The Lord Bless You And Protect You; May The Lord’s Face Radiate With Joy Because Of You; May He Be Gracious To You, Show You His Favor, And Give You His Peace.

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Numbers 5; Numbers 6; Psalm 22; Acts 26

May The Lord Bless You And Protect You;

May The Lord’s Face Radiate With Joy Because Of You;

May He Be Gracious To You, Show You His Favor, And Give You His Peace.

Scripture

Numbers 6

^24-26 ‘May the Lord bless and protect you; may the Lord’s face radiate with joy because of you; may he be gracious to you, show you his favor, and give you his peace.’

Observation

So glad to be back home after spending almost a month in India! I left behind in India some great new friends that are doing some incredible things to further the Gospel there in their country.

We had the privilege while in the villages of India of praying personally with over 1,500 people. As we walked through the villages so many of the people wanted us to pray for them and their family. It was an honor to be able to pray for them. I thought of what the Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:20 “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us…”

I prayed Numbers 6:24-25 over them (Eddy’s paraphrased version). I asked God to draw them close to Him and I asked God to open up their hearts to spiritual things and that if they didn’t know Him I asked God to help them trust in Jesus Christ. We prayed for healing and we prayed for any other special request that they shared with us. 

Next to sharing the Gospel message there was nothing more important for the people of India than to pray for them! Come to think of it is the most important thing we can do for the people living here in our city too!

I come back from India with even more confidence in the power of prayer. God’s Holy Spirit wants to do so much more in our lives and in the lives of those that He brings into our paths.

 Application

I will ask people this week if I can pray for them. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, for those reading this I pray that You bless them and protect them. May Your face radiate with joy because of them. May You be gracious to them. Show them Your favor. Give them Your peace. 

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All Who Put Their Faith In Christ Share The Same Blessing Abraham Received Because Of His Faith.

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Deuteronomy 19; Deuteronomy 20; Deuteronomy 21; Galatians 3

All Who Put Their Faith In Christ

Share The Same Blessing 

Abraham Received Because Of His Faith.

Scripture

Galatians 3

8 What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.

⁹ So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.

Observation

Do you remember in the Old Testament when God blessed Abraham? The same blessing is repeated in Galatians 3:8. You and I because of our faith in Christ can be a blessing to those who have not yet heard of Jesus Christ.

Every time we share our faith in Christ with those around us we share in Abraham’s blessing.

I like the sound of that!

And finally we have a reminder in verse 26 that we are God’s children through faith in Christ Jesus!

²⁶ For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Application

 I am blessed because of my relationship with Jesus Christ, but I am to share that blessing with those around me. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, don’t let me be selfish. Put on my heart the needs of those around me. Give me Your heart, Your hands and Your feet to take the Good News to those who have not heard. Help me appreciate all that I have in You. You are all that I need.

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