Take Your Everyday, Ordinary Life – Your Sleeping, Eating, Going-To-Work, And Walking Around Life – And Place It Before God As An Offering

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Take Your Everyday, Ordinary Life –
Your Sleeping, Eating, Going-To-Work, And Walking Around Life –
And Place It Before God As An Offering

Scripture

Romans 12

1 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. MESSAGE

2 Do not be ·shaped by [conformed to; pressed into a mold by] this ·world [age]; instead be ·changed within [transformed] by ·a new way of thinking [or changing the way you think; the renewing of your mind]. Then you will be able to ·decide [discern; test and approve] what ·God wants for you [is God’s will]; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect. EXB

Observation

What God wants us to be is a “living sacrifice”. If we offered “dead sacrifices” to the Lord like what was done in the Old Testament that would be one thing, but to be a “living sacrifice” now that is not easy. You ask why? Here is why - because as living sacrifices we must make the decision daily not to crawl off of the altar. How are we doing with that? 

You and I are also not to be squeezed, molded, or shaped by the world around us into something that resembles them. Instead we are to let God transform, change, and re-mould our minds from within. 

Romans 12 is so full of great stuff! Take a few minutes to read it for yourself and see what God shows you. Let me know what jumps out at you this morning from this great chapter! 

Application

I will place my ordinary life before God this morning as a “living sacrifice”. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to live my life today as a living sacrifice. Help me to keep You as the Number One priority in my life. Don’t let me get sidetracked by the world around me. Don’t let the world squeeze me into something that doesn’t please You. 


Daily Bible Reading:  Proverbs 16,17,18; Romans 12



> If you are reading this simple blog this morning you are an encouragement to me!

> I have made it a habit to pray for those who read this blog! I enjoy lifting you and your family up to the Lord in prayer.

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

For Everything Comes From Him And Exists By His Power And Is Intended For His Glory. All Glory To Him Forever! Amen.

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For Everything
Comes From Him And Exists By His Power
And Is Intended For His Glory. All Glory To Him Forever! Amen. 

Scripture

Romans 11

³⁶ For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

Observation

Everything – I think that would include you and me! You and I exist only by His Power and we are intended for His Glory! How much glory is God getting from us this Memorial Day?

Today is the day to think about those who have died so that we could enjoy freedom and life. It is also a great day to think about our purpose in life. Why are we here in the first place?

Before God created the Sun, the Moon, all of the other stars and planet Earth, the Bible says that He thought of you and me! He knew our names.

Two thousand years ago God came to this earth in Human form – Jesus Christ – 100% Man 100% God and when He arrived everything changed! Since His coming nothing has ever been the same!

You and I have been invited to be a part of His Kingdom! It is why you and I were created! We were created for His glory! We were created to be a part of His Kingdom. His kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom!

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33

Application

I will think about the Kingdom of God today. I will think about my purpose in His Kingdom. How about you? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that this is not my home. I am only passing through. Help me live in a way that brings You glory. I pray for those today who have lost loved ones serving our country. Give them Your strength and Your comfort. Open up my eyes to opportunities to share about Your Kingdom. Don’t let me miss a chance to talk to someone about Jesus. Give me boldness to share and love and concern for the people around me. 

Daily Bible Reading:  Proverbs 13,14,15; Romans 11


> If you are reading this simple blog this morning you are an encouragement to me!

> I have made it a habit to pray for those who read this blog! I enjoy lifting you and your family up to the Lord in prayer.

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

“Everyone Who Calls On The Name Of The LORD Will Be Saved”

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“Everyone
Who Calls
On The Name Of The LORD Will Be Saved”

Scripture

Romans 10

¹³ For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Observation

“Everyone” includes you! "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) Put your name in place of “everyone”. If Eddy calls on the name of the Lord he will be saved. For God so loved Eddy that He gave His only Son, so that if Eddy believes in Him Eddy will not perish but have Eternal Life.

    "I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. John 5:24

    But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8

Each and every one of those verses are for you and they are for me.

We must turn from sin and self and turn to God and put our faith and trust  in Jesus Christ.

Application

I will share this Good News with everyone that I can! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to live out Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—Jews first and also Gentiles.” Give me boldness to share my faith. Help those reading this blog. Give them boldness. If they have not trusted in Jesus Christ for their salvation giving them open hearts so that they can be saved. Show them that these verses are for them too. I pray for their salvation right now.

   

Daily Bible Reading:  Proverbs 10,11,12; Romans 10

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Leave Your Simple Ways Behind, And Begin To Live; Learn To Use Good Judgment

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Leave Your Simple Ways Behind,
And Begin To Live;
Learn To Use Good Judgment

Scripture

Proverbs 9

⁶ Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live;
    learn to use good judgment.”

Observation

Trust me if someone says to you that you still act just like you did when you were in High School don’t think they are paying you a compliment. 

Stupid is as stupid does and I have made plenty of stupid costly decisions in my life! Let me tell you about the wisest decision that I ever made in my life; it was to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and ask Him to be my Lord and Savior. I have never regretted that decision!

I look back on my life as a young married 18 year old. I remember trying to fill the emptiness in my life with all the wrong things. I am so thankful that the Lord sent a godly man into my life to tell me about Jesus Christ. It was at that moment that I left my simple ways behind, and I began to live! Have you made that wise decision yet?

The second best decision that I have ever made in my life was to marry Kathy! Shout Amen all of you who know my wife! She is a gift from above! God brought her into my life! She is pure joy!

But … Good judgment is still something that I sometimes come up short on and don’t always use. I get hoodwinked every once in awhile. People still pull the wool over my eyes so I sometimes get deceived.  Maybe I am too trusting. I guess even at my age that I am still learning to use good judgment.

    Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

 Application

I will continue to ask the Lord for wisdom to help me make better decisions and wiser choices. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to trust in You and not lean or depend on my own understanding. Help me to seek Your will in all that I do and not lean on my own understanding. Give me discernment so I don’t make decisions that hurt my family or Your Kingdom. I know that I can call on You and I know that You will hear me and You will answer my prayers.


Daily Bible Reading:  Proverbs 7,8,9; Romans 9; Psalm 28, 128; Proverbs 28

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Does It Mean He No Longer Loves Us If We Have Trouble Or Calamity, Or Are Persecuted, Or Hungry, Or Destitute, Or In Danger, Or Threatened With Death?

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Does It Mean He No Longer Loves Us
If We Have Trouble Or Calamity, Or Are Persecuted,
Or Hungry, Or Destitute, Or In Danger, Or Threatened With Death?

Scripture

Romans 8

³⁵ Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? 

Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? ³⁶ (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”^{) 37} No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

³⁸ And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.
 
³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Observation

    I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Hey folks this world is not our home we are just passing through! I am reminded as I read Romans 8 this morning of several things. You could read Romans 8 and add even more to this short list!

1. This world is full of problems and I am not exempt. (Verse 36)
2. None of those problems no matter how bad they are can separate me from God’s love. (Verses 38-39)
3. Even when something bad happens to me my God promises to turn it around ultimately for my good.  (Verse 28)
4. The same Power (the Spirit of God) that raised Jesus Christ from the grave now lives in me! (Verse 11)

5. I am going to get a brand new body! (Verse 23)

Application

I will hold on to and I will be strengthened by all God’s promises found in Romans 8! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am not surprised because You have told me in Your Word that I in my lifetime I would have troubles and sorrows. This is definitely true. In the midst of trouble I choose to trust You and I will hold on to every single promise that I find in Your Word. You are totally trustworthy! Never once have You ever let me down. Thank You for always taking care of me. Nothing can ever separate me from Your love. Nothing!

Help anyone that may be reading this blog and who is experiencing trials and suffering help them to trust in You. Turn their bad situation, their bad circumstances around and use even those bad things for their good. You are Mighty. Nothing is too hard for You.

Daily Bible Reading:  Proverbs 4,5,6; Romans 8

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Although I Want To Do Good, Evil Is Right There With Me

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Although
I Want To Do Good,
Evil Is Right There With Me

Scripture

Romans 7

¹⁴ We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.

Observation

Every day you and I are fighting a spiritual battle.

The fight, the war rages inside of each one of us. Our old sinful nature constantly wants us to sin.

If you are a Christian, a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, you have been given a new nature and that new nature urges us to live godly lives, lives that are pleasing to God.

It is like a dogfight.

A white dog and a black dog are fighting - how do you know which one will win the fight? It is the one that gets fed the most.

When you and I neglect our new nature, when we begin drifting away, not reading our Bible, missing church, missing small group, not spending time in prayer be aware that going on at the same time is our old nature with its desire to sin. It begins winning the battle and taking control.

Lets not forget – “Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me!”

Application

I will spend time in God’s Word everyday. I will feed my soul. How about you? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, guard my eyes and my heart. Help me not to sin. Don’t let me neglect spending time in Your Word. 

I pray for those reading this blog who may be struggling with sin. Give them victory. Help those with the demons of addictions walk in sobriety today. 

I pray for my family and friends that still need to yield their lives to You. Give them spiritual understanding. Show them that they can trust in and depend on You. I pray for their salvation. I pray that they will unashamedly call You their Lord and their Savior! 


Daily Bible Reading:  Proverbs 1,2,3; Romans 7

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His Heart Was Not Fully Devoted To The Lord His God

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His Heart
Was Not
Fully Devoted To The Lord His God

Scripture

1 Kings 11:4-6 

    As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 

[5] He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. 

[6] So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done. 

Observation

In his old age Solomon did not follow the Lord completely.

How sad is that!

Careful!

We could do the same thing!

You and I have the opportunity to live lives fully devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ, but every morning we must choose to love the Lord with all of our heart, with all of our mind and with all of our soul.

We can choose to walk in obedience or we can make the choice to indulge in sin.

Here is a truth that we can take home from the story of Solomon: a half-hearted, lukewarm commitment to Jesus Christ makes for a miserable life.

A life totally committed to the Lord Jesus Christ is an abundant life, full of meaning and purpose.

The choice is ours!

Application

I make the choice to be a fully devoted follower of the Lord Jesus Christ! How about you? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for showing me what happens when we don't stay totally committed to You. Don't let me indulge in sin. Don't let me walk away from You. Keep me close to You. I want to live in a way that brings You joy not sadness. Help me to walk in victory and not defeat. Don't let me be half-hearted. Don't let me be lukewarm. 

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
 

Daily Bible Reading:  1 Kings 10,11; 2 Chronicles 9; Romans 6; Psalm 25, Psalm 125; Proverbs 25

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We Can Rejoice Too, When We Run Into Problems And Trials

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We Can Rejoice Too,
When We Run
Into Problems And Trials

Scripture

Romans 5

³ We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.
 
⁴ And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.
 
⁵ And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Observation

Trouble, Troubles, and more Troubles, maybe that describes your life lately!

Yes, we experience problems and trials because of stupid decisions that we make … you and I can do some really dumb stuff, some really stupid sins.

Other times we get clobbered because of the stupid things that other people do. Their stupid actions, their dumb sins can wipe us out!

What can we do?

The Apostle Paul says we can and should, “Rejoice”! 

God is at work! All these troubles are building and strengthening our character!

God loves us dearly and He is not going to waste one of these hurts!

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28

Application

I will rejoice in the Lord no matter what comes my way! How about you? 

Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, “Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4

¹⁷ Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
    and there are no grapes on the vines;
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,
¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
    I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
¹⁹ The Sovereign Lord is my strength! Habakkuk 3:17-19

Even though ___ (fill in the blank) _____ yet I will rejoice in the LORD!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, without troubles and trials in this life I would never learn to depend and trust in You. I know that many of my problems are because of the stupid sins that I commit. Thank You for forgiving me when I sin, when I come to You for forgiveness. Even when I am affected by the sins of others I know that You turn even those bad things around for my own good.  

I pray for anyone reading this blog that may be experiencing the consequences of their own sins or the consequences of the sins of someone else. Help them trust and depend on You. You are a Mighty God. Nothing is too hard for You!



Daily Bible Reading:  1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8; Psalms 136; Romans 5

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Abraham Never Wavered In Fact, His Faith Grew Stronger, And In This He Brought Glory To God.

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Abraham Never Wavered
In Fact, His Faith Grew Stronger,
And In This He Brought Glory To God.

Scripture

Romans 4

¹⁹ And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.

²⁰ Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. ²¹ He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.

Observation

God, please give me the faith of Abraham!

Wow! At 100 years old Abraham still believed God’s promise that God was going to bless He and Sarah with a child!

He never wavered in believing God’s promise. His faith only grew stronger!

Give me that kind of faith for my still unanswered prayers!

Application

 I will ask my Heavenly Father to help me to look at all of His promises with faith like Abraham’s, being fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He has promised. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, don’t let me give up. Help me have faith like Abraham. May my faith only grow stronger and stronger as I wait on You.

For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.

Daily Bible Reading:  2 Chronicles 6,7; Psalms 135; Romans 4



> If you are reading this simple blog this morning you are an encouragement to me!



> I have made it a habit to pray for those who read this blog! I enjoy lifting you and your family up to the Lord in prayer.

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

We Are Made Right With God By Placing Our Faith In Jesus Christ

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We Are Made
Right With God
By Placing Our Faith In Jesus Christ

Scripture

Romans 3

²² We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

Observation

Have you been made right with God? If you were to die today where would you spend Eternity?

It is not good people that go to Heaven and bad people that go to Hell. It is forgiven people that go to Heaven.

All of us … that includes you and me deserve to go to Hell.

Only people that have been made right with God by placing their faith in Jesus Christ are the people going to Heaven.

Jesus Christ left Heaven and came to earth.  He lived on earth 33 years and did not sin one time during those 33 years. He was sinless. He was nailed to a cross and put to death so that He could pay the penalty for your sins and my sins.

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18

    But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

    "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24

 

Application

I will share this Good News that Jesus saves with everyone that I can. How about you? Have you surrendered your life to Jesus Christ? Is He Lord of your life?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray this morning for any person that may read this blog that has not yet placed his or her faith in Jesus Christ. Help them to say “yes” to your invitation today. Open up their hearts and their minds to the Truth.

I pray for Pastor Bruce today. Empower him to preach Your Word in a way that makes us listen, makes us pay attention and that helps us respond to what You say through him. Be glorified and exalted today. This is the day that You have made I will rejoice and be glad in it!

Daily Bible Reading:  1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 5; Psalms 99; Romans 3

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A Person With A Changed Heart Seeks Praise From God, Not From People.

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A Person
With A Changed Heart
Seeks Praise From God, Not From People.

Scripture

Romans 2

29 “…a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.”

Observation

You and I have a heart problem! It is serious!

And the heart that I am talking about is the spiritual part of us where our emotions and desires dwell.  Our spiritual heart is the core of who we are!

Major spiritual heart surgery is needed on all of us! Our hard stubborn, evil, wicked hearts, must be changed, they must be transformed. 

Do you have a changed heart?

    For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10

    Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires. Psalm 51:10

    And I will give you a new heart--I will give you new and right desires--and put a new spirit within you. I will take out your stony hearts of sin and give you new hearts of love. Ezekiel 36:26

   

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

Application

I will guard my heart today. How about you?

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to guard my heart. Keep me from doing stupid sins that mess up my relationship with You. I pray for anyone that may be reading my blog this morning that needs to turn from sin and self and that needs to turn to You. Help them to change the direction of his or her life and give them a new heart when they do! Give them a changed heart!

Daily Bible Reading:  1 Kings 7; 2 Chronicles 4; Psalms 98; Romans 2


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So They Have No Excuse For Not Knowing God

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So
They Have No Excuse
For Not Knowing God

Scripture

Romans 1

²⁰ For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature.
So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

²¹ Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. ²² Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. ²³ And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

²⁴ So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. ²⁵ They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.
 

Observation

Every once in awhile I run into a person that says that they do not believe that God exist, they might even call themselves an atheist and when I do meet one of them I think of Romans chapters 1-3.

What an atheist is really saying (at least in my opinion) is that they are rejecting God’s existence and rejecting God in the process.

God says in Romans 1 that His eternal power and divine nature are quite obvious to everyone just by looking at all that He has created. 

Let’s just go outside open up our eyes and look around at all that God has made

Let’s be honest!

Let’s not trade the truth about God for a lie!

Application

I will boldly share the Good News about Jesus Christ as God gives me the opportunity. How about you? 

 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes … Romans 1:16

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we live in a culture that says do whatever you please without any regard to what You say in Your Word. It is a culture that denies or at least ignores Your existence, Your power, and Your divine nature even though everything surrounding us shouts of Your existence. Most people in our country would not call themselves atheists, but so many live like You really don’t exist or that You are not important. They have traded the truth about You for a lie. In all of this I remind myself that You are Sovereign and in control. None of this catches You by surprise. 

I pray for anyone reading this blog today. I pray that they would seek You with all of their heart, might, and soul. Show Yourself powerful in their lives today. Show them that they can trust in You. 

Daily Bible Reading:  1 Kings 6; 2 Chronicles 3; Psalms 97; Romans 1




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I Will Refuse To Look At Anything Vile And Vulgar

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I Will
Refuse To Look At
Anything Vile And Vulgar

Scripture

Psalms 101

³ I will refuse to look at
    anything vile and vulgar.

Observation

Have you realized yet that you need to set down some boundaries in your life so that you do not fall, crash, and burn when it comes to lust and temptation?

Here are some simple things that have helped me steer clear of trouble:

1. I will not meet with or counsel a woman without someone else being with me. I will not be alone with a woman other than my wife.
2. I will not eat a meal alone with a woman other than my wife.
3. I will not drive or ride in a car alone with a woman other than my wife.
4. I will not watch Victoria Secret commercials.
5. I will not watch bedroom scenes on television even if when the scene is not graphic or very revealing.

If I watch a pretty girl walking down the street or across my path and I realize that my glance has turned into a gaze and that gaze is quickly moving to lust I try to remember to say to myself, “Jesus died for that sin.” Saying that simple phrase to myself takes all the fun out of looking and gets me back on track where I should be!

If you are a woman and you are reading this blog I hope that you have set down similar boundaries for yourself! This is not just a man’s problem!

 “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.” Job 31:1

Application

King David said in Psalm 101:2b, “I will lead a life of integrity.” I want to lead a life of integrity in my home too! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to be a man of integrity. Help me to be strong and not weak. Don’t let me yield to the temptations that come my way. Don’t let me do stupid sins. Guard my eyes and my heart. Don’t let me sin against You. I pray for the men and women in our church. Help them to set boundaries for their lives. Protect them from the evil one. He is a roaring lion waiting for the opportunity to destroy them. 

Daily Bible Reading:  1 Kings 4,5; 2 Chronicles 2; Psalms 101; 2 Thessalonians 3

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In Your Strength I Can Crush An Army; With My God I Can Scale Any Wall.

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In Your Strength
I Can Crush An Army;
With My God I Can Scale Any Wall.

Maybe you need the encouragement of Psalm 18 this morning? Maybe “I can’t” needs to be pushed out of our vocabulary! I love the Psalms! When I find myself down, bummed out, and/or discouraged I open up my Bible and start reading Psalms. Today I happened to read Psalm 18 just because today is May 18^th! It is true that there are a lot of things that you and I cannot do, but when we yield and surrender our lives over to the God who created everything then anything and everything is possible! We need to let “I can’t” die and we need to let “with God’s help, I can” thrive!

Scripture

Psalm 18

29 In your strength I can crush an army;
    with my God I can scale any wall.

Observation

Maybe you need the encouragement of Psalm 18 this morning?

Maybe “I can’t” needs to be pushed out of our vocabulary!

I love the Psalms! When I find myself down, bummed out, and/or discouraged I open up my Bible and start reading Psalms. Today I happened to read Psalm 18 just because today is May 18^th!
It is true that there are a lot of things that you and I cannot do, but when we yield and surrender our lives over to the God who created everything then anything and everything is possible!

We need to let “I can’t” die and we need to let “with God’s help, I can” thrive!

Application

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength! How about you?

Prayer

I love you, Lord; You are my strength. You are my Rock, my Fortress, and my Savior; my God You are my rock, in whom I find protection. You are my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.   

I called on You Lord, You who are worthy of praise, and You saved me from my enemies. You led me to a place of safety; You rescued me because You delight in me. LORD You have rewarded me for doing right; You restored me because of my innocence. For I have kept Your ways Oh Lord; I have not turned from You to follow evil.  

To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. To the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd. You rescue the humble, but You humiliate the proud.  

You light a lamp for me. LORD, my God, You light up my darkness. In your strength I can crush an army; with You my God I can scale any wall. Your way is perfect. All of Your promises prove true. You are a shield for all who look to him for protection. Who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock? Taken from Psalm 18 (Personalized)


Daily Bible Reading:  1 Kings 3; 2 Chronicles 1; Psalms 78; 2 Thessalonians 2; Psalm 18; Psalm 118; Proverbs 18


> If you are reading this simple blog this morning you are an encouragement to me!

> I have made it a habit to pray for those who read this blog! I enjoy lifting you and your family up to the Lord in prayer.

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Take Courage And Be A Man

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

Take
Courage
And Be A Man

Scripture

As the time of King David’s death approached, he gave this charge to his son Solomon:

2 “I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man.
 
3 Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go.
 
4 If you do this, then the Lord will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, ‘If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’

Observation

King David knew that his son Solomon did not grow up a warrior like he grew up. Now Solomon was to take on the responsibility of being the King of Israel and his father’s words to him were, “Take courage and be a man.”

Good words for any Dad to say to his son and it is a good word for me and you today, “Take courage and be a man.”

We live in a culture where men seem to forget that they are supposed to be men. So many of us are “passive”. We need to man up! Men need to be men!

I want the men of our church to be real men! Real men love their wives!

A real man doesn’t dump all the responsibility of the household on his wife. If he needs to work two or three jobs to meet the needs of his family he does it! He doesn’t spend his time playing while his wife is out working to provide for her family.

A woman needs to respect her man and men need to love their wives. Let’s be the kind of man that our wives can respect!

If you are a woman and you are reading this let me tell you how you can help your man be the man that you can respect. Praise him every time he does something worthy of praise – no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.

Gals, if you respect your man and praise him when he does something good it will help him be the man that you want him to be and it will make it easier for him to love you the way that you want to be loved!

Application

I will encourage my sons to be the men that God wants them to be.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, in this mixed up world that we live in it is difficult it seems for men to be men of courage. Help me live my life in a way that pleases you. Help me to love Kathy in a way that makes it easy for her to show me respect. Thank you for bringing her into my life. I pray for the men of our church. Help them to be real men. Help us to love our spouse as Christ loved the church.  Help us to take courage and be men.


Daily Bible Reading:  1 Kings 2; 1 Chronicles 29; Psalms 95; 2 Thessalonians 1


> If you are reading this simple blog this morning you are an encouragement to me!

> I have made it a habit to pray for those who read this blog! I enjoy lifting you and your family up to the Lord in prayer.

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

His Faithful Promises Are Your Armor And Protection

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

His Faithful
Promises
Are Your Armor And Protection

Scripture

Psalms 91

¹ Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
    will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

² This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
    he is my God, and I trust him.

³ For he will rescue you from every trap
    and protect you from deadly disease.

⁴ He will cover you with his feathers.
    He will shelter you with his wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

⁵ Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies in the day.

Observation

Take a couple of minutes to read Psalm 91 this morning!

I shared with Pierre and Jessica (Baxter) Celestin at their wedding yesterday that there are over 3,000 promises in the Bible for them to hold on to and I shared with them that it would be those promises that would get them through life’s most difficult times.

God’s promises are our armor and our protection!

I shared this great promise with Pierre and Jessica yesterday that is found in Matthew 6:33, which says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

What is true for them is also true for you and me,

“God will give us all we need from day to day if we live for Him and make the Kingdom of God our primary concern.”  

   

Application

I will trust God and all His promises that He gives me in His Word.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I believe You when you tell me in Psalm 91, 

“⁹ If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, ¹⁰ no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.¹¹ For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.¹² They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
 
¹⁴ The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.¹⁵ When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.¹⁶ I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”


Daily Bible Reading:  1 Kings 1; 1 Chronicles 28; Psalms 91; 1 Thessalonians 5

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!

We Urge You In The Name Of The Lord Jesus To Live In A Way That Pleases God

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We Urge You In The Name Of The Lord Jesus
To Live In A Way That
Pleases God

Scripture

1 Thessalonians 4

Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. ² For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

Observation

Encouragement! Everybody needs it! So I thought I would try to encourage us this morning!

Let’s live out this week in a way that pleases God!

Today is Sunday! Church starts in a few minutes! Let’s live in a way that pleases God – Let’s get up and get our families to church!

Before we go to church this morning let’s open up God’s Word and spend some time with Him!

When we get to church and the offering plate is passed let’s not let it go by without putting in an amount that would please our God.

Let’s treat people different this week. Let’s treat them in a way that pleases Him. 

Application

I will try my best to live in a way that pleases my God. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I want to please You this week in the way that I live. Help me to do it. Don’t let me do stupid sins. I pray for my sister today on her birthday! Bless her on her ver special day.



Daily Bible Reading:  1 Chronicles 25,26,27; 1 Thessalonians 4



> If you are reading this simple blog this morning you are an encouragement to me!

> I have made it a habit to pray for those who read this blog! I enjoy lifting you and your family up to the Lord in prayer.

Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!