Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Let All That I Am Praise The LORD.


Let
All That I Am
Praise The LORD.
Scripture
Psalms 104
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord.
O Lord my God, how great you are!
    You are robed with honor and majesty.
2     You are dressed in a robe of light.
You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;
3     you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds.
You make the clouds your chariot;
    you ride upon the wings of the wind.
33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.
    I will praise my God to my last breath!
34 May all my thoughts be pleasing to him,
    for I rejoice in the Lord.
35 Let all sinners vanish from the face of the earth;
    let the wicked disappear forever.
Let all that I am praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!
Observation
Let all that I am praise the LORD!
To be honest, to be perfectly honest with you, I don't feel pumped up this morning, I don't feel all bubbly inside. I don't feel like I am ready to take on the world. Some mornings might start out like that but not today.
In fact, right at this very moment I feel pretty blah … Covid 19 is spreading like wildfire and our country is being turned upside down with lawlessness and destruction!
We can't meet and be with our friends and have them in our home like we have done for years. Even getting together with our very own extended family is strained and difficult because of the risk of spreading this virus.
Then to add to all of that we still have people saying that the whole virus thing is a hoax, no worse than the common flu. We have people refusing to wear masks because they don't want the government telling them what to do.
So much false information is being spread, either intentionally or unintentionally, and this only causes more division and confusion… common sense and rational thinking they both seem to have gone right out of the window.
Overload … I am on overload today! How about you?
But … Let all that I am praise the LORD!
This morning I will praise Him! I am making the choice to praise Him. I am not waiting on my emotions to catch up to the fact that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is worthy of all praise! He is Sovereign! He is in control!
In His Word is where I will find direction for my life … not from Facebook … not from You Tube … not from Twitter … not from any news source … not from any where else.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take.
Psalm 119:105
105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
    and a light for my path.
Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.

2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
    and the mountains crumble into the sea.

3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
    Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!
Application
And even when I cannot see His hand in all that is going on, I will trust His heart. He is for me. He is not against me. He will walk through these difficult times with me. He is my Shepherd. I have everything I need!
How about you? How are you handling all of this?
Psalm 42:11
11 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, these are strange times that we are living in and that we are going through. At least, strange for us in our country, because we have been such a blessed nation. We have not experienced the horrors of what other countries have experienced but it looks like that all of that is coming our way. I pray for the church. I pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help them to dig into Your Word where they can find the strength they need. Help them, Lord. Help me to walk by faith and not by sight. Help us to look beyond what we are seeing and experiencing. Help us to see things from Your perspective. Show us, Lord, what You are doing in our land. Don't let us faint or shrink back from being Your witnesses.
Job 19:25
“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.
Daily Bible Reading: Amos 7,8,9; Psalms 104; Titus 2



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Monday, June 29, 2020

I Will Call To You Whenever I'm In Trouble, And You Will Answer Me.


I Will
Call To You Whenever I'm In Trouble,
And You Will Answer Me.
Scripture
Psalm 86
1 Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer;
    answer me, for I need your help.
2 Protect me, for I am devoted to you.
    Save me, for I serve you and trust you.
    You are my God.
3 Be merciful to me, O Lord,
    for I am calling on you constantly.
4 Give me happiness, O Lord,
    for I give myself to you.
5 O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,
    so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
6 Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord;
    hear my urgent cry.
7 I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble,
    and you will answer me.
Observation
Why was King David so successful? Why was God able to use David the way He did? What made David so different than those around him?
The answer to all of those questions is simple if you take time to read the Psalms. David was a man of prayer! And Psalm 86 is one of King David's prayers.
I believe that if you and I will spend time in prayer and pray like King David prayed then God will be able to say about us what God said about His servant David, when He said that David was “a man after His own heart.” (1 Samuel 13:14)
I have been thinking a lot about prayer and the awesome privilege that God has given us to pray and intercede for other people and for our country, and for the world we live in.
I know that I get frustrated just like you probably do when I pray and pray and pray for someone but I don't see his or her life changing. When I don't see God at work in his or her life.
I am praying for the Covid 19 virus to stop, but it keeps spreading like wild fire. I am praying for our country to come together, but it seems to be going in the opposite direction.
So what do I do? Do I just quit praying? Of course not …
God is at work in the lives of those who I am praying for …
God is at work in this midst of this pandemic and the only reason the virus is still flourishing is because God is allowing it to flourish.
Our country is moving in the direction that it is moving because as a nation we are not putting God first (2 Chronicles 7:14) … but He is at work right in the middle of all of this chaos.
God is Sovereign. He is All-Powerful. Nothing gets by Him.
He loves me and He loves you and He loves to hear us pray and cry out to Him.
Application
Every time I pray I am acknowledging that God is exactly who He says He is and that He will do exactly what He says that He will do.
So I will pray and never give up.
How about you?
Luke 18:1
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we are living in a difficult time. I know that believers all over the world are praying and crying out to You for help. And I know that You hear every single one of us as we pray. It is amazing that You bother with us at all. I marvel at knowing that You are listening to me right now and that it pleases You when I pray.
So I will keep on praying and I will never give up. You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Nothing is too hard for You. Help us, Lord. We are in desperate need of Your help.
Soften hard hearts. Answers prayers for reconciliation. Break down any walls that divide us!
Daily Bible Reading: Amos 4,5,6; Psalms 86,87; Titus 1



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Sunday, June 28, 2020

For A Time Is Coming When People Will No Longer Listen To Sound And Wholesome Teaching …


For A Time Is Coming
When People Will No Longer
Listen To Sound And Wholesome Teaching …
Scripture
2 Timothy 4
2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 
4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
Observation

Some people, even some who call themselves followers of Jesus Christ seem to be more interested in posting wild crazy conspiracy theories and ripping up others, even other Christians rather than sharing and focusing on the wholesome teaching of the Word of God …

It is whatever itching ears want to hear that is what they seem to be drawn to and focused on ...post, after post, after post.

Don't get caught up in that.

Paul tells us to preach the Word of God. And we are to “patiently” correct, rebuke, and encourage our people with good teaching.

I am so glad that God put godly teachers in my life when I gave my life to Jesus ... godly men like Rev. Ervin Benz, Dr. Waylon B. Moore, Sunday School teacher Charles Hartwig, Pastor Paul Burleson, Seminary professor Oscar Thompson, Pastor Hugh Roberts, Pastor Juan Mateos in Mexico, John Seale – former missionary to Cuba ... just to name a few. I am so thankful for God bringing them into my life.

Application
I want to finish well. I want my Heavenly Father to be able to say to me, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
How about you? Is it your life goal to finish well?
2 Timothy 4
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 
8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to keep the main thing the main thing. Don't let me get sidetracked on stuff that is not the main thing. Help me to be gentle and patient with people that seem to be veering off course. Help me know how to speak to them in a way that helps them to see where they are going. Don't let me have a critical spirit. Help me to see the good in people and not just the bad. I too am a sinner. I am also broken and in desperate need of a Savior.
Daily Bible Reading: Amos 1,2,3; Psalms 80; 2 Timothy 4



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Saturday, June 27, 2020

All Scripture Is Inspired By God And Is Useful To Teach Us What Is True …


All Scripture Is Inspired By God
And Is Useful
To Teach Us What Is True …
Scripture
2 Timothy 3
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 
17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
Observation
If you want to know what is true and what is not then the only way to do that is to read and study the Word of God. We are bombarded by lies and half truths all the time. How do we know what is true?
The most important thing that the Word of God does as we read it on a regular basis (hopefully every day) is to help us realize what is wrong in our lives. It is able to correct us when we are wrong and it teaches us to do what is right. It keeps us on track. It helps to keep us balanced.
God also uses His Word in our lives to prepare and equip us to do good stuff, to do good works. It is another reason to make the commitment to read God's Word every single day. God wants to use us and by our getting into the Bible every day that helps prepare us for God to be able to do just that.
You can start reading today! If you started, but for whatever reason you quit, not a problem, you can start all over again today!
Need discernment to know what is really true, what is really going on today? … Dig into the Word of God!
Application
I will trust the Lord with all of my heart. I will not lean on my own understanding. In all my ways I will acknowledge Him and He will direct my path. Proverbs 3:5-6 personalized.
How about you? Where will you look for truth? Internet? News Media? Social Media? Or the Word of God?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, all Scripture is inspired by You. You have given us Your Word as a light in this dark and evil world. There are so many voices that are saying that they know what is true, but Your Word is not their source. In all of this chaos, in all of this confusion, I will trust in You as my source for what is true. I pray for an end to this Covid 19 virus. I pray for an end to all of the social unrest. I pray for peace. Raise up godly leaders who will depend on You for guidance and direction.
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 13,14; 2 Chronicles 25; 2 Timothy 3



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Friday, June 26, 2020

Again I Say, Don't Get Involved In Foolish, Ignorant Arguments That Only Start Fights. A Servant Of The Lord Must Not Quarrel But Must Be Kind …


Again I Say, Don't Get Involved In Foolish,
Ignorant Arguments That Only Start Fights.
A Servant Of The Lord Must Not Quarrel But Must Be Kind …
Scripture
2 Timothy 2
22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
23 Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. 
24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 
25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 
26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.
Observation
You and I will either serve the Lord or we will serve the devil – there is no middle ground.
So as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ I need to read and apply what the Lord is saying to me through the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 2.
And if Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior then hopefully so will you!
Application
I will run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, I will pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace.
I will enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
I will not get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. 
I will not quarrel.
I will be kind to everyone.
I will be patient with difficult people. 
How about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to put into practice what Your Word is saying to me today. Break my heart with what breaks Yours. I want to pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. And I want to enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. Thank You for all of the wonderful people that You have brought into my life who love You and who are seeking to walk in a way that pleases You.
I pray for those who are sick. I pray for healing.
I hold out hope for those who have hard hearts, Lord. I pray that You will soften their hearts … yes … change their hearts, Lord.
Daily Bible Reading: Jonah 1,2,3,4; 2 Timothy 2



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Thursday, June 25, 2020

For God Has Not Given Us A Spirit Of Fear And Timidity, But Of Power, Love, And Self-discipline.


For God Has Not Given Us
A Spirit Of Fear And Timidity,
But Of Power, Love, And Self-discipline.
Scripture
2 Timothy 1
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Observation
We live in very fearful days. Covid 19 is dramatically on the rise in our state and in our county and in our city and yet way too many people still refuse to believe that it is real and so they are refusing to do the very simple things that could help stop or at least slow down the spread of this deadly disease.
So … I had to remind myself last night, during the night, and when I woke up this morning that God has not given me a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Psalm 56:3-4
3 But when I am afraid,
    I will put my trust in you.
4 I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?
Psalm 3:5-7
5 I lay down and slept,
    yet I woke up in safety,
    for the Lord was watching over me.
6 I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies
    who surround me on every side.
Psalm 23:4
4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
Psalm 91:4-6
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.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
    nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
Application
I will do everything that I can to keep from getting the Covid 19 virus and from passing it along to someone else. And I will not be afraid.
How about you? Are you being careful or careless?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to be careful and not reckless. I know that stupid is as stupid does. Keep me and my family safe from stupid, reckless, careless people. I am holding on to all of Your promises in Your Word. I am clinging to all of the verses that tell me not to be afraid and all of the verses that remind me that You are with me.
I pray for any person reading this blog today. Keep them and their family safe.
Daily Bible Reading: Joel 1,2,3; 2 Timothy 1



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Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Teach Those Who Are Rich In This World Not To Be Proud And Not To Trust In Their Money, Which Is So Unreliable. …


Teach Those Who Are Rich In This World
Not To Be Proud And Not To Trust In Their Money,
Which Is So Unreliable. …
Scripture
1 Timothy 6
6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 
7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 
8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 
10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
17 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 
18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. 
19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.
Observation
You and I are some of the richest people in this world so don't think the Apostle Paul is talking to someone else. He is talking to us!
When I served as a Missionary to Cuba I met many doctors there who were members of our Baptist churches – cardiologists, oncologists, and even a neurosurgeon and they all had this in common … they all made $30 a month. A common worker in the fields would make about $18 a month.
Hopefully the situation has improved for the people but I doubt that if it has improved that it has improved very much.
You and I are rich! We are blessed!
So these verses very much apply to us. They do apply to me.
1 Timothy 6:10
“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”
Let's not let ourselves be pierced with many sorrows over money…
Let's use our money to do good. Let's be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. (1Timothy 6:18 personalized)
Application
I will look for ways to be generous with what God has given us.
How about you? Sorrows or Blessings?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, don't let me be stingy. Don't let me love money. I realize how blessed we are here in our country compared to most of the rest of the world. Show me who needs to be encouraged. Show me who needs our help.
I pray for my family. Keep them safe from this virus.
I pray for our leaders. Help them to have godly wisdom as they attempt to lead us through this difficult time in our country.
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 11,12; 2 Chronicles 24; 1 Timothy 6



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Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Even When I Walk Through The Darkest Valley, I Will Not Be Afraid, For You Are Close Beside Me.


Even When I Walk Through The Darkest Valley,
I Will Not Be Afraid,
For You Are Close Beside Me.
Scripture
Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.
4 Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.
Observation
Last night at the hospital as I was talking to a patient, she said, “I don't know how people make it without a relationship with the Lord.” I had to agree with her, “I don't know how they do it either!” The doctors had just found and removed a mass in her abdomen and even though the doctors hadn't gotten the results back yet she knew that it might be cancer.
Every single one of us are going to go through dark valleys in our lives. But we don't have to go through them alone.
I don't know about you, but I am so glad that the Lord is my Shepherd and I have everything that I need. I am so glad that I can say just what King David said, “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me.”
Amazingly, I still hear people say that the Covid 19 virus is just a big hoax and that it is not a big deal. They will say that the common flu is worse than the Covid 19 virus. If you are one of those people, I wish that you could come and visit the Covid patients in the hospital. Last night, I talked to several of them on the phone (since they are in isolation chaplains don't go into their rooms to visit). ... trust me it is no hoax.
And a lot of them that I spoke to last night were in their 30's … don't think you're invincible!
The Psalmist didn't say, “If I walk through the darkest valley” ... No, he said, “When”!
Application
Because the Lord is my Shepherd I have everything I need!
How about you?
Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am so glad that You are my Shepherd and I have everything that I need. I know that when I walk through the darkest valley I won't need to be afraid because You are going to be right beside me. And I know that nothing can touch my life without Your permission. Help me to live wisely and not foolishly. Give me good sense, give me godly wisdom to be able to make good decisions. Don't let me be influenced and swayed negatively by social media, or by the constant barrage of misinformation now put out via the television and the internet that is contrary to what you clearly say in Your Word.
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 10; 2 Chronicles 22,23; 1 Timothy 5; I added: Psalm 23, Proverbs 23



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Monday, June 22, 2020

“Physical Training Is Good, But Training For Godliness Is Much Better, Promising Benefits In This Life And In The Life To Come.”


“Physical Training Is Good, But Training For Godliness
Is Much Better,
Promising Benefits In This Life And In The Life To Come.”
Scripture
1 Timothy 4
8 “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 
9 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. 
Observation

For everyone of you who are working hard to get your body in shape, the Apostle Paul says to you, that is a good thing to do. But then he goes on to say that there is something way more important than our being physically fit. He says that a spiritual work out, training for godliness is even better.

I am being silently challenged right now by members of my own family, as I watch them work hard to get their bodies in shape. I admire their discipline and determination. And I hope for my sake that it is contagious and I catch what they have! Yes, I really admire their discipline and their sacrifice to reach their goals.

And I hope that they might catch from me ... a little training for godliness. Hopefully they will open up God's Word and spend a little time each day with the Lord training in godliness. I am praying that it is contagious!
2 Peter 1:5-7
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 

6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 

7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

Application
With the Lord's help ... I will discipline my body both physically and spiritually.
How about you? Neglecting the spiritual training or the physical training? Why?
1 Corinthians 9:25-27
25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 
26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 
27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word which challenges me every single today to be more and more like You. Help me to put into practice what I read every day. Thank You that You care about both my physical body and my spiritual life and I know that You don't want me to neglect either one. Help me to discipline myself in both areas of my life. Thank You for challenging me by placing people in my life who challenge me to do both.
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 8,9; 2 Chronicles 21; 1 Timothy 4



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Sunday, June 21, 2020

If Calamity Comes Upon Us, Whether The Sword Of Judgment, Or Plague Or Famine, We Will Stand In Your Presence Before This Temple That Bears Your Name ...


If Calamity Comes Upon Us, Whether The Sword Of Judgment,
Or Plague Or Famine, We Will Stand In Your Presence
Before This Temple That Bears Your Name ...
Scripture
2 Chronicles 20
9 ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’
Observation
We will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear us and save us! This was King Jehoshaphat's words of faith and part of his prayer as a vast army was approaching to destroy his people.
You and I need to do the same thing. We need to rely on the Lord to take care of us.
2 Chronicles 7:14
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
God has not changed. The God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Testament and He is the same God today!
He will keep His promises. Trust Him!
Application
I will cry out to the Lord during this time of calamity that has come upon us.
How about you?
2 Corinthians 1:20-21
20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 
21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,
Jeremiah 33:3
Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, You never change. You are always the same. You are not fickle. What ever promise You make I know that You will keep. All of Your promises will happen. You will keep every single one of them. All of the stories that I read in Your Word all help me to know Your heart. They help me understand what a loving and kind heavenly Father You are. Help me to trust You with all of my heart. Help us get through this difficult time in the life of our country and our world.
Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 6,7; 2 Chronicles 20; 1 Timothy 3



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