Come And Listen, All You Who Fear God, And I Will Tell You What He Did For Me.

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Come And Listen,
All You Who Fear God,
And I Will Tell You What He Did For Me.

What has God done for you?

Scripture

Psalm 66

¹⁶ Come and listen, all you who fear God,
    and I will tell you what he did for me.

Observation

What has God done for you?

Lets brag on God!

He has done so much for me.

He has given me a wonderful wife and a super family, lots of great friends, and He saved me from certain death and He has given me more time on this earth to enjoy them!

What has He done for you?

Application

I will thank the Lord for being so wonderful to me. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for being so good to me. I don’t deserve it. You are such an Awesome God. You have showered me with blessings.

¹ Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth!

²     Sing about the glory of his name!
    Tell the world how glorious he is.

³ Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
    Your enemies cringe before your mighty power.

⁴ Everything on earth will worship you;
    they will sing your praises,
    shouting your name in glorious songs.” Psalm 66:1-4 Amen

Daily Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 22,23,24; Galatians 4 Psalm 62-67

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“My Heart Is Confident In You, O God”

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“My Heart Is
Confident In You,
O God”

What or who are you putting your trust and confidence in? Money … People … or God?

Scripture

Psalm 57

7  My heart is confident in you, O God;
    my heart is confident.
    No wonder I can sing your praises!

¹⁰ For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
    Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

¹¹ Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
    May your glory shine over all the earth.

Observation

What or who are you putting your trust and confidence in? Money … People … or God?

Here are two very important truths from God’s Word about money and people:

• Money has wings and can quickly fly away.

 ⁵ In the blink of an eye, money can disappear, as if it grew wings and flew away like a bird. Proverbs 23:4

• People will eventually let you down.

³ Don’t look to men for help; their greatest leaders fail; Psalm 146:3

In contrast here are just a few of the promises God has for us when we put our trust in Him:
Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. Psalm 34:10

God’s unfailing love is as high as the heavens. His faithfulness reaches to the clouds! Psalm 57:10

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people. Psalm 118:8

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. Jeremiah 17:7

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Application

Today I will put my faith in trust in the Lord and in Him alone. I want to soar like an eagle. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, my heart is confident in You, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing your praises! For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.  May your glory shine over all the earth.
Daily Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 19,20,21; Galatians 3; Psalm 57-61

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You Have Seen Me Tossing And Turning Through The Night.

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You
Have Seen Me
Tossing And Turning Through The Night.

How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly!

Scripture

Psalm 56

⁸ You keep track of all my sorrows.
    You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
    You have recorded each one in your book NLT

You have seen me tossing and turning through the night. You have collected all my tears and preserved them in your bottle! You have recorded every one in your book. Psalm 56:8 Living

Observation

Our God cares about us and He is not going to waste a hurt!

 You have seen me tossing and turning through the night. You have collected all my tears and preserved them in your bottle! You have recorded every one in your book. Psalm 56:8 Living

Woke up this morning with too much stuff on my mind so after much tossing and turning I finally decided just to get up and have my devotional time a little earlier than usual. 

Interesting that I should just happen to read Psalm 56:8 this morning!

It reminds me of Psalm 139:17-18

“How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me.  And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!”

 When I am tossing and turning during the night God is thinking about me. And when I wake up He is still thinking about me! 

Wow! God is so good. 

Application

I will give my burdens to the Lord today because He cares about me.

Psalm 55:22, 1 Peter 5:7

Prayer

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. ² You know when I sit or stand. When far away you know my every thought. ³ You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am.  

⁴ You know what I am going to say before I even say it. ⁵ You both precede and follow me and place your hand of blessing on my head.

⁶ This is too glorious, too wonderful to believe! ⁷ I can never be lost to your Spirit! I can never get away from my God! ⁸ If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. ⁹ If I ride the morning winds to the farthest oceans, ¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me, your strength will support me.  

¹¹ If I try to hide in the darkness, the night becomes light around me. ¹² For even darkness cannot hide from God; to you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you. 

^17-18 How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me! Amen

Daily Bible Reading:  Deuteronomy 16,17,18; Psalms 38; Galatians 2; Psalm 52-56, 139

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You Will Receive This Blessing If …

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You
Will Receive
This Blessing If …

This reminds me of what Rick Warren said, “Every Promise has a Premise!”

Scripture

Deuteronomy 15

The only prerequisite for his blessing is that you carefully heed all the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today. ⁶ He will bless you as he has promised.

Observation

 Moses was reminding the Hebrew nation that if they wanted God’s blessing then they would have to each live a life of obedience!

This conditional promise still stands for us today! You and I will receive God’s blessing and blessings “IF” and only “IF” we walk in obedience.

Almasi Sims shared with us this past Sunday that if we wanted to be blessed by God then we must be “In Formation”. He went on to say that if we want to be “In Formation” then we need to adhere to and practice these 5 habits and Almasi used the acrostic P.O.W.E.R. to make his point:

P – Pray

O – Obey

W – Worship

E – Evangelize

R – Read (God’s Word)

I want God’s blessing! I want His Face to shine on me. How about You?

Application

I will ask God to examine my heart today and I will ask Him to show me if I am or if I am not walking “In Formation”.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, don’t let me live this day without Your power. Don’t let me walk in disobedience. 

Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands. (Psalm 112:1) Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (Psalm 139:23-24)

Daily Bible Reading:  Deuteronomy 13,14,15; Galatians 1

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Be Still And Know That I Am God!

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Be Still
And Know
That I Am God!

I made the mistake of bringing in the newspaper this morning and glancing at the headlines!  “Officials pessimistic about terrorism fight.”

Scripture

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!

¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God!
    I will be honored by every nation.
    I will be honored throughout the world.”

Observation

I made the mistake of bringing in the newspaper this morning and glancing at the headlines!  “Officials pessimistic about terrorism fight.”

Serious trouble is definitely heading our way!

Thank goodness that I have God’s word and God reassured me this morning through His word that ultimately He will take care of our enemies.

So with the Psalmist this morning I say, God is my refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. And so I need not fear even if the world blows up and the mountains crumble into the sea.

    "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Application

This week I will glance at my circumstances and focus on my God. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are my refuge and my strength, a tested help in times of trouble. And so I need not fear even if the world blows up and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam; let the mountains tremble.

There is a river of joy flowing through the city of my God—the sacred home of the God above all gods. God himself is living in that city; therefore it stands unmoved despite the turmoil everywhere. He will not delay his help. The nations rant and rave in anger—but when God speaks, the earth melts in submission and kingdoms totter into ruin.

 The Commander of the armies of heaven is here among us. He, the God of Jacob, has come to rescue us.

Daily Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 10,11,12; Mark 16; Psalm 42-46

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This Is My Blood Of The New Way Of Worship Which Is Given For Many.

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This Is
My Blood Of The New Way Of Worship
Which Is Given For Many.
 

I can still remember how the empty life felt before I surrendered my life to Jesus!

How about you? 

Scripture

Mark 14

²³ Then He took the cup and gave thanks. He gave it to them and they all drank from it. ²⁴ He said to them, “This is My blood of the New Way of Worship which is given for many.

Observation

What can wash away my sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus! What can make me whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus!

²² Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Hebrews 9:22

²⁰ For God has bought you with a great price. So use every part of your body to give glory back to God because he owns it. 1 Corinthians 6:20 (Living)

We have been blood bought! 

¹⁸ For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. ¹⁹ It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 1 Peter 1:18-19

God paid a ransom to save us from the empty life! 

I can still remember how the empty life felt before I surrendered my life to Jesus!

How about you?

Application

I will share with every person that I can about the saving power of the blood of Jesus Christ. How about you? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You bought me with the precious blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. I am precious in Your sight. Thank You for paying the ransom to save me from my empty life. Thank You for giving me a life full of purpose and meaning. I don’t deserve it. I am so blessed. I pray for those who are still living the empty life. I pray that they would come to know Jesus Christ. I pray that they would surrender their lives to Christ.

Daily Bible Reading:  Deuteronomy 5,6; Psalms 43; Mark 14

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But I Am Not Like That I Live With Integrity

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But I Am Not Like That
I
Live With Integrity

Loving leadership is founded on loving integrity. If you and I are going to lead then we must have it.

Scripture

Psalm 26

¹¹ But I am not like that; I live with integrity.
    So redeem me and show me mercy.
¹² Now I stand on solid ground,
    and I will publicly praise the Lord. NLT


2 Samuel 22

26 “To the faithful you show yourself faithful;
    to those with integrity you show integrity. NLT


Proverbs 20

28 Love and truth form a good leader;
    sound leadership is founded on loving integrity. Message

Observation

INTEGRITY

Biblical examples of leading with integrity: Job, Moses, Joshua, Daniel, David, Peter, and Paul (just to mention a few) they were all men of “integrity”.

If you and I are going to lead then we must have it.

Oops! Sure don’t want to forget the ladies: Biblical examples of ladies known for their integrity would be: Deborah, Esther, Ruth, Naomi and Mary. And I am sure that you could name even more!

God wants to use us, but to use us like He wants to use us we must be people of “integrity”.

We have to be honest and trustworthy. We must be consistent. We have got to be someone that people can count on. And we sure need humility. (I am preaching to “me, myself, and I” as I write this.)

Our spouse, our children, our grandchildren, our church, all of our business partners and contacts, and all of our friends need to see us shine with integrity.

Application

I will strive today to be a person of integrity. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You have given me so many good examples to follow. I have many friends that walk in integrity. I can count on them. I can look up to them. You have given me godly examples in the lives of those that I read about in Your Word. Now help me to live a godly life. Help me be the man that You have called me to be. Help me to be a man of integrity. Show me where I am lacking. Show me where I am weak. I want to be all that I can be for You. 

Daily Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 3,4; Psalms 36; Mark 13; Psalm 26-30

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Because The Lord Is My Shepherd, I Have Everything I Need!

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Because
The Lord Is My Shepherd,
I Have Everything I Need!

Look around and wouldn’t you agree that we do have everything that we really need!

Scripture

Psalm 23

Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need!

Observation

Contentment … How can we have it in a culture that cries out for us to have the newest, the best, and the top of the line, the biggest, the fastest, the latest upgrade, or the next new gadget that hits the market? 

… for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. ¹² I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation, whether it be a full stomach or hunger, plenty or want; ¹³ for I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power. Philippians 4:11-13

Look around and wouldn’t you agree that we do have everything that we really need!

Lets think smaller, older, slower, middle of the line and let’s resist impulsive buying!

 Lets enjoy what we already have! Lets enjoy our relationship with our Lord, with our spouse, with our family, and with all of our friends. 

Application

I will enjoy my Lord, Kathy, my family, my friends, and I will strive to be content with all that the Lord has given me. How about you? Will you be content?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to be content. Help me slow down to enjoy my relationship with You, with Kathy, with my family, and with my friends. Show me someone that is discouraged that needs to be lifted up. Help me be more concerned for those around me than I am for myself. Because You are my Shepherd I have everything need.

Daily Bible Reading:  Deuteronomy 1,2; Mark 12; Psalm 21-25

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The Lord Rewarded Me For Doing Right

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The Lord
Rewarded Me
For Doing Right

Psalm 18 might be just what you need to get you through the rest of this week! 

Scripture

Psalm 18

²⁰ The Lord rewarded me for doing right; (a)  …

⁴⁷ He is the God who pays back those who harm me (a) …

Observation

One of my favorite chapters in the Bible is Psalm 18! Just listen to the first few verses as King David praises His God:

¹ I love you, Lord;
    you are my strength.
² The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
    my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
    and my place of safety.
³ I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
    and he saved me from my enemies. Psalm 18:1-3

David had a very intimate relationship with his Heavenly Father. He had amazing confidence in his God. 

Today these two truths jumped out at me. Maybe they can help us today as we deal with the people and as we strive to be people of integrity. 

I know that some of us at times may be tempted to act in ways that are not right. We are tempted to get even. Maybe it is because we are being mistreated or misunderstood by someone and it is hard not to be mean right back. We want to be just as mean as they are. 

So … that is why these two truths are so important for us today:

1.      The Lord will reward us for doing right.

2.      God will pay back those who harm us.

Focus and think about doing the right thing no matter how bad the person hurts you and you can be sure that God will reward you for being a person of integrity. 

King David had the opportunity to kill his enemy King Saul twice but both times he refused to do it. David allowed God to pay back King Saul for his evilness. God rewarded David for doing right.
God promises to reward us for doing good and He promises to pay back those who harm us. 

Application

I will look for someone today that needs to be encouraged. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I love you; You are my strength. You are my rock, my fortress, and my savior; You are my rock, in whom I find protection. You are my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.  I call on You. You are worthy of praise, and You save me from my enemies. You will reward me for doing right and You will pay back those who harm me.  Psalm 18:1-3, 20,47  (personalized) 

Daily Bible Reading: Numbers 34,35,36; Mark 11; Psalm 17-20

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“Should A Man Be Allowed To Divorce His Wife?”

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“Should A
Man
Be Allowed To Divorce His Wife?”

Let no one split apart what God has joined together. Marriage is God’s idea and He wants us to honor the commitment that we made to Him and to our spouse. 

Scripture

Mark 10

² Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife?”

³ Jesus answered them with a question: “What did Moses say in the law about divorce?”
⁴ “Well, he permitted it,” they replied. “He said a man can give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away.”

⁵ But Jesus responded, “He wrote this commandment only as a concession to your hard hearts.

⁶ But ‘God made them male and female’ from the beginning of creation. ⁷ ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, ⁸ and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, ⁹ let no one split apart what God has joined together.”

¹⁰ Later, when he was alone with his disciples in the house, they brought up the subject again.

¹¹ He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her.  

¹² And if a woman divorces her husband and marries someone else, she commits adultery.”

Observation

I am sure that someone may read this today that has gone through a divorce. Some of you may have gone through the terrible experience of divorce several times already. So up front I want to say that what I am going to share is not meant to be hurtful or offensive.

Marriage is hard work. And keeping a great marriage great is even harder.

Why is it so hard?

It is hard because there is a battle raging against your marriage from the very beginning. Satan does not want your marriage to stay together. He loves divorce. God hates it. So the battle is on.

If you think that your spouse is your enemy you are so wrong! But you do have a real enemy – his name is Satan. Is he winning the battle in your marriage right now?

The passage that I read this morning and that I shared with you from Mark 10 is the way Jesus feels about your marriage and it is how He feels about divorce.

Now I know that I have decided to write on a very touchy subject. I know that if you have gone through a divorce, going through a divorce, or if you are presently separated from your spouse, just mentioning any of this brings up a lot of hurt and a lot of emotions that you really didn’t want to feel or think about.

So …

• To you that have already gone through a divorce I want to remind you that our God is a God of Grace and a God who forgives. He loves you.

• To you who are contemplating divorce I would beg you to reconsider. God hates divorce!

• To you who are separated from your spouse let me encourage you to live a pure life. Don’t become involved emotionally or sexually with someone else. Sex outside of marriage is always destructive. Keep yourself pure. Be able to serve the Lord with all of your heart and all of your soul. Stay pure.

• To you who are living with someone but are not married to them I would encourage you to change this arrangement in a way that honors and glorifies God: Get Married or Separate.

Your marriage is under attack. Marriage is under attack.

Do something very special for your spouse this week! Whether he or she deserves it or not!

Application

I will keep working to keep couples together so that they can experience marriage the way God intended for it to be.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for couples right now that are going through difficult times. Help them to go to Your word for direction and strength. I pray for those who may be going through the process of divorce right now. Open up their eyes and help them to see a way to make their marriage work. I pray for those who are separated from their spouse. Help them to stay pure. Show them that they need to live a pure life. I know that You are a God of grace and forgiveness. All of us are sinners and all of us fall short of what You intend for us to be. Thank You for the miracles that I have seen this year in marriages and relationships. You are a God of miracles. Nothing is too hard for You.

Daily Bible Reading:  Numbers 32,33; Mark 10

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What Do You Mean, “If I Can’?” Jesus Asked. “Anything Is Possible If A Person Believes.”

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What Do You Mean,
“If I Can’?” Jesus Asked.
“Anything Is Possible If A Person Believes.”

Maybe on this Monday, March 2, 2015 you find yourself doubting whether God can help you or not?

Scripture

Mark 9

²³ “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”

Observation

Maybe on this Monday, March 2, 2015 you find yourself doubting whether God can help you or not? Maybe you are like this father we find in Mark 9 who had a son that was demon possessed and none of Jesus’ disciples could cast out this demon.

Maybe you are at the end of the rope and you are desperately trying to get help?

There is someone that you and I can turn to when no one else seems to be able to help. His name is Jesus.

Jesus would say to us today, “What do you mean, if I can?” “Anything is possible if a person believes.”

What ever we are going through no matter how bad or how impossible. It is covered in that word, “anything”. 

 Application

As I face this week I will remind myself that anything is possible if I just have faith and trust Jesus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help my unbelief. Help me walk close to You this week. Help me to have the faith to believe that You are walking ahead of me. You are my protection. You are my guide. Help me to depend on You and not on myself. Help me to walk by faith and not by sight. Anything is possible if I believe! Increase my faith Lord, Yes - please increase my faith.

Daily Bible Reading:  Numbers 30,31; Mark 9

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You Are Seeing Things Merely From A Human Point Of View, Not God’s

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You Are Seeing Things
Merely From A Human Point Of View,
Not God’s

Perspective is everything. You and I need to see the big picture!

Scripture

Mark 8

³³ Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. “Get away from me, Satan!” he said.
“You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

Observation

Pastor Bruce tells those in leadership at Christ Fellowship that we must look at things from a 30,000 feet perspective! You and I need to see the big picture. We need to see things from God’s perspective.

A suffering Messiah was not something that Peter could handle. He didn’t see how that could fit into the picture he had in his mind of his Messiah. Jesus reprimanded him for having “low” vision and Jesus told Peter that he needed to start seeing things from God’s point of view.

Think about it. What is going on in your life and my life right now that we can’t seem to understand? You and I need to look at it from 30,000 feet. We need to take our eyes off the problem and ask God to let us see it from His perspective.

Do we have any health problems, financial problems, or relationship problems? If we answered “yes” to any of those (and who doesn’t) then lets look at them from God’s perspective. Let’s go to His word and see how to deal with life’s tough problems.

Lets get God’s point of view and lets for sure not settle for ours!

 Application

I will study God’s word and pray to see my situation from God’s perspective. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me see the big picture. Help me to walk by faith and not by sight. May I depend on what You say in Your word and not what I see from my perspective. Today is our day to worship You at church. Help me to do that with all of my heart and all of my soul. I pray for Pastor Bruce and the lead team. Empower them today to bring You glory and honor. Be exalted today as we worship You.

Daily Bible Reading:  Numbers 28,29; Mark 8

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LORD, Do Not Let Evil People Have Their Way.

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LORD,
Do Not Let
Evil People Have Their Way. 

Are you praying for the persecuted church? Our brothers and sisters are dying because they are “People of the Cross.”

Scripture

Psalm 140

Lord, do not let evil people have their way.
    Do not let their evil schemes succeed,
⁹ Let my enemies be destroyed
    by the very evil they have planned for me.
¹⁰ Let burning coals fall down on their heads.
    Let them be thrown into the fire
    or into watery pits from which they can’t escape.

Observation

I just came home from the Chris Tomlin, “Love ran red concert” and had to write this. During the concert I began thinking about all of the Christians that have been recently killed for being “People of the Cross”, and sadness came over me.

Here I stand worshiping with thousands of “People of the Cross” in the freedom and luxury of the USF Sundome while hundreds of Christians are being held prisoners by evil men in Syria and I am sure that they know that they will probably die as martyrs.

My heart goes out to all of my brothers and sisters in Christ that live in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and other predominately Muslim countries who are facing fierce persecution and death.

King David’s prayer for his enemies in Psalm 140 sounds like a good one to me. God will avenge. God will wipe out those doing these evil deeds. And they could not commit these terrible acts if God did not allow them to do it. God is Sovereign. God is in control. 

Vengeance is the Lord’s. 

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.  Romans 10:19

Payday will come for them and I pray that it comes soon.

Application

I will pray for the persecuted church especially those being held right now in Syria. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You have given us Your word. And the world hates us because we do not belong to the world.  Jesus said in John 17 as He prayed for us, “I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do.” 

Lord, I pray that You keep safe those Christians who are living in places where evil men have taken control. Rescue them from harm. I know that nothing can separate them from the love of Christ. May the evil men that took Christians as prisoners be totally destroyed. Let these enemies be destroyed by the very evil they have planned for us.


Daily Bible Reading: Numbers 24,25,26,27; 1 Corinthians 13; Psalm 137-140

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But Jesus Said, “You Feed Them.” “With What?” They Asked.

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But Jesus Said,
“You Feed Them.”
“With What?” They Asked.

What is God asking you to do today? 

Scripture

Mark 6

³⁷ But Jesus said, “You feed them.”
“With what?” they asked.
….

³⁸ “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.”
They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.”
…

⁴³ and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish. ⁴⁴ A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed.

Observation

I can imagine how the disciples felt when Jesus told them to feed all of those people! It was an impossible task! How much food did they have between them? They only had five small loaves of bread and two small fish. It was a boy’s lunch. And they were looking out over a crowd that could have numbered as many as 20,000 people.

What is the lesson that you and I can learn from this story today?

What we have is more than enough to accomplish whatever God places on our hearts to do - when all that we have is surrendered to Him.

If we could do it in our own strength with our own resources then it would not require faith. It would not require the Supernatural hand of God!

So …

What has God placed on your heart? What has He asked me to do?

Let’s bring all of our resources to Jesus and put them in His hands and watch what happens.

    “For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.”

 Philippians 4:13

“Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need!” Psalm 23:1

 

Application

I have all I need to do whatever God puts on my heart to do.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, why does it always seem that I lack the resources to accomplish the dreams that I think You have placed on my heart. Now I know that it is by faith that I must surrender everything that I have to You. When everything I have is in Your hands then I will lack nothing. Help me to walk in faith. Give me the ability to believe You for great things. Don’t let me settle for less than Your best for my life. Help me to dream big. Show me that I can trust in You.

    Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of--infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes. Ephesians 3:20

   

Daily Bible Reading:  Numbers 21,22,23; Mark 6,7

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“Don’t Be Afraid. Just Have Faith.”

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“Don’t
Be Afraid.
Just Have Faith.”

When impossible situations slam into our lives …

Scripture

Mark 5

³⁶  …. “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”

Observation

It was his 12-year-old daughter that was close to death and Jairus had gone to get Jesus so Jesus could heal her. A sick woman who touched Jesus in the midst of a crowd delayed Jesus and Jairus on their way to Jairus’ home and Jesus took time to heal her.

It was at this moment when friends of Jairus came up and announced that Jairus’ daughter had died and they told Jairus not to bother the “Teacher” anymore. It was at this moment when Jesus turned to Jairus and said, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”

You and I are going to experience some Jairus’ moments in the years ahead.

Sickness, tragedy, death, financial disaster, and other impossible situations are heading our way. When those impossible days arrive – Let’s remember and hold onto the words of Jesus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”

    “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

    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. Isaiah 41:10

   

 Application

When impossible situations slam into my life I will not be afraid. I will have faith. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. I cried out to You, and You answered me from Your holy mountain. I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for You Lord were watching over me. I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side. (Taken from Psalm 3)

You are my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? You are my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?  When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. (Taken from Psalm 27)

Daily Bible Reading:  Numbers 19,20; Psalms 28; Mark 5

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The Message Is Crowded Out By The Worries Of This Life, The Lure Of Wealth, And The Desire For Other Things, So No Fruit Is Produced.

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The Message Is Crowded Out
By The Worries Of This Life,
The Lure Of Wealth, And The Desire For Other Things, So No Fruit Is Produced. 

Lets evaluate our lives and lets ask some hard questions.

Scripture

Mark 4

¹⁸ The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, ¹⁹ but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. NLT

Observation

All of us face the danger of having God’s Word crowded out of our lives. It seems so easy these days to replace our relationship with our Heavenly Father with:

1. The attractions of this world.
2. Delights of wealth.
3. Search for success.
4. Lure of nice things.

¹⁸ “The thorny ground represents the hearts of people who listen to the Good News and receive it, ¹⁹ but all too quickly the attractions of this world and the delights of wealth, and the search for success and lure of nice things come in and crowd out God’s message from their hearts, so that no crop is produced. LIVING

These are the things that crowd out the power of the Word of God in our lives. The things listed above consume our lives causing us to produce no fruit. We are sterile. When those things are the priority of our lives then no one gets to go to Heaven because of our witness. We are left sterile.

Crowded out! Crowded out! Crowded out!

Lets not let these things choke the Life out of us! Lets evaluate our lives and lets ask some hard questions:

 Have we been putting God first?

 Have we let our relationship with God be crowded out and choked out by the things of this world?

    He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. Matthew 6:33

 Application

I will evaluate my life today to make sure that my God is not being crowded out of my life. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, it is so easy for me to put other things ahead of my relationship with You. Help me today to examine my life and to get every thing in the right priority. Help me to keep Your Kingdom as my primary concern. Help me to keep You first in my life. Show me what needs to change and give me the strength to make those changes. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading:  Numbers 17,18; Psalms 29; Mark 4

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Joyful Are People Of Integrity

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Joyful
Are People
Of Integrity

Scripture

Psalm 119

¹ Joyful are people of integrity,
    who follow the instructions of the Lord.

Observation

I looked up the definition of the word, “integrity” and found that it means honest and fair. 

It means someone who is moral. “Having integrity means doing the right thing in a reliable way. 

It's a personality trait that we admire, since it means a person has a moral compass that doesn't waver. It literally means having "wholeness" of character.”(vocabulary.com/dictionary/integrity)

If you are a dishonest, immoral scoundrel, then of course you are not a person of integrity. (vocabulary.com/dictionary/integrity)

He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. Proverbs 2:7

“Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald is apologizing for falsely claiming that he once served in the military's special forces.” "'I have no excuse,' McDonald told The Huffington Post, when contacted to explain his claim. 'I was not in special forces.'"

I don’t think Robert McDonald realized how much that “one lie” tarnishes his entire career. But before you and I jump to conclusions and criticize him for his shortcoming we must ask ourselves, “How are we doing in the area of integrity?”

Application

I will ask God to give me a “treasure of common sense” and I will ask Him to be my shield and I will ask Him to help me be a man of integrity. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for VA Secretary Robert McDonald. Help him be a man of integrity. Help him to do his job effectively in a way that will help our veterans and not harm them. Give me wisdom so that I can walk in a way that pleases You. Don’t let me mess up and cause You to be disappointed in me.

Daily Bible Reading:  Numbers 14,15,16; Mark 3; Psalm 119:1

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