When Troubles Of Any Kind Come Your Way, Consider It An Opportunity For Great Joy.

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When Troubles Of Any Kind
Come Your Way,
Consider It An Opportunity For Great Joy.

Scripture

James 1

² Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Observation

Trouble, we are either in the middle of it, just getting through it, or we have some heading our way! James says that when it comes our way, consider it an opportunity for “great joy”! 

“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.  James 1:2-4 MESSAGE

You and I usually aren’t able to see troubles, when they come, as opportunities but the Bible says that is just what they are! 

So lets think about that today!

Application

I will do my best to remember that troubles are opportunities for “great joy”. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that some of the people that may be reading this blog this morning are dealing with major issues. Many of them are overwhelmed with what is facing them. I pray for them right now. Help them to see Your hand right in the middle of all the trouble. Use this to help them grow. Help me deal with trials and troubles in a way that brings You glory and honor. Help me to see them as a gift sent to help me and not to hurt me.

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 29,30,31; James 1 

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May He Equip You With All You Need For Doing His Will

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May He
Equip You With All You Need
For Doing His Will


Scripture

Hebrews 13

²¹ may he equip you with all you need
    for doing his will.

May he produce in you,
    through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to him.
 
    All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

Observation

This is my prayer for you today!

I will pray this prayer for every one of you that take the time to read this simple blog.

Nothing could be more important for me to do today than to pray for you. I believe that – do you! If we really believe in the God of the Bible then interceding for others has to be the most important “job” we have! It is what makes God smile! Take time this morning or sometime today and pray for those that God brings to your mind.

Application

I will pray for every person that God brings to my mind. How about you? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I do believe that the most important thing that I can do for someone is to pray for them. I can’t fix people, but You can. There are so many people that are going through things so difficult and so complicated that there is no way that I can help them except to pray.
Nothing is too hard for You. I come to You because You are more than capable of transforming the lives of the people I pray for. They need Your touch. 

So I pray that You equip them with all they need for doing his will. May You produce in them, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to You. All glory to You forever and ever! Amen.


Daily Bible Reading:  Isaiah 25,26,27,28; Hebrews 13

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Let Us Run With Endurance The Race God Has Set Before Us.

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Let Us
Run With Endurance
The Race God Has Set Before Us.


.

Scripture

.

Hebrews 12

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
 
² We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

.

Observation

This is no wind sprint; this is no 5k, 8k, 10k, or even a 15k the race that followers of the Lord Jesus Christ have signed up for, oh no, this is a marathon! So let us run with endurance! 

I like what the writer of Hebrews says in verses twelve and thirteen, “So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.  Mark out a straight path for your feet …” 

As I read Hebrews 12:1-2 I know and am reminded that there are a lot of people watching me as I run this race – this Christian marathon! 

I sense excitement in the writer’s words as he shifts from the roll call of the “Hall of Faith” in chapter 11 to our participation in chapter 12! -- “Therefore”!

So lets run this Christian race with all of our heart, mind, and soul! 

“Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.” Hebrews 12:28

 Application


I will work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 {Personalized}.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to finish running this race in a way that pleases You. Don’t let me give up. Don’t let me be a slacker. Don’t let stupid sins trip me up. I want to run this race with endurance. Give me the strength, the energy, and the wisdom to run all the way to the finish line. I worship You this morning with holy fear and awe.  You alone are worthy of my praise!


Daily Bible Reading:  Isaiah 22,23,24; Hebrews 12

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It Was By Faith That …

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It Was
By Faith
That … 

Scripture

Hebrews 11

1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

4 It was by faith that … 

⁶ And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Observation

Impossible! It is impossible to please God without faith. I can’t see God. You can’t see God. If God wanted to be seen He could sure make that happen, but then trusting in Him and being dependent on Him would not require the faith like it does now. Would it?

We can look at nature, all of creation, and the entire universe that we live in and we can see God’s handiwork, but we can’t see God. God has designed us; He has hard wired us with a void in our lives that only He can fill.

This void or this emptiness in our lives can only be filled when we place our faith in God who we cannot see! God has set this whole thing up so that the only way we can please God is by “faith”.

If all of our prayer requests got answered at the very moment we prayed then our faith and our trust in God would never have the chance to grow. Think about that!

Take a few minutes today and take a walk through the “Hall of Faith” found in Hebrews 11!

 Application

I will trust and put my faith in God today. I will hold on to all of His promises.

Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” John 20:29

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for allowing me the opportunity to know You and for giving me the ability to trust in You. Thank You for opening up my spiritual eyes and allowing me to believe in You. I pray for those that may read this blog today. Help them to have faith in You. Show them Your Power. Give them spiritual understanding and faith to believe. 

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 19,20,21; Hebrews 11 

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Let Us Think Of Ways To Motivate One Another To Acts Of Love And Good Works

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Let Us Think
Of Ways To Motivate One Another
To Acts Of Love And Good Works

This past Sunday Pastor Bruce Moore and Pastor Brian Elliott challenged us to go out and show radical extravagant love to someone this week. This past Sunday was our first message in our new sermon series "Love, Sex, & Lasting Relationships: 5 Secrets For Every Relationship!" If you need help in the area of relationships (and who doesn’t) why don’t you come join us this Sunday! Our church has two locations: Seminole Heights and downtown at Channel Side! Lets make a difference by being different than the rest of the world. Who needs your attention this week? Who needs mine?

Scripture

Hebrews 10

²⁴ Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

Observation

This past Sunday Pastor Bruce Moore and Pastor Brian Elliott challenged us to go out and show radical extravagant love to someone this week.

This past Sunday was our first message in our new sermon series "Love, Sex, & Lasting Relationships: 5 Secrets For Every Relationship!" If you need help in the area of relationships (and who doesn’t) why don’t you come join us this Sunday!

Our church has two locations: Seminole Heights and downtown at Channel Side!

All of us need to think of ways to motivate each other to acts of love and good works.

We have a world that has gone completely crazy and evil seems to reign. Hate, anger, violence, and indifference seem to be the American way of life.

Lets make a difference by being different than the rest of the world.

Who needs your attention this week? Who needs mine?

 Application

I will look for someone who needs to be encouraged this week, someone that needs some radical extravagant love shown to them. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, there is so much hate in this world. There is so much meanness. Violence seems to reign in the hearts of so many. People seem to be so angry and so discouraged. I pray that You help me to find someone that needs to be encouraged so that I can help to motivate them and lift them up. You are the lifter up of my head. Nothing is too hard for You. Your Word is full of promises to me and to anyone else that put their faith and their trust in You.

Daily Bible Reading:  Isaiah 15,16,17,18; Hebrews 10

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He Will Come Again, Not To Deal With Our Sins, But To Bring Salvation To All Who Are Eagerly Waiting For Him.

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He Will Come Again, Not To Deal With Our Sins,
But To Bring Salvation
To All Who Are Eagerly Waiting For Him.

Scripture

Hebrews 9

²⁷ And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,
 
²⁸ so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

Observation

I talked to a fascinating man yesterday at Mission Tampa. When I asked him the 2 questions that I always ask someone who is new or at least they are someone that I haven’t yet had the chance to talk with he answered those 2 questions just like most people.

He said that he would go to “Heaven” when he died and he said that he had definitely been good enough since he got out of prison and he thought that since he was now being very good that God would let him into Heaven.

You see he had been really bad as a youth (those were his words) and had murdered someone.

Since he got out of prison since 2002 he has been a really good person. Of course, you know what I told him. I told him that neither of us could ever be good enough to get into Heaven. We are guilty of sin and the punishment we deserve is death, both physical death and spiritual death.

I told him what God offers us is like someone telling the judge that they would take the punishment for what he did wrong and the judge setting him free because someone else was willing to pay the penalty.

Everyone is destined to die and after that comes judgment.

Are your sins forgiven? Have you received Christ’s gift of forgiveness?

Unless you and I receive Christ and His gift of forgiveness then you can be sure that you and I will die in our sins and the only thing we have to look forward to is a terrible judgment.

    "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

Application

I am not afraid to die. I know that what I have in store for me is far greater than I could ever imagine! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I do pray for this man and I ask that You give him spiritual understanding so that he can put his faith and his trust in Jesus Christ for his salvation. Help him to understand that he needs to be set free from the penalty of his sins. Thank You for giving me Eternal life. 

Daily Bible Reading:  Isaiah 11,12,13,14; Hebrews 9

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Don’t Call Everything A Conspiracy, Like They Do, And Don’t Live In Dread Of What Frightens Them.

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Don’t Call Everything A Conspiracy,
Like They Do,
And Don’t Live In Dread Of What Frightens Them. 

Scripture

Isaiah 8

¹¹ The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. He said,

¹² “Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do,
    and don’t live in dread of what frightens them.

¹³ Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life.
    He is the one you should fear.
He is the one who should make you tremble.

¹⁴     He will keep you safe.

Observation

The Prophet Isaiah wrote this almost 3,000 years ago. And as I read this in Isaiah chapter eight I had to smile, some things never change!

Don’t miss Isaiah’s point. It is found in verses 13 & 14.

Take a minute to check these verses out. Lets start out our week on the right foot!

Isaiah 9:6-7 tells us something that we can really believe with 100% certainty.

And the truth of Isaiah 9:6-7 trumps any conspiracy theories that might have you living in dread.

Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life.  He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble.  He will keep you safe. Isaiah 8:13-14

 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.

The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! Isaiah 9:6-7

Application

I will seek to make the Lord Holy in my life. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, our world seems to get crazier and crazier by the minute. It makes what You say in Isaiah 8:11-14 so relevant for me today. I will trust in You. You will keep me safe. I will hold on to Your Word. I will believe all of Your promises. You are my Shepherd. I have everything that I need.

    God, my shepherd!

        I don't need a thing.

    [2] You have bedded me down in lush meadows,

        you find me quiet pools to drink from.

    [3] True to your word,

        you let me catch my breath

        and send me in the right direction.

    [4] Even when the way goes through

        Death Valley,

    I'm not afraid

        when you walk at my side.

    Your trusty shepherd's crook

        makes me feel secure.

    [5] You serve me a six-course dinner

        right in front of my enemies.

    You revive my drooping head;

        my cup brims with blessing.

    [6] Your beauty and love chase after me

        every day of my life.

    I'm back home in the house of God

        for the rest of my life. Psalm 23:1-6

   

   

Daily Bible Reading:  Isaiah 8,9,10; Hebrews 8

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Therefore He Is Able, Once And Forever, To Save Those Who Come To God Through Him. He Lives Forever To Intercede With God On Their Behalf.

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Therefore He Is Able, Once And Forever, To Save Those Who Come To God
Through Him.
He Lives Forever To Intercede With God On Their Behalf.

Scripture

Hebrews 7

²⁴ But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. ²⁵ Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

Observation

You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road narrow, and only a few ever find it. Matthew 7:13-14

But once you and I enter into the Kingdom of God our life is “huge”, a life that is rich and abundant and a life that will last forever!

For you and I if we have received Jesus Christ into our lives as our Lord and Savior have Jesus forever interceding with God on our behalf.

Choose Jesus today! Get off that broad, easy road and take the narrow gate!

And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. 1 John 5:11-12

Application

I know that I have Jesus Christ interceding for me today. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am so glad that someone showed me the narrow gate and I am so glad that I chose to trust in Jesus as my Savior. Thank You for giving me Eternal Life. Thank You for giving me such a rich and abundant life here on earth. You are an Awesome God. You alone are worthy of my praise!

Daily Bible Reading:  Micah 5,6,7; Hebrews 7

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Let Them Curse Me If They Like, But You Will Bless Me!

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Let Them Curse
Me If They Like,
But You Will Bless Me!

Scripture

Psalm 109

²⁸ Then let them curse me if they like,
    but you will bless me!
When they attack me, they will be disgraced!
    But I, your servant, will go right on rejoicing!

Observation

You and I will at times have people that decide to hurt us and usually it is with hurtful words and at times it might even be to the point of physical harm.David prayed an interesting prayer in Psalm 109 about his enemies.

But rather than that prayer I would recommend what Jesus Christ says about how to deal with our enemies. 

Who is our enemy? 

An enemy is anyone that for what ever reason has chosen to be against us. 

Of course, from the very start you and I must first make sure to ask for forgiveness if we have done anything to hurt the person whether it was intentional or unintentional. 

Jesus says to do this, 

“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.”  Matthew 5:44 ff MESSAGE

Our natural tendency is to hurt the person right back to hit them with even more hurtful words than they hurled at us, but that is not the way to respond if we are believers in Jesus Christ. 

I am always reminded when I run into people who are rude, cruel, hurtful, mean, ugly, vicious, and on and on and on, that these people are spiritual sandpaper that God has placed in my life to make and shape me to be more like Jesus. 

And if they were not causing me grief then there would be someone else just like them to continue sanding off my rough edges! Think about that when you encounter your next difficult person(s)!

Application

I will forgive. I will try hard to recognize “spiritual sandpaper” when it comes my way and I will pray for those who hurt me. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we live in a crazy world. I am reminded and I am glad that this is not my home. I am only passing through this place called earth! Help me to love people even when they are not lovable. Help me to be Christ like no matter what. Give me Your heart for the people around me.

Psalm 109

³⁰ But I will give repeated thanks to the Lord,
    praising him to everyone.
 
³¹ For he stands beside the needy,
    ready to save them from those who condemn them.

Daily Bible Reading:  Micah 1,2,3,4; Hebrews 6, Psalm 9, Psalm 109, Proverbs 9

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You Are Spiritually Dull And Don’t Seem To Listen

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You Are
Spiritually Dull
And Don’t Seem To Listen

Scripture

Hebrews 5

¹¹ There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. ¹² You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word.

Observation

Big spiritual babies, that’s what we are! If we aren’t in God’s Word everyday and if we aren’t putting it into practice and living out what we read, then verse eleven exactly describes us down to a “T”! The writer of Hebrews was writing to believers that should have been mature in their faith, but they were not. 

Our youngest grandchild, Amelie, was told by her parents and her grandma that her pacifier’s were going to be given to her younger cousin Mason because she was a big girl (2 ½ years old) now and she didn’t need pacifier’s any more. 

Maybe it is time we grew up too. 

 We say that we are Christ followers but we never or seldom attend church. If you and I are believers and that describes us then we are certainly big babies. 

If we go days and maybe even all week without opening up our Bible’s = Babies ‘R Us!

Can’t forgive, mad at the pastor, don’t go to worship because the music is too loud, or maybe because we don’t get to sing the old hymns like we used to – if any or all of those describe us then you guessed it = Babies ‘R Us!

Let’s grow up! 

Let’s make a commitment to be in God’s Word everyday. Let’s commit to attending and participating in church on a weekly basis. Let’s give the gift of forgiveness to that person that has hurt us and let’s support our pastor and lets pray for him and his family! 

Application

I will be in God’s Word everyday and I will guard my heart and I will strive to keep my attitude right. How about you – baby or mature believer – the choice is ours to make?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to grow everyday. Help me not to be a mean old grouchy “baby” believer in my old age.

I pray Psalm 100 back to You this morning!

¹ Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
²     Worship the Lord with gladness.
    Come before him, singing with joy.
³ Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
    He made us, and we are his.
    We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
    go into his courts with praise.
    Give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good.
    His unfailing love continues forever,
    and his faithfulness continues to each generation. Amen

Daily Bible Reading:  Hosea 13,14; Psalms 100,101,102; Hebrews 5

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My Health May Fail, And My Spirit May Grow Weak, But God Remains The Strength Of My Heart; He Is Mine Forever.

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My Health May Fail, And My Spirit May Grow Weak,
But God Remains The Strength Of My Heart;
He Is Mine Forever. 

Scripture

Psalm 73

²³ Yet I still belong to you;
    you hold my right hand.

²⁴ You guide me with your counsel,
    leading me to a glorious destiny.

²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.

²⁶ My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
    but God remains the strength of my heart;
    he is mine forever.

Observation

Paddling out yesterday in my kayak in one more futile attempt to catch that infamous “Walter” I was quickly reminded by my body that I am no longer a young man!

By the way, I did see 2 sharks that were about 6-7 feet long and they would have qualified to be my “Walter” but I couldn’t get them to take the bait!

If they had of taken the bait I might still be out there somewhere in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico!

But seriously even though my health is obviously slowly failing and I am now definitely a lot weaker than I used to be I can and I will proudly boast that my God remains the strength of my heart!

How about you?

Can you and I give God some praise today!

 Application

I will give my God praise today! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Your word is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes my innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from You. Everything is naked and exposed before Your eyes, and You are the One to whom we are accountable.

So then, since I have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, I will hold firmly to what I believe.  This High Priest of mine understands my weaknesses, for Jesus faced all of the same testings I do, yet He did not sin.  So I will come boldly to the throne of my gracious God. There I will receive his mercy, and I will find grace to help me when I need it most.

But as for me, how good it is to be near You! I have made You, the Sovereign Lord, my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do.

Hebrews 4:12-16, Psalm 73:28 {Personalized}

Daily Bible Reading:  Hosea 10,11,12; Psalms 73; Hebrews 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.

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Oh, That We Might Know The LORD!

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Oh,
That We Might Know
The LORD!

Scripture

Hosea 6

³ Oh, that we might know the Lord!
    Let us press on to know him.
He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn
    or the coming of rains in early spring.”

Observation

Maybe you are like me and have been a Christian a long time. If so I hope that this verse stirs up something in you and speaks to your heart like it did mine. 

It reminds me of what the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:10 “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead…” 

Kathy and I just walked back up from having a cup of coffee at the beach! 

What a Great and Mighty Creator God we serve! 

Today I can say with Hosea,  “Oh, that I might know the LORD!” 

Philippians 3:8-9, 12-14

⁸ Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ ⁹ and become one with him.

¹² I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. ¹³ No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Application

I will press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling me. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for creating this beautiful world for us to enjoy. It was especially designed for our enjoyment! Thank You for our family and our friends. Help them to walk with You. Help all of us to know You better every day! 


Daily Bible Reading:  Hosea 6,7,8,9; Hebrews 3

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Listen To My Voice In The Morning LORD

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Listen To My Voice
In The Morning
LORD



Scripture

Psalm 5

³ Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.
    Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

Observation

It seems like every morning I wake up with something else on my heart that I share with the Lord. Do you do the same thing? 

This morning as I was praying for my children, who are the parents of our 10 wonderful grandchildren my heart’s desire for them is that they would understand that nothing is more important than having a personal relationship with God and growing each day closer to Him. 

I am glad that some of my children care about politics and some of them want to talk about their political positions and our country’s desperate need for the right person in the White House.  But I will be even happier when they want to talk about spiritual things and want to share about what God is doing in their lives. 

I do want to be able to help them to see our country’s dire situation from God’s perspective. 

This world and for sure our country is spinning out of control, and if not spinning at least flying in the wrong direction and no matter what you and I believe about our future political leaders not one of them is going to change the direction of this spin, or change the speed of our ultimate destruction as a nation. 

The truth is that unless a godly leader takes office and unless he or she calls our nation to repentance there is no hope of seeing things change for the better. 

How do I know that? It is not difficult to see if you and I just open up and read God’s Word. 

When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan. Proverbs 29:2 

The godly care about the rights of the poor; the wicked don’t care at all. Proverbs 29:7
 When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding. When the wicked meet disaster, the godly flourish. Proverbs 28:12

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Application

I will put my trust in the Lord today and I will pray for our leaders. I know that God is Sovereign and He sets up world leaders and He takes them down.

He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. Daniel 2:21

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are in control. You are Sovereign. No person takes a place of leadership over a nation without Your okay. You alone control the course of world events. I pray for the leaders of our country. Give them wisdom to lead. I pray that a godly leader would emerge to lead our country and call our nation back to You. You alone are All-Powerful. Nothing is too hard for You. 


Daily Bible Reading:  Hosea 2,3,4,5; Hebrews 2, Psalm 5, Psalm 105, Proverbs 5


> 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.

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Angels Are Only Servants – Spirits Sent To Care For People Who Will Inherit Salvation

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Angels Are Only Servants –
Spirits Sent
To Care For People Who Will Inherit Salvation

Scripture

Hebrews 1

14 Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.

Observation

What do you believe about Angels?

I know some people seem to worship Angels. You may even think that the angel statue in your house brings you good luck.

It is easy to get sidetracked and begin to worship the created rather than the Creator!

The book of Hebrews makes the point that Jesus Christ, God Himself, is the only One worthy of worship. He is both Creator and Sustainer of everything and everyone!

Angels are created beings that have their purpose. Their purpose is to care for us – those of us who are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. Hebrews 1:3

Application

I will pray directly to my Heavenly Father this morning. I get to do that because Jesus Christ has provided me direct access to the Father through His death on the cross for my sins. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You have created us for a relationship with You, that is why we have breath today. You want us to know You intimately. Thank You for giving me Eternal Life. Thank You for allowing angels to take care of me and all others that call on Your name.

Daily Bible Reading:  2 Kings 15,16; Hosea 1; Hebrews 1

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Here I Am. Send Me.

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Here
I Am.
Send Me. 

I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. This was Isaiah’s response to seeing the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. We have a problem. You and I have a problem. It is a sin problem. And you and I need to be forgiven. Have you ever asked God to forgive your sins?

Scripture

Isaiah 6

⁵ Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”

⁶ Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. ⁷ He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”

⁸ Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”

I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

Observation

I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. This was Isaiah’s response to seeing the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. We have a problem.

You and I have a problem. It is a sin problem.

And you and I need to be forgiven. Have you ever asked God to forgive your sins? Have you asked Him to be your Lord and your Savior? If the answer to those 2 questions is “no” then why don’t you ask Him right now?

Isaiah saw the Lord, Isaiah realized what a sinful person he was, and then Isaiah was cleansed of his sin. Once Isaiah was forgiven he was ready to volunteer to be used by God.

Are you ready if the Lord speaks to you? Are you ready to go to China, India, or Cuba? Are you ready to go to your neighbor, your coworker, or a family member?

Are you willing to say, “Here I am? Send me.”

Application

I am willing to go wherever God wants to send me. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, here I am. Send me! I pray for those who are reading this blog who have yet surrendered his or her life to You. Give them the courage and the boldness to say “yes” to You. Open up their hearts today to Your message of salvation!

Daily Bible Reading:  Isaiah 6,7; 2 Chronicles 26,27; Philemon

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May The LORD Richly Bless Both You And Your Children

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May The LORD
Richly Bless
Both You And Your Children

Scripture

Psalm 115

¹⁴ May the Lord richly bless
    both you and your children.

¹⁵ May you be blessed by the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

Observation

I have come to realize that my most important work is to pray for you! I know that you may think that is a ridiculous thing to say, but I believe it is true.

If God is God and He is, and if what God says in His Word is true and it is, then nothing could be more important than me praying for you.

Think about it!

You and I get to ask our Heavenly Father to work in people’s lives and He will do it.

We can pray and ask God to bless someone and He will.

It is not because we have some special power! It is because we are related to Someone who does!

My Heavenly Father wants to bless those that I pray for! It is amazing! He is Amazing!

    'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'  Jeremiah 33:3

 Application

When I pray and I ask God to bless someone I know that I am doing something that pleases my Heavenly Father!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that there is someone reading this simple blog that has not put their faith and their trust yet in You. Show them today that they can believe. Bless them with the ability to understand spiritual things. Open up his or her spiritual eyes and their hearts so that they can see and understand that You are real. Give them the privilege of knowing You in the same way that I do. You are mighty.

 I love You Lord because You hear my voice and my prayer for mercy.
 Because You bend down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! Psalm 116:1-2 {Personalized}


Daily Bible Reading:  Isaiah 4,5; Psalms 115,116; Jude

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He Saved Us, Not Because Of The Righteous Things We Had Done, But Because Of His Mercy

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He Saved Us,
Not Because Of The Righteous Things We Had Done,
But Because Of His Mercy

Scripture

Titus 3:5-7

⁵ He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.
 
⁶ He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.
 
⁷ Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

Observation

Maybe you are like most people in this world and you think that you have to be good and do good things to get God’s approval and if you are good enough and get God’s approval then He will let you into Heaven.

If that is the way you believe then you believe just like most people out walking on any street in America. It might sound logical, but the Bible instructs us that there is another way; in fact the Bible tells us that there is only one way – Jesus!

You and I are not perfect. No matter how good you are and know matter how good I am we are not perfect. The Bible says that you and I are sinners. Maybe you sin less than me and maybe I sin more than you, but we are both sinners.

It only takes “one sin” in our lives for us to be “sinners”.  “For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.” James 2:10

So if we can’t be good enough to get into Heaven or good enough to have a relationship with God then how can we ever get into Heaven, and how can we ever have a personal relationship with God?

Jesus Christ came to planet Earth to fix that problem. He came to do something for us that we cannot do for ourselves. He came to live a sinless life and that is just what He did.

For the 33 years that Jesus Christ walked this earth He never sinned one time. He was perfect. He allowed Himself to be arrested, tortured, and killed on a cross. He died as a “Perfect Sacrifice” and He died in our place.

You and I deserve death, both physical and spiritual death because of our sinful lives, but Jesus Christ has died in our place to pay the penalty (the death sentence) for our sins.  His sinless life in exchange for our sinful lives.

So Jesus saves us, not because of the righteous things that we have done, but because of His mercy. His “Mercy” means that He does not give us what we deserve. We all deserve to go to Hell.

His “Grace” gives us what we don’t deserve. None of us deserve to go to Heaven or have Eternal Life!

Does that make sense to you?

If you have questions – send me a private message and let’s talk!

Application

I am thankful that God open my spiritual eyes to understand what Jesus Christ did for me on the cross. How about you? Do you know Him?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me Eternal Life. I don’t deserve it. I know that I am a sinner. Thank You Lord for forgiving me of all my sins and giving me what I don’t deserve – Eternal Life and thank You for not giving me what I do deserve – Eternal judgment – Hell. Open the spiritual eyes of anyone that may be reading this blog this morning and help them to see that Jesus has provided the Way for them to have a personal relationship with You. 

Daily Bible Reading:  Isaiah 1,2,3; Titus 3



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