I Will Sing To The LORD Because He Is Good To Me

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I Will
Sing To The LORD
Because He Is Good To Me

Scripture

Psalm 13

⁶ I will sing to the Lord
    because he is good to me.

Observation

Seven times in the book of Psalms we are told to “make a joyful noise to the LORD”! When I sing the best adjective to describe what you hear coming out of my mouth is … “Noise”!

And I am going to sing today because the Lord is so good to me!

How about you?

Lets make some noise! Lets tell God what we think about His goodness!

“I will sing to the Lord. He is worthy to be praised.” (I just sang that!)

It is Friday people! Lets sing to the Lord and give Him praise! Sunday is coming!

“Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously” Exodus 15:21

Application

I am going to sing all day to day to the Lord!

Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Why should I feel discouraged
Why should the shadows come
Why should my heart feel lonely
And long for heaven and home

When Jesus is my portion
A constant friend is he
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches over me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches me

I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow

And I know he watches
 He watches me

² The Lord is my strength and my song;
    he has given me victory.
This is my God, and I will praise him—
    my father’s God, and I will exalt him!
³ The Lord is a warrior;
    Yahweh is his name! Exodus 15:2-3

Daily Bible Reading:  Leviticus 18,19; Psalms 13; Acts 19

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A Wise Person Wins Friends

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A
Wise Person
Wins Friends

One of the first things that I tell a young couple when they begin visiting our church is that need to anchor their lives in a church. They must begin to make friends that will last a lifetime! Because they are going to need them! Kathy and I have close friends that we first met at church over 45 years ago.  During our marriage Kathy and I have moved all over the place. And these special friends have moved all over the place! But we are still close friends to this day! Friends are not perfect. They will let you down. Get over it! Don’t give up on their friendship just because they sometimes disappoint you.  I have not always been the best friend to my friends. 

.

Scripture

Proverbs 11

30 The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life;
    a wise person wins friends.

Observation

One of the first things that I tell a young couple when they begin visiting our church is that need to anchor their lives in a church. They must begin to make friends that will last a lifetime! Because they are going to need them!

Kathy and I have close friends that we first met at church over 45 years ago.  During our marriage Kathy and I have moved all over the place. And these special friends have moved all over the place! But we are still close friends to this day!

Friends are not perfect. They will let you down. Get over it! Don’t give up on their friendship just because they sometimes disappoint you.

           

I have not always been the best friend to my friends.

Right now I am dealing with a situation where I let a friend down. I was not there for him when he was counting on me to be there for him. He had surgery and I did not get up to see him. I let him down. I blew it. I honestly don’t know why it happened. It was not on purpose. But what done is done and his relationship with me has not been the same since. I have apologized, but so far that has not been enough.

I will continue to work to win my friend back, but a lot depends on his ability to forgive and on his capacity to love someone even when they don’t meet up to his expectations.

Some friends may ruin you, but a real friend will be more loyal than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

Application

I will continue to work at being a better friend. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, it is so easy for us to blame everyone else for our problems. At least it is for me! Help me to look at myself and change the things that don’t reflect that I belong to You. I can be a better friend to my friends. I can be a better husband to Kathy, a better Dad to my kids, and a better Grandpa to my grandkids.  Don’t let me quit trying to be more like You everyday. I pray for my friend today who cannot get past me letting him down. Help him to let it go. Give me ways to show him that I do value him as a friend. 


Daily Bible Reading:  Leviticus 15,16,17; Acts 18; Psalm 11; Proverbs 11

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They Seem To Think That God Is Dead

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They Seem
To Think
That God Is Dead

Scripture

Psalm 10

⁴ The wicked are too proud to seek God.
    They seem to think that God is dead.
⁵ Yet they succeed in everything they do.
    They do not see your punishment awaiting them.
    They sneer at all their enemies.
⁶ They think, “Nothing bad will ever happen to us!
    We will be free of trouble forever!”

Observation

To ignore God is a way to live life like you think that God is dead? You say with the way that you live your life that the God your Mom and Dad worship or the God that your Grandparents worship He is not real to me. For all practical purposes you are saying with your actions, “I think God is dead!”

When Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross He died for my sins and He died for your sins, He was buried for 3 days, and then … He came back to life!

He is Alive! My God is Alive! He Lives!

Oh, how it grieves me to watch people live life without a relationship with Jesus Christ! They think that they are living, but to me it is just a life of existence! Without Christ as the center of our lives we cannot experience the life that God created us for!

God created every human being and God wants all of us to have a right relationship with Him. Jesus Christ came to this world to give us an abundant life. A life filled with meaning and purpose!  John 10:10

   

   

   

   

You can continue to live life like God does not exist, like God is dead and simply go through life existing …

Or … You can put God first in your life. Then and only then can you live a life filled with meaning and purpose, an abundant life.

Application

I serve a Living God. He is All Powerful. Nothing is too hard for Him! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that only You can save. Lives can only be transformed by Your power. I pray for those close to me that live their lives like You are not important. Like You do not exist. Show them that You do. Change their hearts so that they begin to put You first. Give them lives filled with meaning and purpose. Give them abundant and full lives as they put You first. Draw them close to You! 

Daily Bible Reading:  Leviticus 13,14; Acts 17; Psalm 10: Proverbs 10



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Sirs, What Must I Do To Be Saved?

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Sirs,
What Must I Do
To Be Saved?

Scripture

Acts 16

²² A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. ²³ They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. ²⁴ So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

²⁵ Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. ²⁶ Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! ²⁷ The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. ²⁸ But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”

²⁹ The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

³¹ They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” ³² And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household.

Observation

This is a fascinating story! It shows just how extreme God’s plan can be for a family to come to know His Son Jesus Christ.

It took Paul and Silas being severely beaten with rods and being thrown into the deepest, darkest part of the dungeon with their feet clamped in stocks.

At midnight Paul and Silas were singing and praising God with all of the other prisoners wide awake listening when all of a sudden there was a massive earthquake that shook the foundation of the jail and all of the prison doors were opened and all the chains on every prisoner fell off! All the prisoners were now free, but not one of them tried to escape!

This whole story focuses on the most unlikely person that you would think that God would want to save – “the jailer” and his family!

Salvation of the jailer and his family came at an extremely high price for Paul and Silas. They were severely beaten and humiliated by being thrown deep into a dungeon. All of this bad stuff happened to them so that a desperate jailer could cry out these words to them, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

You and I may experience hardship and suffering. It may come through sickness, an accident, a crisis, or even persecution. Any of these bad events may land us right in the middle of someone else’s life. Face to face with someone that desperately needs to know how they can be saved.  And you and I get to share with them about Jesus! The Divine appointment would have never happened if we had not gone through the painful experience. Would God allow us to suffer so that someone else could find out about Jesus? Oh yes, He would!

The earthquake in this story was not intended to set Paul and Silas free. Nor was it to set any of the other prisoners free that were inside of the jail. Oh no, this powerful earthquake was sent for one purpose! It was sent to set a jailer and his family free from their sins!

Maybe you are going through a difficult time, a time of crisis. In the middle of the bad situation look around and look for Divine appointments with people that God may be sending into your path.

“Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”

Salvation that night first started with the jailer, then his family heard the Good News about Jesus and they too believed and they were all baptized.

Maybe salvation needs to start with you?

Application

I will look around for Divine appointments coming my way. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that you never waste a hurt. There is not anything that we go through no matter how bad it is that You will not turn around for our good if we love You. So many things in our lives are bad but Your promise in Your Word is that You will turn them around for our good

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. . Romans 8:28

Give me the heart and attitude of Paul and Silas. Help me to sing and praise You when I am going through rough times. Help me to look for and not miss the Divine appointments that you have planned for me just like Paul and Silas had late that night with the jailer and his family.

   

Daily Bible Reading:  Leviticus 10,11,12; Acts 16



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O LORD, Our Lord, Your Majestic Name Fills The Earth!

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O LORD,
Our Lord,
Your Majestic Name Fills The Earth!

Scripture

Psalm 8

¹ O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
    Your glory is higher than the heavens.

Observation

In an interview after the Super Bowl did you happen to hear Peyton Manning say that when he got home that he was going to pray a little prayer to the “man upstairs”! Ouch! I have never liked anyone referring to Almighty God as the man upstairs! Sorry, not even Peyton Manning! It made me do a quick check this morning on the names of God found in the Bible and see if God ever described Himself in that way.

Now before you go and get upset with me because I am saying something negative about Peyton I want you to know that I think that he is the greatest quarterback of all time. Peyton is the best when it comes to the game of football and I am so glad that they won the Super Bowl.

Oh and I am glad that Peyton did say that he was going to pray when he got home!

But! Come on!

God is King of Kings, Lord of Lords. He is the Alpha and Omega. The Most High God. The Mighty God. Everlasting Father. Creator. Master. Redeemer. Righteous Father.Comforter. I could go on and on!

Application

He is my Heavenly Father. He is my Lord and He is my Savior.  How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I love events like the Super Bowl because it gives Christians a platform to shine for You. I know that believers have the opportunity to bring You honor and glory with their testimonies. Thank You for allowing so many Christians to excel in sports. Thank You for the influence that Tony Dungy has on athletes, coaches and people all across our nation. Help him to remain faithful. Help him to continue to have a godly influence on the lives of these young men. Help him to continue to have an influence on guys like Peyton Manning. 

Daily Bible Reading:  Leviticus 7,8,9; Acts 15; Psalm 8, Proverbs 8

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The LORD Directs The Steps Of The Godly. He Delights In Every Detail Of Their Lives. Though They Stumble, They Will Never Fall

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The LORD Directs The Steps Of The Godly.
He Delights In Every Detail Of Their Lives.
Though They Stumble, They Will Never Fall

Scripture

Psalm 37

²³ The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
    He delights in every detail of their lives.
²⁴ Though they stumble, they will never fall,
    for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Observation

I don’t think I have ever had two Sundays where I couldn’t make it to church except for when I had my heart attack. Saturday, a week ago I fell off of a ladder and spent Saturday night and Sunday morning in the hospital and this week Kathy and I both somehow catch the flu. I will miss this Sunday too because I am still dealing with a fever that doesn’t want to quit.

Through all of this I know that the Lord still loves us. In fact, He delights in every detail of our lives. We will get through all of this. Why? Because the Lord is holding us by the hand!

It doesn’t matter that I don’t feel good. It doesn’t matter that it has been an unusually bad week for us. God has us in the Palm of His Hand!

⁹ The Lord rescues the godly;
    he is their fortress in times of trouble.
⁴⁰ The Lord helps them,
    rescuing them from the wicked.
He saves them,
    and they find shelter in him.

Application

I am looking forward to better days coming this next week! God is good. All the time!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I will trust in the Lord and do good. Then I will live safely in the land and prosper. I will take delight in You, and You will give me my heart’s desires. I will commit everything I do to You. I will trust You, and You will help me. You will make my innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. (Psalm 37:3-6 Personalized)


Daily Bible Reading:  Leviticus 4,5,6; Acts 14; Psalm 7, Psalm 37; Proverbs 7

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Brothers, Listen! We Are Here To Proclaim That Through This Man Jesus There Is Forgiveness For Your Sins.

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Brothers, Listen!
We Are Here To Proclaim
That Through This Man Jesus There Is Forgiveness For Your Sins.

Scripture

Acts 13

³⁸ “Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins.

Observation

I am glad that you are a good person, but you and I can’t be good enough to get into Heaven. No matter how good you are it will never be good enough!

You and I are sinners. Your sin and my sin have separated us from God. Jesus Christ left Heaven came down to planet earth to do something for us that we cannot do for ourselves. He lived a perfect life. He did not sin one time. Not one time!

He then allowed Himself to be arrested and He allowed men to nail Him to a cross. He did that for you and He did that for me. He died as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. He wants to exchange our sinful lives with His sinless life. He paid the penalty for our sins on the cross.

He was buried and Jesus Christ came back to life on the third day and He is alive today. One day soon He will return to this earth and those who are followers of Jesus Christ will reign with Him.

When someone shared this Good News with me I was a young man of 19 years of age. It was then that I put my faith and my trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and He became my Lord and my Savior.

Brothers, listen! I am here to proclaim that through this Man Jesus that my sins were forgiven.

How about you? If you were to die today where would you spend Eternity – Heaven or Hell?

    That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. … "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:9-10, 13

  

Application

I will share the Good News about Jesus Christ every chance I get. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I notice that it is really easy for some people to talk about believing in God, but so many of those same people have never trusted in Your Son for salvation. Open up the eyes of anyone that may be reading this simple blog and put in his or her heart the desire to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Help them to understand that there is salvation in no other name. 



 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. ’There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12



Daily Bible Reading:  Leviticus 1,2,3; Acts 13



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He Was Eaten By Worms And Died

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He Was
Eaten
By Worms And Died

Death by maggots! Okay, even if it wasn’t maggots, a slow death by slowing getting eaten by worms is still a horrible thought. Have you ever seen road kill up close? Pretty gross way to die. Mess with God’s anointed, or mess with His children and just watch what happens! You and I may not be able to see God’s revenge, but trust me God promises pay back to those who mistreat His children. If you are being mistreated and you belong to the Lord Jesus Christ then rest assured it will be a lot worse for them than it is for you.

Scripture

Acts 12

… Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. ²² They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” ²³ Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

²⁴ But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.

Observation

Death by maggots! Okay, even if it wasn’t maggots, a slow death by slowing getting eaten by worms is still a horrible thought. Have you ever seen road kill up close? Pretty gross way to die!

Mess with God’s anointed, or mess with His children and just watch what happens! You and I may not be able to see God’s revenge, but trust me God promises pay back to those who mistreat His children.

If you are being mistreated and you belong to the Lord Jesus Christ then rest assured it will be a lot worse for them than it is for you.

Herod was evil. He accepted the praise that only God should have received and his demise was awful.

I love verse 24, “But the Word of God continued to spread and flourish.”

Kathy and I get the magazine produced by Voice of the Martyrs. In it I read this week about how many Christians are estimated to be in North Korea. It is believed that there are 100,000 Christians in North Korea and 30,000 of those believers have been placed in labor camps. It would pay the North Korean leaders to read the Bible to find out what happens to people that mess with God’s children.

Fidel Castro tried to eliminate the church in Cuba. For a time he put all of the pastors in prison and seminary students in labor camps. It only caused the churches to grow more rapidly. The church in Cuba and the church in the country of China have both flourished under cruel and harsh regimes. 

 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 12:19

I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 56:11

Application

I will lift up to the Lord my friends that live in Cuba. And I will pray for the persecuted church. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, continue to bless the church in Cuba. Give my friends in those churches strength and courage. Use them to reach their neighbors and to start new churches across the island. Thank You for each and every one of them. Give them boldness. I pray for the persecuted church around the world especially those living in North Korea. I have to admit that I really don’t even know how to pray for them. Give them courage. Give them boldness. Bless them in spite of their situation. Protect them with Your Divine Power.

Daily Bible Reading:  Exodus 39,40; Psalms 15; Acts 12

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Guard Your Heart Above All Else, For It Determines The Course Of Your Life

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Guard Your Heart
Above All Else,
For It Determines The Course Of Your Life

Scripture

Proverbs 4

²³ Guard your heart above all else,
    for it determines the course of your life.

Observation

How in the world do you guard your heart in a culture that is dead set on messing it up? You and I are constantly bombarded from every direction with bad stuff and that garbage is going to mess us up if we don’t do something to deflect it.

What can we do?

The answer can be found in God’s Word.

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.  I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:9,11 NIV

   

How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word.  I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt. Psalm 119:9,11 MESSAGE

If you and I are not in God’s Word everyday we don’t have a chance of protecting our hearts.

Not a chance!

By your words I can see where I'm going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. Psalm 119:105

Let me encourage you to open up your Bible, read a little everyday and watch how your life begins to change. If you need help or a suggestion about where to start send me a private message and let’s talk.

Application

I will guard my heart by being in God’s Word everyday. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, so many things pull me in the wrong direction. It is so easy to get off track. Help me stay in Your Word everyday and keep me from stupid sins, sins that will mess me up and take me in the wrong direction. Let Your Word light up my path and give me direction.  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my [firm, immovable] rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 AMP



Daily Bible Reading:  Exodus 37,38; Psalms 19; Acts 11; Psalm 4; Proverbs 4

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For The LORD Was Watching Over Me.

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For The
LORD
Was Watching Over Me.

Scripture

Psalm 3

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.

Observation

Who is watching over you? Bad things happen to us. Life is not all roses. We also get stuck by a lot of thorns.

The other day when I lost my balance and fell over backwards onto the concrete floor in our church’s maintenance shop I knew that the LORD was watching over me. He allowed me to fall but I believe that He guided me all the way down to the floor. I do believe that He has an angel watching over me.

I am bruised and scraped just behind my elbows and bruised on my shoulders, both of which must have taken the brunt of the fall and I think the cuts on my head, and on my ear and the knots on my head, my sore ribs, and my sore back are just a very good reminder to me to be more careful the next time I climb a ladder!

The point that I am making is that when we surrender our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ and ask Him to be our Lord and our Savior we become kids of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. God becomes our Heavenly Father and we are His. The Bible is full of promises to us. He is on our side. He has our back.

God will not stop all bad things from happening to us, but He will walk through those bad times with us and He will give us the victory!

“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
    I have called you by name; you are mine.

² When you go through deep waters,
    I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
    you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
    you will not be burned up;
    the flames will not consume you.

³ For I am the Lord, your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:1-2

    "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

I am not afraid for the Lord is watching over me!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You have examined my heart and know everything about me.
 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.  

You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me.You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!  I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!  

If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there   If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night — but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. 

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! Psalm 139:1-12, 17-18

Daily Bible Reading:  Exodus 35,36; Acts 10; Psalm 3; Proverbs 3

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Every Good Thing I Have Comes From You

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Every Good
Thing
I Have Comes From You

Scripture

Psalm 16

¹ Keep me safe, O God,
    for I have come to you for refuge.

² I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!
    Every good thing I have comes from you.”

Observation

Lets take a minute today to look around at all that God has provided for us and lets give Him thanks!

Maybe I am thinking about this a little more today because over the weekend I narrowly escaped, as my very good friend James Hartley describes death, getting a dirt nap.

God has been so good to me. But God has been very good to you too!

Lets take time to thank Him for His goodness!

“Because a thankful heart is a happy heart!” We have 5 kids and 10 grandkids so I think it is totally okay and appropriate to take a quote from Veggie Tales!
 

Application
I will thank the Lord for all the good things that I have! How about you?
I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. Psalm 116:17

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray this Psalm 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. Psalm 100



Daily Bible Reading:  Exodus 33,34; Psalms 16; Acts 9

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“Look! There Is Some Water Why Can’t I Be Baptized?”

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“Look! There Is Some
Water
Why Can’t I Be Baptized?”

Scripture

Acts 8

³⁵ So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.
³⁶ As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” ³⁸ He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

Observation

Baptism is like a wedding ring! 

I am married to Kathy. I wear the same ring that she gave me over 46 years ago. The ring on my finger tells all the girls that Eddy is already taken. It says to them, “Eddy is married. He has committed his life to someone.” He is in a marriage relationship.

Baptism is a symbol of a relationship. It is symbolic of a commitment that someone has made to the Lord Jesus Christ!

When someone gets baptized at our church we celebrate with him or her. It is exciting!

When you and I understand the Gospel message like the Ethiopian Eunuch did that day the next step is baptism! It is the first step of obedience!
Is Jesus Christ your Lord and your Savior? Have you been baptized as a testimony of this commitment to Him?
If you haven’t been baptized yet I would love to help you with that first step of obedience! Just let me know and we will set a date for your baptism!

Application

I will share the Gospel message that Jesus saves and I will encourage people to follow through with believer’s baptism! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch is fascinating to me. Nothing was going to stop the eunuch from being baptized once that He heard about Jesus Christ. You prepared Philip and the Eunuch for that encounter out there in the middle of nowhere. I know that You are also preparing people for me to talk to today about Your Son Jesus Christ. Help me to be ready to share when I have the opportunity. Help the person respond like the Eunuch did. Help him or her say “Yes” to Jesus and help them follow through in believer’s baptism.


Daily Bible Reading:  Exodus 30,31,32; Acts 8

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My Times Are In Your Hands

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My Times
Are In
Your Hands

Scripture

Psalm 31

¹⁵ My times are in your hands

Observation

In all of my 64 years (almost 65) I had never ever fallen off of a ladder until yesterday!

I just got home from the hospital a few minutes ago and I will be fine. I have a few stitches in my ear and a couple of places on my head that they had to staple together, but other than that I am okay. They kept me overnight for observation just because of the injuries to my head.

I was helping Angel Cruz, Jim White, Robert Sullivan, and Jack Roush work up in KidsCity changing out some lights. They climbed up and down the ladders I was just there giving them my support. After we had finished for the day and had finished cleaning up I went up a ladder in our maintenance shop to a loft where we store air conditioning filters. I have been up there hundreds of times before without a problem.

When I lost my balance and fell I fell and landed on my shoulders and then hit my head. If my head had hit first I would not be writing this simple blog.

As I was lying there trying to stop the bleeding by applying direct pressure with my hand I could still feel blood coming out from somewhere else. I was able to call Angel who was still on the church grounds and he ran over to help me.  Special thanks to Myrna Cruz, and Brian Sommers for running over to help me too.

My times are in the Lord’s hands! One day God will decide to take me home and I will be with Him in glory!

Application

I am grateful that God has allowed me more time on planet earth!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing more time to be here on this earth. My times are in Your hands. You are good. All the time! Thank You for all the people that prayed for me. Thank You for giving us such wonderful friends.


Daily Bible Reading:  Exodus 28,29; Acts 7; Psalm 31; Proverbs 31



> 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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You Are The Salt Of The Earth You Are The Light Of The World

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You Are The Salt Of The Earth
You
Are The Light Of The World

Scripture

Matthew 5

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Observation

Do you have a “life verse”? My life verse is Matthew 5:16. I learned that verse I guess when I was a in the R.A.’s (Royal Ambassadors for Christ) in a small Baptist church that my Granny took me to when I was just a little guy about 8 or 9 years old. I have never forgotten that verse!

You and I, if we are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, are to be to those around us like salt and light. Salt both influences and preserves. As salt you and I are called on to influence those around us and cause them to have a hunger and thirst for Jesus Christ. Our godliness is also supposed to slow down the moral rot that is going on all around us.

We are to be the light of the world. Our lives should shine in such a way that people see Jesus in us.

Today we have the opportunity to be both “salt” and “light”. Let’s do it!

Application

I will light my light shine today! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me live up to my life verse today. Help my influence count for what matters today. Don’t let me lose my saltiness. Don’t let me lose my influence for You. I pray for our leadership team today. Give them strength to serve You well. Keep them away from stupid sins that would cause them to lose their influence. Help them to be the salt and the light that You have called them to be! Bless my children and my grandchildren today. Help them to see the need for being in church tomorrow. Give them the desire to go and help them to grow in Christ.

Daily Bible Reading:  Exodus 25,26,27; Acts 6; Psalm 30, Proverbs 30; Matthew 5:13-20



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Only Fools Say In Their Hearts There Is No God

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Only Fools
Say In Their Hearts
There Is No God

Scripture

Psalm 14

1 Only fools say in their hearts,
    “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;
    not one of them does good!

Observation

We don’t use the word “Fool” too much these days to describe those around us! Some folks (not us) use other derogatory words that I will not repeat to describe someone who is a “fool”. 

So we could use these synonyms when we talk about someone that does not believe there is a God: simpleton, dolt, dunce, blockhead, numskull, ignoramus, dunderhead, ninny, nincompoop, booby, saphead, sap, zany, clown, moron, imbecile, and an idiot.

Believing that there is a God is a good start, but the Bible says that we must do more than just believe that God is for real. 

Even the demons believe that there is a God. 

“You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.” James 2:19

Foolish people believe that there is no God. Smart people believe that there is a God that loves us and that God has sent His Son Jesus Christ to save us from our sins!

⁸ But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. ⁹ And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. ¹⁰ For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. ¹¹ So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. Romans 5:8-11


Genius or Fool the choice is ours! 

Application

I believe that God loves me. I believe that God sent Jesus Christ to this earth to die for my sins. I put all of my faith and trust in Him. I am no fool. I am a friend of God through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that some that are reading this simple blog may not yet believe that Jesus Christ came to this earth to save them. Open up their spiritual eyes and allow them to understand the truth of Your Word. Don’t let them be fooled, blinded and deceived by the Evil one.

Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 23,24; Psalms 14; Acts 5

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There Is Salvation In No One Else! God Has Given No Other Name Under Heaven By Which We Must Be Saved

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There Is Salvation In No One Else!
God Has Given
No Other Name Under Heaven By Which We Must Be Saved

Scripture

Acts 4

¹² There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

Observation

There is a Savior and He is not presently running for President of the United States!

Jesus Christ – Do you know Him?

Is He Your Savior? Have you prayed and surrendered your life to Him?

Why not call on Him right now?

 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:9-10,13

There is salvation in no one else!

All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen. Jude 1:25

   

  

Application

I will continue to share the Good News about my Savior every chance I get. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, if I was not one of your children I would be scared to death right now thinking about the future of our country. I don’t understand what is going on but I know that You are in control. You are Sovereign. I put my faith and my trust in You. I do pray for our President that you give him wisdom and that you guide his heart. I pray for the leadership of our country that they would seek Your face and put their trust and their faith in You. If an ungodly person is elected to lead our country I realize that they are only allowed to lead because you have let them. I know that who ever is elected it will not catch You by surprise and I know that You are still in control. One day Jesus Christ my Savior will return and He will straighten out this mess once and for all! Come Lord Jesus! Come!

Daily Bible Reading:  Exodus 21,22; Psalms 12; Acts 4; Psalm 28; Proverbs 28


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