By His Divine Power, God Has Given Us Everything We Need For Living A Godly Life.

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By His Divine Power,

God Has Given Us Everything We Need

For Living A Godly Life.

Scripture

2 Peter 1

3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

Observation

Just a quick Covid 19 update on the Williams' household … Kathy just told me that she is feeling better than she was yesterday. I got sick with a persistent cough and low grade temperature yesterday, actually during the night on Tuesday night. I hurt all over, but I am doing okay. As long as it doesn't get worse I think we will get through this! Thanks for all your prayers and your expressions of love for us. We are humbled by your response to our situation.

2 Peter 1:3 takes away any excuse that we may want to give for our choosing to live an ungodly life. God has given us everything we need for living a godly life so there is no excuse.

You and I have a Bible that is full of thousands of God's great and precious promises. But those promises do us no good if that Bible of ours doesn't get opened and doesn't get read.

Do you want to live a godly life? Do you want to live in a way that pleases our Heavenly Father? If you do and you are really serious about changing the direction of your life then make the decision to read God's Word every day.

Remember: By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.

Application

God has given me everything I need for living a godly life. Every day I plan to read God's Word and I plan to hold on tightly to everyone of God's precious and great promises.

How about you? I hope you are taking the time to read God's Word on a daily basis. If you need a Bible reading plan just private message me and I will send you a link to a site that will give you all kinds of options. I know that you can do it!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for leaving Heaven and coming down to this earth as Jesus Christ to die in my place. You have provided me with everything that I need to live a godly life so I know that I have no excuse. Help me to walk in a way that pleases You today.

I pray for those who are sick. I pray for their healing. You are Mighty God, nothing is too hard for You. Thank You for all of the friends that You have given us. Thank You for their love and concern for us. We are so blessed and so fortunate to have them as our friends.

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Peter 1,2,3; John 1

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

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And 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.

3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

Jude 1

24 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. 

25 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.

Observation

The Christian life is not a wind sprint, it is no simple stroll in the park, it is a grueling marathon. Hebrews 11 has quite a long list of witnesses who are watching us run this race!

The secret to finishing this race and finishing it well is to keep our eyes on Jesus – He is the One who invited us to enter the race! He is the Champion.

He is at the finish line waiting for us and He is encouraging us to finish well!

Isaiah 40

29 He gives power to the weak
    and strength to the powerless.

30 Even youths will become weak and tired,
    and young men will fall in exhaustion.

31 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.

Matthew 11:28-30

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Galatians 6:9

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Application

I am in the race to win it. I will keep my eyes on Jesus! I will finish well!

How about you? Have you entered the race? Are you tired? Are you weary? Are you about to give up? Don't do it … get your eyes back on Jesus!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, all glory to You, You are able to keep me from falling away and will bring me with great joy into Your glorious presence without a single fault. And 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 24:25 personalized.

I pray for my friends who are suffering with Covid 19. I pray for healing. I pray for protection for those in our church. Give our leadership wisdom. Help them to do the right thing.

Daily Bible Reading: Hebrews 12,13; Jude

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Physical Training Is Good, But Training For Godliness Is Much Better

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Physical Training Is Good,

But

Training For Godliness Is Much Better

Scripture

1 Timothy 4

8 “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

Observation

I went to the doctor yesterday to find out what was wrong with my left knee and heard him say these three awful words, “Bone on bone”!

So he filled my knee cap full of steroids and told me that the shot might help for a little while, but he said that down the road I would definitely be looking at a knee replacement.

So this was a good verse to read this morning – Eddy will focus on training for godliness and not worry about winning any marathons!

My aching knee is a not so gentle reminder that this old body of mine is rapidly wearing out … this old tent that I am living in is coming apart little by little and one day it is coming down. And the moment it totally collapses I will be in the arms of Jesus!

I sure hope that you have this same confidence in your future as I do in mine!

2 Corinthians 5:1-9

1 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 

2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 

3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.

4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 

5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 

7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 

8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 

9 So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.

Application

Even though this body of mine is wearing out I will do my best to take care of it so I can continue to serve the Lord.

How about you?

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 

25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 

26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 

27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, it is my desire to stay healthy enough to serve You until the day that You take me home. I have to admit that each and every health issue causes me to depend more and more on You. It also helps remind me that I need to take advantage of “today” because I have no guarantee about a tomorrow.

I pray for those who are struggling with health issues way more serious than mine. Give them strength. Encourage them today. I pray that their walk with You will be so close and so intimate because of all that they are going through. Smile on them today, Lord. Give them Your joy in spite of the pain!

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 1,2,3,4

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And Whatever You Do Or Say, Do It As A Representative Of The Lord Jesus, Giving Thanks Through Him To God The Father.

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And Whatever You Do Or Say,

Do It As A Representative Of The Lord Jesus,

Giving Thanks Through Him To God The Father.

Scripture

Colossians 3

16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 

17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Observation

What we say and how we say it … does matter! What we do … does matter! If you and I are Christians, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, then it all matters!

You and I are representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Cursing, lying, cheating, getting drunk, drugging, wearing provocative clothing, pornography, sex outside of marriage, etc. should not be a part of our lives if we are followers of Christ.

Anytime we allow any of the sinful behavior that's listed above to be a part of our life then we are very poor representatives of Jesus Christ to the people around us!

If you realize that you have been poorly representing Christ then now is a great time to turn from that bad behavior, ask for forgiveness, and begin to live in a way that brings God glory.

If you need help … private message me.

Application

I will do my best to live in a way that makes God smile today and that brings Him glory!

How about you? Is that the desire of your heart?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to make good choices in life. Don't let me give in to temptations when they come my way. What I say and what I do does matter. I know that my life needs to bring You glory.

I pray for any person who may read this blog today. I pray that You help them to live in a way that honors You. Help them to be good representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 19:14

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

Daily Bible Reading: Colossians 1,2,3,4

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You Made Me; You Created Me. Now Give Me The Sense To Follow Your Commands.

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You Made Me;

You Created Me.

Now Give Me The Sense To Follow Your Commands.

Scripture

Psalm 119

73 You made me; you created me.
    Now give me the sense to follow your commands.

Observation

You made me; You created me. You have given me the Bible, Your Living Word. Now give me the sense to follow Your commands. Give me the sense to put into practice what I read every day.

I don't know about you, but Psalm 119:73 is a good prayer for me. God, just give me the sense to do what You tell me as I read Your Word every morning. Don't let me be a fool and be disobedient.

Psalm 119:73 goes right along with what I also read in Ephesians 5:15-17 which says, “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”

The decision to live like a fool and ignore God's Word is always an option for us. It is a dumb decision to make but it is still always an option on the table. Stupid is as stupid does.

I hope that you are wise enough to realize that God made you; God created you. And hopefully you have enough sense to know that God wants You to follow His commands.

Application

I will be careful how I live. I will not live like a fool, but I will be like someone who is wise. I will make most of every opportunity. I will not act thoughtlessly, I will seek to understand what the Lord wants me to do. (Ephesians 5:15-17 personalized)

How about you? How have you decided to live?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I love Your Word. Thank You for helping me realize how important spending time each day in Your Word is for me. Help me to walk in obedience. Don't let me do stupid sins that will mess up my relationship with You and will mess up my relationship with those around me.

I pray for any person who takes the time to read this blog. Bless them, Lord. Help them to walk in obedience. Don't let them live like a fool.

Daily Bible Reading: Ephesians 5,6; Psalms 119:1-80

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So Whether You Eat Or Drink, Or Whatever You Do, Do It All For The Glory Of God.

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So Whether You Eat Or Drink,

Or Whatever You Do,

Do It All For The Glory Of God.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 10

31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 

Observation

Bottom line … is what I am doing, or what I am getting ready to do, does it or will it bring glory to God?

You may have heard people use the argument, “Well the Bible doesn't say that it is a sin”, or maybe you have even said that yourself to try to justify something that you are doing or that someone else is doing!

The more important question, the question that we need to ask ourselves is this, “Does it bring God glory?”.

When you and I find ourselves face to face with something that is not clearly black or white, let's use 1 Corinthians 10:31 as our guide.

Application

When I am faced with something that is neither black or white I will use 1 Corinthians 10:31 to help me make the right decision.

How about you?

James 4:17

So it is a sin for the person who knows to do what is good and doesn’t do it.

Colossians 3:17

17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to be guided by Your Holy Spirit as I go through this day. I want to do the things that please You. Help me make my decisions based on what will bring You the most glory rather than just thinking about myself. Put on my heart those things that are on Your heart. I want You to be glorified through my life today.

Daily Bible Reading: Psalms 122; 1 Corinthians 9,10,11

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