Follow Me And Be My Disciple

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Follow
Me
And Be My Disciple

Are you a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you? 

Scripture

Mark 2

¹³ Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him.

 ¹⁴ As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.

¹⁵ Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) ¹⁶ But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”

¹⁷ When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Observation

 I love this story. Jesus goes to the most hated, the most despised group of people that His enemies, the Pharisees could imagine and goes and has dinner with them. The Pharisees asked His disciples, “Why does He eat with such scum?”

Why does Jesus bother pursuing you and me?

I don’t know either but I am sure glad that in my case He did.

Jesus is pursuing you today. He wants you to have an abundant life here on this earth and He wants you to live forever with Him. He wants you to follow Him right now.

If you are reading this and you have been running from God let me encourage you to stop running. Matthew was a tax collector. He was the worst of the worst, but when he turned from his life of sin and turned to Christ God was able to use him and Jesus’ other disciples to change the world.

He wants to do the same thing with you. Don’t look around at someone else. He wants to do the same thing with you. That’s right – You!

Application

Today when I speak to the folks at Mission Tampa I will share with them this story. I will pray and ask God to open up their spiritual eyes and their spiritual hearts so that they can become followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for calling me to become a Christ follower. I know that I don’t deserve it. I know that I am a sinner. I pray for anyone reading this blog today that knows that God is pursuing him or her. I pray that they will surrender their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ and become disciples of Jesus today.

Daily Bible Reading:  Numbers 12,13; Psalms 90; Mark 2

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Jehovah What A Holy, Awe-Inspiring Name That Is.

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Jehovah
What A Holy,
Awe-Inspiring Name That Is.

Which of the many names of God gives you strength or hope this morning? 

Scripture

Psalm 111

9 He has paid a full ransom for his people; now they are always free to come to Jehovah (what a holy, awe-inspiring name that is).

Observation

Two words jumped out at me this morning as I read Psalm 111: The words “Ransom” and “Awe-inspiring or Awesome”.

For even I, the Messiah, am not here to be served, but to help others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

We were ransomed. God paid a high price for us – His only Son’s death on the cross. Because we have been ransomed we can now freely come to our Heavenly Father any time we want. We have immediate access. We are blood bought. 

The other word is Awe-inspiring or awesome! 

We are to keep God’s name(s) Holy or Hallowed. We are not to use any of His names flippantly. 

All of His names describe who He is. For instance (I will just mention a few):

El Shaddai -All-Sufficient One, Lord God Almighty

El Elyon - The Most High God

Adonai - Lord, Master

Yahweh - Lord, Jehovah

Jehovah-Raah- the Lord shepherds me

Jehovah-Jireh - The Lord Will Provide

His names are Awesome! God is Awesome! He is worthy of all Praise.

 “Father” – this name for God is used 245 times in the New Testament.

    “So that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” Philip. 2:10

Application

I will pray to my Heavenly Father using the Awesome name of Jesus who has ransomed me from a life of sin and destruction.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, it is because of Jesus and what He did for me that I am Yours. You bought me with the blood of Your only Son. You are Awesome, Lord. You are the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Your name(s) are all awe-inspiring to me. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

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Come, Let Us Sing To The LORD! Let Us Shout Joyfully To The Rock Of Our Salvation.

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Come, Let Us Sing To The LORD!
Let Us
Shout Joyfully To The Rock Of Our Salvation.

Are you already thinking about Sunday? SUNDAY IS COMING!

Scripture

Psalm 95

Come, let us sing to the Lord!
    Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
 
² Let us come to him with thanksgiving.
    Let us sing psalms of praise to him.
 
³ For the Lord is a great God,
    a great King above all gods.

Observation

Are you already thinking about Sunday? Sunday is coming! Are you excited about getting to worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? 

SUNDAY IS COMING!

“Let us sing psalms of praise to Him!”

Why? 

“For the LORD is a great God, a great King above
 all gods.”

We have the freedom to worship in a public place! Let’s take advantage of that freedom!
So thankful for our worship and praise team! They do such a great job helping us to worship each and every Sunday!

Application

I will get myself ready for Sunday starting today. Never too early to get my heart and my soul ready to praise Him. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I will sing to You! I will shout joyfully to the Rock of my salvation.
I will come to You with thanksgiving. I will sing psalms of praise to You. For You Lord are a great God, a great King above all gods.


I will worship and bow down. I will kneel before the Lord our maker, for You are my God. I am someone who You watch over, I am part of the flock under Your care. (Psalm 95:1-3,5-6 personalized)

Daily Bible Reading: Numbers 7; Psalms 23; Acts 27; Psalm 93-97

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Do You Think You Can Persuade Me To Become A Christian So Quickly?

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Do You Think
You
Can Persuade Me To Become A Christian So Quickly? 

Real friends don’t let their friends go to Hell …Will someone be in Heaven because of you? 

Scripture

Acts 26

²⁸ Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?”

²⁹ Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.”

Observation

Those were two quotes from Rick Warren’s “Transformed” Bible study series. Last night in our life group one of our men shared with us that this was heavy on his heart; he wanted to be able to answer, “yes”, to the question, “Will someone be in Heaven because of you?”

How about you and me? Will someone be in Heaven because we shared our faith with him or her? Do you need to learn how to share your faith? Let’s talk.

The Apostle Paul when standing before kings did not miss a chance to tell them about Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection.

Application

I will start taking men and or couples out to teach them how to share their faith. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know that now is the time to get out and talk to people about Jesus. Going out and sharing the Good News is what You made us for. Help me to develop in my routine time to be to take people out and train them how to share their faith. Thank You for what You are doing in the lives of those involved in our life groups. It is exciting Lord to see what You are doing. 

Daily Bible Reading: Numbers 5,6; Psalms 22; Acts 26

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Seventy Years Are Given To Us! Some Even Live To Eighty, But Even The Best Years Are Filled With Pain And Trouble;

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Seventy Years Are Given To Us!
Some Even Live To Eighty,
But Even The Best Years Are Filled With Pain And Trouble; 

Teach us to realize the brevity of life …

Scripture

Psalm 90

10 Seventy years are given to us!
    Some even live to eighty.
But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble;
    soon they disappear, and we fly away.

¹² Teach us to realize the brevity of life,
    so that we may grow in wisdom.

Psalm 92

¹² But the godly will flourish like palm trees
    and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.
¹⁴ Even in old age they will still produce fruit;
    they will remain vital and green.

Observation

Reading Psalm 90 this morning reminded me that life is short and I am on the short end of the stick. I am glad that I kept on reading and had the chance to read Psalm 92. 

Even though Kathy and I (or at least me) are in the 4^th quarter of life God gives us a great promise for these “golden years”. It is found in Psalm 92:12 & 14. Here is my paraphrased & personalized version:

12 “But Eddy and Kathy will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. 14 Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.”

 Application

I will look for ways to produce fruit today. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, life is so short. Every week, every month, every year goes by so quickly. So teach me to realize the brevity of life, so that I may grow in wisdom. And may You show us Your approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful! Psalm 92:12,17 (personalized)

Daily Bible Reading: Numbers 3,4; Acts 25; Psalm 88-92

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For Your Love For Me Is Very Great. You Have Rescued Me From The Depths Of Death.

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For Your Love For Me
Is Very Great.
You Have Rescued Me From The Depths Of Death.

I hope that you realize that very soon headlines could read, “21 Christian men in the United States beheaded simply for the fact that they were Christians.” 

Scripture

Psalm 86

¹³ for your love for me is very great.
    You have rescued me from the depths of death.

Observation

Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church, also expressed outrage over the killings on Monday.

"Their only words were: 'Jesus, help me!' They were killed simply for the fact that they were Christians," Francis said. "The blood of our Christian brothers and sisters is a testimony which cries out be heard. It makes no difference whether they be Catholics, Orthodox, Copts or Protestants... The martyrs belong to all Christians."

I don’t think that I have ever quoted the Pope before but today I quote him to make this point, 

“God does not always choose to rescue us.”

Three years ago God rescued me from death and everyday that I wake up to live another day I give Him thanks. He rescued me from certain death.

Today, I think of those 21 Christian men standing before their executioners knowing that they would soon face death and I think of how God chose not to rescue them. These men will join the other thousands of martyrs that die each year for calling Jesus Christ their Lord and their Savior. 

I hope that you realize that very soon headlines could read, “21 Christian men in the United States beheaded simply for the fact that they were Christians.” 

Application

I will pray for the persecuted church today. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray for the families of those men who were martyred for being called Christ Followers. I don’t know if they had a personal relationship with You through the Lord Jesus Christ, but they died because they were identified as Christ Followers. 

I pray for persecuted Christians today who live each day not knowing if it will be their last. I know that their faith makes You smile. Give me the faith of the Apostle Paul. Don’t let me lose sight of those being persecuted in so many countries in our world today. Give me the strength and the health to go to those places where Christians need to be encouraged and people desperately need to hear the Gospel.

Daily Bible Reading: Numbers 1,2; Acts 24; Psalm 83-87

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So The Next Generation Would Know Them, … Then They Would Put Their Trust In God

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So The Next Generation Would Know Them,
… Then
They Would Put Their Trust In God

Our church is all about reaching the “next” generation! 

Scripture

Psalm 78


⁶ so the next generation would know them,
    even the children yet to be born,
    and they in turn would tell their children.
⁷ Then they would put their trust in God
    and would not forget his deeds
    but would keep his commands.

Observation

Loud contemporary (and wonderful) music reminds me every Sunday that our church is all about reaching the younger generation. It is also all about reaching those who have never attended Christ Fellowship.

It is definitely not a perfect place, but that is because we are a church made up of imperfect people!

I love seeing how God is changing the lives of those that we are reaching, but I think that this is just the beginning!

It is going to get even better!

Application

I will support my church in every outreach event that God puts on our hearts to reach the next generation. How about you? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, show our leadership team ways to reach those in Tampa who do not yet know You. Help us reach the next generation. Don’t let us rest. Don’t let us slow down. Give Pastor Bruce and his team the energy and the vision to see many people come to Christ in 2015. Show us how to reach the next generation. 

Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 26,27; Acts 23: Psalm 78-82

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Love Never Gives Up, Never Loses Faith, Is Always Hopeful, And Endures Through Every Circumstance.

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Love Never Gives Up,
Never Loses Faith,
Is Always Hopeful, And Endures Through Every Circumstance.

It is Valentine’s Day. I had to write about LOVE! How much do you love your spouse?  

 

Scripture

I Corinthians 13

⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶ It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  

⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Observation

Kathy I Love You!

Love never gives up … I watch so many people give up on their marriages so quickly. Love never gives up. Kathy has loved me now for over 45 years! She deserves some kind of a medal!

Love never loses Faith … Does your spouse have faith in you? Kathy thinks I can hang the moon. She has so much faith in me that it is scary! I know that I can’t do all of the things that she thinks that I can!

Love is always hopeful … even though my heart attack has left me way less than 100% Kathy and I are both still very hopeful about our future.

Love endures through every circumstance … Kathy has lived through a very difficult time. She went through a time when the doctors thought I would not survive, then through a long recovery, now living with someone who struggles everyday with pain and fatigue. She never has complained. She has endured through every circumstance.

 The Bible says that three things are going to last forever, “—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. 

Do more than just tell your spouse that you love him/her today! Show him/her love like we find described in 1 Corinthians 13!

Application

I love Kathy more than all the grains of sand on all the seashores in the world. 

So I will try to be patient and kind. I will try hard not be boastful or proud or rude. I will not demand my own way. I will try my best not to be irritable, and I will keep no record of being wronged. I Corinthians 13:4-5

How much do you love your spouse? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I could have never asked You for a more precious gift than I received when You brought Kathy into my life. Everyday it is a joy to be able to be in her presence. She is wonderful. I can’t believe that You love me so much that You gave me such a wonderful gift. Bless her today on Valentine’s Day. I pray that she would sense Your Love, Your Power, and Your Presence today. May Your Hand of favor be on Kathy. May Your Face shine on Kathy. You have blessed me so much for bringing her into my life. 

Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 23,24; Psalms 24; Acts 21; I Corinthians 13

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May God Be Merciful And Bless Us. May His Face Smile With Favor On Us.

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May God Be Merciful And Bless Us.
May
His Face Smile With Favor On Us. 

The power of a blessing. This could change your marriage!

Scripture

Psalm 67

¹ May God be merciful and bless us.
    May his face smile with favor on us.

Observation

This is what I encourage all married men to do before you go out the door to go to work. Give your wife a kiss goodbye and then pray a prayer of blessing over her (out loud so she hears your prayer!).

Kathy and I attended a Family Life Seminar a few years ago and one of the speakers encouraged all the men to pray a blessing over their wife before they went out the door to work. I had never been challenged to do that before.

I can tell you that as I prayed for Kathy each day I struggled to find a different, creative way to pray this morning blessing.

It was hard not to pray the same thing each morning and we laughed at some of the things that I came up with like, “Lord, give Kathy a great day today, or Lord, smile on Kathy today, or Lord, may Your face shine on Kathy today, etc.”

I can tell you it made a huge difference in our relationship. It probably did more for me than Kathy.

So kiss your wife before you go out the door, but also take a second and pray a short quick blessing over her. It can change your marriage!

Application

I don’t go out the door each morning to go to work. My bad heart is messing that up at the moment. So I think I will start praying a blessing on Kathy each night when I give her a good night kiss before we go to sleep.   

How about you what are you going to do? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, bless Kathy today. May Your face shine on her. Fill her with Your Presence and Your Power and Your Love. She is the greatest gift that You have ever given to me. Smile on her today. Thank You for bringing her into my life. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 20,21,22; Acts 20; Psalm 62-67

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Stand Up In The Presence Of The Aged, Show Respect For The Elderly And Revere Your God. I Am The LORD.

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Stand Up In The Presence Of The Aged,
Show Respect For The Elderly
And Revere Your God. I Am The LORD. 

Do you have people standing up when you walk into their presence? What is the matter with these people! :)

Scripture

Leviticus 19

³² “‘Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.

Observation

I will admit that getting old(er) has proved to be pretty challenging!

I don’t know what it will be like when I get as old as you! :)

Living to be a “good old age” is a quote from the Bible about the life of King David:

²⁸ And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.

 I love this verse about how God will take care of me in my old age:

Isaiah 46

⁴ I will be your God throughout your lifetime—
    until your hair is white with age.
I made you, and I will care for you.
    I will carry you along and save you.

As I young pastor many years ago I remember making the mistake of telling Kathy’s grandmother that she was blessed because God had allowed her to live to be 95 years old. I was visiting her after she had broken her hip and I was trying to encourage her. She reprimanded me saying, “Sonny this is no blessing. I am ready to be with the Lord.” She went on to live to be 105 years young. She was one tough cookie!

Every time I say to Kathy, “Man I am getting old!” she says, “Eddy, you are not getting old, you are old!” You got to love that kind of encouragement!

Application

So I will hold on to God’s promise found in Isaiah 46:4, “ I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You will be my God throughout my lifetime – as my hair turns gray and turns loose. You made me, and You will care for me. You will carry me along and You will save me. Thank You for all of Your promises.

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

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This I Know God Is On My Side.

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This I
Know
God Is On My Side.

Some days are filled with stuff that is just too tough to handle. Had one of those days lately?

Scripture

Psalm 55

²² Give your burdens to the Lord,
    and he will take care of you.
    He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Psalm 56

But when I am afraid,
    I will put my trust in you.
⁴ I praise God for what he has promised.
    I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
    What can mere mortals do to me?

This I know: God is on my side!
¹⁰ I praise God for what he has promised;
    yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised.
¹¹ I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
    What can mere mortals do to me?

Observation

Some days are filled with stuff that is just too tough to handle. These are the days when I talk non-stop to the Lord. Recently God has allowed me to experience some of those days!

Maybe you have too!

If so then Psalm 55 and Psalm 56 are just what we need this morning!

Application

I am taking a few burdens to the Lord this morning. I can’t handle them and I know that He can. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I give you my burdens this morning. You will take care of me. You will not permit me to slip and fall. When I am afraid, and frustrated, I will put my trust in you. I praise You for what You have promised. I trust in You, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? 

This I know: You are on my side! I praise You for what You have promised: yes I praise You for what You have promised. I trust in You, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? (Psalm 55 & 56 personalized) Amen


Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 15,16,17; Acts 18; Psalm 52-56

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He Marked Out Their Appointed Times In History And The Boundaries Of Their Lands.

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He Marked Out
Their Appointed Times In History
And The Boundaries Of Their Lands.

So glad that I was born in the USA and get to serve the Lord here. How about you? 

Scripture

Acts 17

²⁶ From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.

²⁷ God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.

Observation

I am so glad that I was not born in the early 1800’s and especially glad that I was not born a thousand years ago. I am glad that I was born in the 1900’s and I am really glad that I was born in the USA. How about you?

We were born at the appointed time in history for a reason. When we were born and where we were born is no accident. It is part of God’s plan.

He wants us to be the salt and light to our generation. He wants us to influence the people around us and point them in His direction.

It is an exciting time to be alive!

Application

I will remind those around me that God is not far from them and I will remind them that God wants to radically transform their lives.

    "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.    John 10:10

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for allowing me to be here on planet earth right now. Thank You for allowing me to be a part of Your kingdom. I loved living in Spain and Mexico, but thank You for allowing me the awesome privilege of being born and raised in the USA.

Daily Bible Reading Leviticus 13,14; Acts 17

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Around Midnight Paul And Silas Were Praying and Singing Hymns To God, And The Prisoners Were Listening.

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Around Midnight Paul And Silas Were
Praying and Singing Hymns To God,
And The Prisoners Were Listening.

I would have liked to have heard Paul and Silas prayers that night!

Scripture

Acts 16

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!
 

Observation

They were severely beaten and thrown into prison. They were put into the inner dungeon and their feet were clamped in stocks.

Then at midnight they began to sing and pray and the other prisoners were listening.

Paul and Silas, bloody, bruised, and broken began to pray and sing!

I would have liked to have heard their prayers.

God allowed something very bad to happen to Paul and Silas so something very good could happen to the jailor and his family and possibly the other prisoners inside the jail. The jailor and all of his family became believers that night.

I believe that they prayed for the other prisoners that night. I believed that they prayed for the jailor and his family. God answered their prayer with an earthquake. The earthquake was not sent to free Paul and Silas. The earthquake was for the jailor and those prisoners.

The jailor and the prisoners knew that God was in that place! They were on holy ground!

Application

I will pray for those around me just like Paul and Silas did. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, give me the faith to pray like Paul and Silas. I want those around me to be saved. Do whatever it takes for them to come to Jesus. If it takes an earthquake then bring it on. You are the Mighty God. Nothing is too hard for You.

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

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There Was Great Joy Throughout The Church

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There Was
Great Joy
Throughout The Church

Sunday is a day of worship and celebration! It is a day of Joy!

Scripture

Acts 15

³⁰ The messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the believers and delivered the letter. ³¹ And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message.

Observation

The church at Antioch had just received word from the Apostles in Jerusalem that they were accepted as equals. Gentiles were welcomed into their fellowship and they didn’t have to go through the ritual of circumcision. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ was all that they needed! There was great joy throughout the church that day.

Our church accepts everybody! There is great joy in our church when we meet together!

I love what God is doing at Christ Fellowship!

Application

I look forward with great joy being in worship today! How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for allowing me to live to see what You are doing at Christ Fellowship! It is exciting to see so many young people committing their lives to the Lord. I pray for them this morning. I pray for our lead team. Bless them today.

Daily Bible Reading Leviticus 7,8,9; Acts 15

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The LORD Is Close To The Brokenhearted.

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The LORD
Is Close
To The Brokenhearted. 

Relationships, sickness, tragedies … can = brokenness

Scripture

Psalm 34

¹⁸ The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
    he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Psalm 147

 ³ He heals the brokenhearted
    and bandages their wounds.
⁴ He counts the stars
    and calls them all by name.
⁵ How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!
    His understanding is beyond comprehension!

Isaiah 61

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
    for the Lord has anointed me
    to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
    and to proclaim that captives will be released
    and prisoners will be freed.

Observation

Brokenhearted – has this ever described you or someone you love? Jesus came to comfort the brokenhearted. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted. He heals the brokenhearted.

Brokenness – none of us like to be in a place of brokenness but that is when and where God can use us the most.

Relationships sickness tragedies … all are things that can bring us to be brokenhearted.

If you or a friend or loved one is going through a time of brokenness right now then remember that God never wastes a “Hurt”. 

 For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. Psalm 32:7

Application

I will trust the Lord today for my future and I will pray for those who are going through a time of brokenness.

¹⁴ But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God! ”⁵ My future is in your hands. Psalm 31

Prayer

Heavenly Father, How great is the goodness You have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence …  Psalm 31:19-20

I pray for those I know who are going through difficult times. Give them strength. Help them to draw close to You during this time of crisis. Shelter them in Your presence. Give them strength for today. 

Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 4,5,6; Acts 14 Psalm 31-35

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Brothers! Listen! In This Man Jesus There Is Forgiveness Of Your Sins!

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Brothers!
Listen!
In This Man Jesus There Is Forgiveness Of Your Sins!

Can’t forgive someone? You need to look to Jesus!

Scripture

Acts 13

³⁸ “Brothers! Listen! In this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins!

Observation

I have forgiven him or her but I don’t ever want to see them again. I am glad that isn’t the way Jesus offers forgiveness.

We don’t deserve to go to Heaven. We don’t deserve God’s forgiveness. We are sinners.

It is because He loves us so much that He was willing not only to forgive us, but He was willing to sacrifice His own body, dying on a cross, to pay for what we deserve.

So if you and I are unwilling to truly forgive someone it shows a lack of God’s love in our lives. And we are the ones that suffer.

I am sorry. Will you forgive me? I love you. Words that you and I need to use a lot in our relationships.

Forgiveness is a gift. God’s Gift of forgiveness came at a very high price – the death of His One and Only Son.

Application

 I will continue to try to help people mend fences in their relationships.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, it is so sad to meet people that aren’t willing to forgive past hurts and see that their lives are being controlled by the person that they refuse to forgive. I pray for anyone that might be reading this blog that has been hurt in the past and can’t get over the hurt. I pray that they give that hurt to You and let You deal out punishment to the offending party. Help this wounded person understand the importance of forgiveness. Set them free from a life of resentment.

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

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Even When I Walk Through The Darkest Valley

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Even When
I Walk Through
The Darkest Valley

I know that the Lord is my Shepherd; I have all that I need.

Scripture

Psalm 23

¹ The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.
⁴ Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.

Observation

A childhood friend of Kathy’s is going through a very dark valley in her life right now. I couldn’t imagine a darker valley. She has a daughter that is in a coma and the outcome does not look good from a human perspective.

I asked everyone that I met with yesterday to pray for this young woman and to pray for Kathy’s friend who is the young woman’s Mom.

A verse that came to Kathy’s mind while she was talking to this friend yesterday was Psalm 23:1, “The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.”

Kathy told me yesterday, “Eddy, when you were in a coma and not expected to live I held on to the fact that God was all that I needed.” 

You and I are going to walk through some dark valleys in 2015. I wish it was not true, but we will.

  Application

 As I walk through the dark valleys I am going to hold onto this truth; “I will not be afraid, for (God) you are close beside me. Psalm 23:4

Prayer

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

^2-3 He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams. He gives me new strength. He helps me do what honors him the most.
⁴ Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way.
⁵ You provide delicious food for me in the presence of my enemies. You have welcomed me as your guest; blessings overflow!
⁶ Your goodness and unfailing kindness shall be with me all of my life, and afterwards I will live with you forever in your home. Amen Psalm 23 

Daily Bible Reading Exodus 39,40; Psalms 15; Acts 12; Psalm 21-25

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How Can I Know All The Sins Lurking In My Heart?

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How Can I
Know
All The Sins Lurking In My Heart? 

Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me.

Scripture

Psalms 19

¹² How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
    Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
 
¹³ Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
    Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
    and innocent of great sin.

¹⁴ May the words of my mouth
    and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
 
    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Observation

How can someone throw his child off of a bridge? How can men be so evil that they burn someone alive or behead them? We could go on and on with horrible stories, but the truth is we have a terrible heart problem. 

You and I are capable of any sin? Oh yes you are and so am I. 

We don’t know what evil sins lurk in our hearts. 

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? Jeremiah 17:9

The secret to having victory over our deceitful and desperately wicked hearts is spending time in prayer and being in God’s Word everyday!

    How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word and following its rules. I have hidden your word in my heart, hat I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:9,11

I was reading up on my physical heart last night and I am pretty sure after a lot of searching that I have what is medically called “Sick Sinus Syndrome”. The doctors have thought that I could have “Microvascular Disease” and they have been treating me for that (and I still might). 

This morning as I was reading God’s Word I was reminded that my spiritual heart also has a big problem. It has the “deceitful and desperately wicked disease problem”. It is called SIN. 

 Application

I will guard my heart against sin by being in God’s Word and I will ask the Lord to keep me from deliberate sins and not let them control me. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, keep me from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:13-14

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

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“… That Everyone Who Believes In Him Will Have Their Sins Forgiven Through His Name.”

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“… That Everyone
Who Believes In Him
Will Have Their Sins Forgiven Through His Name.”

It is not good people that go to Heaven and it is not bad people that go to Hell … Surprised? READ ON …

Scripture

Acts 10

⁴² And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. ⁴³ He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”

Observation

You can’t be good enough to get into Heaven. You can’t.

Okay, then who gets to go to Heaven and who is going to Hell?

You want the simple answer? Okay!

Forgiven people go to Heaven and unforgiven people go to Hell.

Everyone who believes in Jesus will have his or her sins forgiven through His name.

Do you believe? Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?

Application

I am going to Heaven. Not because I am good. I am going to Heaven because Jesus has forgiven me of my sins. How about you? Heaven or Hell?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, open the eyes of anyone who might be reading this blog today and thinks he or she is going to Heaven because they are good. Show them that Jesus and faith in Him alone is the only way to be saved. Thank You for saving me. I don’t deserve it. I am blessed. Help me see like Peter did in chapter 10 that every person on this planet has tremendous worth to You.

Daily Bible Reading Exodus 35,36; Acts 10

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My Grace Is All You Need. My Power Works Best In Weakness.

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My Grace
Is
All You Need. My Power Works Best In Weakness. 

 Are you suffering today? Are you dealing with health problems that drag you down? 

Scripture

2 Corinthians 12

So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.

⁸ Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. ⁹ Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. ¹⁰ That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Observation

When you and I think of the Apostle Paul we usually don’t think about someone suffering everyday with a crippling health issue. We think of someone that was bold, strong and fearless, but the truth is that Paul was a wounded warrior and suffered every day. 

“…But we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

⁸ We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. ⁹ We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. ¹⁰ Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

¹¹ Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. ¹² So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

You and I are like fragile clay jars! 

Are you suffering today? Are you dealing with health problems that drag you down?
Take heart today and be encouraged by these two Bible passages.

Application

I will take pleasure in my weaknesses today. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I am not the Apostle Paul and I know that I don’t know anything about suffering compared to him, but like him I rejoice today. Thank You for allowing me the privilege to know your Power through my weakness. Everyday I am reminded that when I am weak I am strong. Your grace is all that I need. Help me be Your witness today. Give me strength to live out this day in a way that makes You smile.

Daily Bible Reading Exodus 30,31,32; Acts 8; 2 Corinthians 4, 12

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