Monday, November 30, 2015
Praise as a lifestyle!
Psalm 145:1-3 (NKJV)
1 I will extol You, my God, O King;
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name
forever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall praise Your
works to another;
And shall declare Your mighty acts.
++++++++++++++++++++++
This is another reminder that our life is to be a life of praise!
As we look around and count the ways God has blessed, continue to praise
Him!
1 I will extol You, my God, O King;
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name
forever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall praise Your
works to another;
And shall declare Your mighty acts.
++++++++++++++++++++++
This is another reminder that our life is to be a life of praise!
As we look around and count the ways God has blessed, continue to praise
Him!
Saturday, November 28, 2015
God's protection
Psalm 139:1-6 (NKJV)
1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.
+++++++++++++++++++++
I once saw verse 5 as "entrapment"!
Through the years, I have learned it really means protection. And just
now it occurs to me that this protection comes from Him because He knows
all about me and the protection I need!
To God be the Glory for His marvelous love and care for us!
1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.
+++++++++++++++++++++
I once saw verse 5 as "entrapment"!
Through the years, I have learned it really means protection. And just
now it occurs to me that this protection comes from Him because He knows
all about me and the protection I need!
To God be the Glory for His marvelous love and care for us!
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Surrounded by God's love!
Psalm 124:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Those who trust in the LORD
are like Mount Zion,
Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the LORD surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever.
...................
I John 3:16
By this we know love,
because He (Jesus) laid down His life for us.
And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
++++++++++++++++++
As we are surrounded by the love of God, we are call to surround one
another in love.
This love comes from God to us, but must not stop with us! It must be
passed on.
At this Thanksgiving time, what better way to say "Thanks" than to
express love in some way?!?
Happy Thanksgiving Day to each of you. May your life be blessed with the
awareness of God's great love for you!
1 Those who trust in the LORD
are like Mount Zion,
Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the LORD surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever.
...................
I John 3:16
By this we know love,
because He (Jesus) laid down His life for us.
And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
++++++++++++++++++
As we are surrounded by the love of God, we are call to surround one
another in love.
This love comes from God to us, but must not stop with us! It must be
passed on.
At this Thanksgiving time, what better way to say "Thanks" than to
express love in some way?!?
Happy Thanksgiving Day to each of you. May your life be blessed with the
awareness of God's great love for you!
Saturday, November 21, 2015
We can trust God!
Daniel 6:21-23 (NKJV)
21 Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever!
22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you."
23 Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.
++++++++++++++++++
Daniel landed in the lions' den because he was faithful to his God! Not the outcome we want when we seek to be faithful to Him!
Daniel's faithfulness had brought him favor in the eyes of the king and God, but jealousy from his peers!
The focus here should be on the faithfulness of God. He brought Daniel out of the lion's den without any harm. But I was thinking the other day: What if He had let the lions dispatch him to heaven? Would that have made God any the less faithful? See Hebrews 11:35-40 for a list of folks who stood faithful to God and died!
Daniel had the same faith as the 3 Hebrews who went through the fiery furnace. He trusted God to do what was right.
We have to ask ourselves the question? Do we trust God to do what is best, or only judge Him as faithful when He does what we want?!?
21 Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever!
22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you."
23 Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.
++++++++++++++++++
Daniel landed in the lions' den because he was faithful to his God! Not the outcome we want when we seek to be faithful to Him!
Daniel's faithfulness had brought him favor in the eyes of the king and God, but jealousy from his peers!
The focus here should be on the faithfulness of God. He brought Daniel out of the lion's den without any harm. But I was thinking the other day: What if He had let the lions dispatch him to heaven? Would that have made God any the less faithful? See Hebrews 11:35-40 for a list of folks who stood faithful to God and died!
Daniel had the same faith as the 3 Hebrews who went through the fiery furnace. He trusted God to do what was right.
We have to ask ourselves the question? Do we trust God to do what is best, or only judge Him as faithful when He does what we want?!?
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Live boldly
Hebrews 10:19-25 selections (NKJV)
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
...
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, ...
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,,
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
++++++++++++++++
Bold living (or holy living) is not done in a vacuum! It is because of what God has done for us through Jesus Christ and is to be lived out in the world where He has placed us. That includes but is not limited to church gatherings! Remember, HE IS FAITHFUL!
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
...
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, ...
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,,
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
++++++++++++++++
Bold living (or holy living) is not done in a vacuum! It is because of what God has done for us through Jesus Christ and is to be lived out in the world where He has placed us. That includes but is not limited to church gatherings! Remember, HE IS FAITHFUL!
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
The need to REPENT
Psalm 81:10-14 (NKJV)
10 I am the LORD your God,
Who brought you out of the land of Egypt;
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11 But My people would not heed My voice,
And Israel would have none of Me.
12 So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart,
To walk in their own counsels.
13 Oh, that My people would listen to Me,
That Israel would walk in My ways!
14 I would soon subdue their enemies,
And turn My hand against their adversaries.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
This is a lament against Israel. How much more must God lament against
the United States. We are perhaps the most blessed nation in the world!
And we have turned away from God! He promises to provide needs and
defend from enemies for those who listen. But as a nation we have not,
so He says he gave them over to their own stubborn heart!
What can I say, we reap what we sow. We have taught our youth that there
is no God and that they must find their own way! So, why should we be
surprised if we destroy ourselves!
+++ But God promises forgiveness and deliverance when we turn to Him!
What a great God!
10 I am the LORD your God,
Who brought you out of the land of Egypt;
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11 But My people would not heed My voice,
And Israel would have none of Me.
12 So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart,
To walk in their own counsels.
13 Oh, that My people would listen to Me,
That Israel would walk in My ways!
14 I would soon subdue their enemies,
And turn My hand against their adversaries.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
This is a lament against Israel. How much more must God lament against
the United States. We are perhaps the most blessed nation in the world!
And we have turned away from God! He promises to provide needs and
defend from enemies for those who listen. But as a nation we have not,
so He says he gave them over to their own stubborn heart!
What can I say, we reap what we sow. We have taught our youth that there
is no God and that they must find their own way! So, why should we be
surprised if we destroy ourselves!
+++ But God promises forgiveness and deliverance when we turn to Him!
What a great God!
Monday, November 16, 2015
GIVE THANKS!
Psalm 75:1 (NKJV)
We give thanks to You, O God,
we give thanks!
For Your wonderous works declare
that Your name is near.
++++
A good reminder at Thanksgiving time.
We give thanks to You, O God,
we give thanks!
For Your wonderous works declare
that Your name is near.
++++
A good reminder at Thanksgiving time.
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Joy for a purpose!
Psalm 51:12-13 (NKJV)
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
+++++++++++++
In the middle of David's prayer of repentance he ask for the joy to be
restored. And then he shared the propose, He will share the gospel and
others will be saved.
Question: Can others see the joy in our lives, and would it open doors
for witness???
We should be channels of God's abundant blessings!
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
+++++++++++++
In the middle of David's prayer of repentance he ask for the joy to be
restored. And then he shared the propose, He will share the gospel and
others will be saved.
Question: Can others see the joy in our lives, and would it open doors
for witness???
We should be channels of God's abundant blessings!
Saturday, November 07, 2015
Called to repent
Daniel 4:26-27 (NASB)
26 'And in that it was commanded to leave the stump with the roots of
the tree, your kingdom will be assured to you after you recognize that
it is Heaven that rules.
27 'Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you: break away now
from your sins by doing righteousness and from your iniquities by
showing mercy to the poor, in case there may be a prolonging of your
prosperity.'
+++++++++++++++++++++
God had warned the king in a dream of impending judgment because of his
pride. The goal was for him to recognize that God rules, and that he had
his position because of God.
After Daniel interpreted the dream, he called the king to repentance, so
that perhaps God might prolong his prosperity, that is so that he would
escape God's judgment.
The ensuing verses tell what happened when the king did not repent. He
had to suffer judgment till he came to his senses and recognize the rule
of God.
Does God rule differently today? He does call us to repentance and warns
of impending judgment. If we will repent and follow Him, we escape much
of His judgment. That is called mercy and grace as well as forgiveness!
We will choose God's grace or suffer His judgment!
26 'And in that it was commanded to leave the stump with the roots of
the tree, your kingdom will be assured to you after you recognize that
it is Heaven that rules.
27 'Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you: break away now
from your sins by doing righteousness and from your iniquities by
showing mercy to the poor, in case there may be a prolonging of your
prosperity.'
+++++++++++++++++++++
God had warned the king in a dream of impending judgment because of his
pride. The goal was for him to recognize that God rules, and that he had
his position because of God.
After Daniel interpreted the dream, he called the king to repentance, so
that perhaps God might prolong his prosperity, that is so that he would
escape God's judgment.
The ensuing verses tell what happened when the king did not repent. He
had to suffer judgment till he came to his senses and recognize the rule
of God.
Does God rule differently today? He does call us to repentance and warns
of impending judgment. If we will repent and follow Him, we escape much
of His judgment. That is called mercy and grace as well as forgiveness!
We will choose God's grace or suffer His judgment!
Wednesday, November 04, 2015
The word of the LORD
Psalm 19:7-10 (NASB)
7 The law of the LORD is
perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true;
they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold,
yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and
the drippings of the honeycomb.
++++++++++++++++++++++
No manner what you call it, the Word of God is to be desired. It gives
life and direction for life. Go to it daily for Spiritual food, just as
you go to the table regularly for physical food.
7 The law of the LORD is
perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true;
they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold,
yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and
the drippings of the honeycomb.
++++++++++++++++++++++
No manner what you call it, the Word of God is to be desired. It gives
life and direction for life. Go to it daily for Spiritual food, just as
you go to the table regularly for physical food.
Tuesday, November 03, 2015
ONE FOUNDATION
Psalm 11:1a ... 3 (NASB)
1 In the LORD I take refuge!
...........
3 If the foundations are destroyed,
What can the righteous do?
+++++++++++++++
There is only one foundation for the Christian! We must build our life
on Him!
The world wants to push Him aside, but without God, there is no
foundation and therefore no direction of life.
Indeed, without a foundation a building crumbles. We live in a world
where people are trying to build without a foundation. No wonder out
society is crumbling!
Let's get back to building on the One Foundation!
1 In the LORD I take refuge!
...........
3 If the foundations are destroyed,
What can the righteous do?
+++++++++++++++
There is only one foundation for the Christian! We must build our life
on Him!
The world wants to push Him aside, but without God, there is no
foundation and therefore no direction of life.
Indeed, without a foundation a building crumbles. We live in a world
where people are trying to build without a foundation. No wonder out
society is crumbling!
Let's get back to building on the One Foundation!
