Through the Bible - 1 Kings 2-3, Luke 23:1-25
Good morning,
Our church has been going through Philip Yancey's video series " Prayer, Does it Make any Difference?" which is based on his book on prayer.
The final chapter which most of us will have finished this week is titled Does Prayer Change Anything? Think about that for a minute, maybe even take the time to write down your answers.
Today's verses are what he used to launch the chapter and come from Psalm 143 a psalm of David for guidance and deliverance. I decided to use "THE MESSAGE" which sounds like prayer for today:
Ps 143:8-10
If you wake me each morning with the sound of your loving voice,
I'll go to sleep each night trusting in you.
Point out the road I must travel;
I'm all ears, all eyes before you.
Save me from my enemies, God —
you're my only hope!
Teach me how to live to please you,
because you're my God.
Verse 6 gives you an idea of how David was feeling when he prayed this psalm:
Ps 143:6 I spread out my hands to You;
My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. NKJV
Have you ever found yourself in a desert place, a thirsty land? Are you right now? Maybe you'd like to offer up a prayer like David did in verse 11, "revive me for your names sake". Who was he praying for? He was praying for God's glory resulting from personal revival.
A couple of songs came to mind when reading and thinking about these verse and the questions raised in the title of the book and the final chapter in Yancey's book.
The first that came to mind was "When God's People Pray" by Wayne Watson
When God's People Pray
Trouble knockin' on your window pane,
Stormy weather at your door.
And the outlook for the day ahead like the day before.
People tell you prayin' changes things,
But the words don't stop the fear.
The prayer is only pious rambling without a Father's ear.
He will not turn away when His people pray.
When God's people pray,
and take the pains of earth to the doors of heaven.
When God's people pray,
there is hope reborn, there is sin forgiven.
And merely 'cos you can't explain a way.
When God' people pray...
Hopeless situation turns around, dilema passes by and by.
Look, there's a never-ending field of blue!,
past your clouded sky.
He alone can know the need in me before a single word begins;
The Holy Spirit intercedes for me.
I will trust in Him!
No, He will not turn away when His people pray.
When God's people pray!
There is hope reborn, there is sin forgiven!
And merely 'cos you can't explain a way!
When God's people pray...
Prayer, does it make any difference? How would you answer it now?
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
143:1 Hear my prayer, O Lord,Give ear to my supplications!In Your faithfulness answer me,And in Your righteousness. 2 Do not enter into judgment with Your servant,For in Your sight no one living is righteous.
3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul;He has crushed my life to the ground;He has made me dwell in darkness,Like those who have long been dead. 4 Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;My heart within me is distressed.
5 I remember the days of old;I meditate on all Your works;I muse on the work of Your hands. 6 I spread out my hands to You;My soul longs for You like a thirsty land.Selah
7 Answer me speedily, O Lord;My spirit fails!Do not hide Your face from me,Lest I be like those who go down into the pit. 8 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,For in You do I trust;Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,For I lift up my soul to You.
9 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;In You I take shelter. 10 Teach me to do Your will,For You are my God;Your Spirit is good.Lead me in the land of uprightness.
11 Revive me, O Lord, for Your name's sake!For Your righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. 12 In Your mercy cut off my enemies,And destroy all those who afflict my soul;For I am Your servant.
NKJV
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Verse of the Day 4/30
Through the Bible - 1 Kings 1-3, Luke 23:1-26
Good morning,
As I've mentioned before, we've been going through a series on prayer in our church, from the pulpit as well as in small groups and Bible studies.
One of the things that I've come to realize about prayer is that we,or I, come to God with prayers with our own expectations of how He is to answer them. We can be so blinded by this that we don't even realize that He is answering the prayers but in a different way or with a different answer than we expected or perhaps hoped.
Today's verse comes from Isaiah 55 which is a chapter that puts forth an "invitation to abundant life". It's a wonderful chapter, one that I suggest that you read, meditate on and pray through at some point today. These verses are central to the chapter, our prayers, and our Christian life.
Isa 55:8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord.
9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts. NKJV
We may not always see the results of our work or our prayers immediately, in the home, the workplace, or in ministry. Today's verses explain to us that it is not ours to understand, but as servants to be willing to do God's will, to accept His answers when they come, even in unexpected ways.
Let the Lord lead you through prayer and His Word :
6 Seek the Lord while He may be found,Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way,And the unrighteous man his thoughts;Let him return to the Lord,And He will have mercy on him;And to our God,For He will abundantly pardon.
Read the passage below. How is God speaking to you today?
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Isa 55:1-56:1
55 "Ho! Everyone who thirsts,Come to the waters;And you who have no money,Come, buy and eat.Yes, come, buy wine and milkWithout money and without price. 2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread,And your wages for what does not satisfy?Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,And let your soul delight itself in abundance. 3 Incline your ear, and come to Me.Hear, and your soul shall live;And I will make an everlasting covenant with you — The sure mercies of David. 4 Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people,A leader and commander for the people. 5 Surely you shall call a nation you do not know,And nations who do not know you shall run to you,Because of the Lord your God,And the Holy One of Israel;For He has glorified you."
6 Seek the Lord while He may be found,Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way,And the unrighteous man his thoughts;Let him return to the Lord,And He will have mercy on him;And to our God,For He will abundantly pardon.
8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts,Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. 9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth,So are My ways higher than your ways,And My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,And do not return there,But water the earth,And make it bring forth and bud,That it may give seed to the sowerAnd bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;It shall not return to Me void,But it shall accomplish what I please,And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
12 "For you shall go out with joy,And be led out with peace;The mountains and the hillsShall break forth into singing before you,And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree,And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree;And it shall be to the Lord for a name,For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."
NKJV
Good morning,
As I've mentioned before, we've been going through a series on prayer in our church, from the pulpit as well as in small groups and Bible studies.
One of the things that I've come to realize about prayer is that we,or I, come to God with prayers with our own expectations of how He is to answer them. We can be so blinded by this that we don't even realize that He is answering the prayers but in a different way or with a different answer than we expected or perhaps hoped.
Today's verse comes from Isaiah 55 which is a chapter that puts forth an "invitation to abundant life". It's a wonderful chapter, one that I suggest that you read, meditate on and pray through at some point today. These verses are central to the chapter, our prayers, and our Christian life.
Isa 55:8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord.
9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts. NKJV
We may not always see the results of our work or our prayers immediately, in the home, the workplace, or in ministry. Today's verses explain to us that it is not ours to understand, but as servants to be willing to do God's will, to accept His answers when they come, even in unexpected ways.
Let the Lord lead you through prayer and His Word :
6 Seek the Lord while He may be found,Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way,And the unrighteous man his thoughts;Let him return to the Lord,And He will have mercy on him;And to our God,For He will abundantly pardon.
Read the passage below. How is God speaking to you today?
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Isa 55:1-56:1
55 "Ho! Everyone who thirsts,Come to the waters;And you who have no money,Come, buy and eat.Yes, come, buy wine and milkWithout money and without price. 2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread,And your wages for what does not satisfy?Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,And let your soul delight itself in abundance. 3 Incline your ear, and come to Me.Hear, and your soul shall live;And I will make an everlasting covenant with you — The sure mercies of David. 4 Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people,A leader and commander for the people. 5 Surely you shall call a nation you do not know,And nations who do not know you shall run to you,Because of the Lord your God,And the Holy One of Israel;For He has glorified you."
6 Seek the Lord while He may be found,Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way,And the unrighteous man his thoughts;Let him return to the Lord,And He will have mercy on him;And to our God,For He will abundantly pardon.
8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts,Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. 9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth,So are My ways higher than your ways,And My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,And do not return there,But water the earth,And make it bring forth and bud,That it may give seed to the sowerAnd bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;It shall not return to Me void,But it shall accomplish what I please,And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
12 "For you shall go out with joy,And be led out with peace;The mountains and the hillsShall break forth into singing before you,And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree,And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree;And it shall be to the Lord for a name,For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."
NKJV
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Verse of the Day 4/28
Through the Bible - 2 Samuel 22-23, Luke 22:24-38
Good morning,
There are people who say they don't believe in the God of the Old Testament because He is a "jealous God" or a "God of wrath" but believe in the love of Jesus Christ. Their are churches that pretty much have the same belief or at least put forth the same message.
Today's verse should be familiar to everyone. It's a verse that is one of the first one that kids will learn in Sunday School or Awana Clubs. But as with so many other of those verses that we learn, it is often very important to learn or to know about the verses that precede or follow it.
John 3:16 tells of "how God so loved the world", this is the God of the Old Testament sending His "only begotten Son", that "while we were yet sinners" (Rom. 5:8) Christ died for us
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. NKJV
How many times have you read or spoken John 3:16 without also reading or saying verse 17. He sent His Son into the world to save sinners, not to condemn them. Who did Jesus minister to? Sinners of every shape and kind, tax collectors, prostitutes, and other outcasts of society. Who did He speak out against? Those who thought that they didn't need Him, who were convinced of their standing before God in themselves and their works and "religion".
You could think of Jesus as a missionary, an evangelist for the Father.
"The concept of God sending His servants into the world to save them from judgement is so important that the church recognizes her call in the very word used to describe worldwide outreach - missions. This word comes from the Latin verb missio, which means to send. When the church sends evangelists and missionaries to preach the Gospel, she is imitating the Creator Himself" - Tabletalk Magazine, Ligonier Ministries.
From the prophets to Christ to modern day missionaries God has sent His people into the world not to condemn the people, but to save them.
Read these verses from the Amplified Bible, especially regarding the word believes which it amplifies as trusts in, clings to, and relies on:
16For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([d]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
17For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.
Last Friday I mentioned how Peter and John ran into opposition as they went out ministering. Christ constantly faced opposition among the Pharisee's and High Priest.
I recently received a message from friends who are on the mission field in China who asked for prayer concerning the local authorities. Another friend is leading a team on a medical missions trip who ran into opposition in the form of a cancelled flight. While serving they trust in, cling to, and rely on Jesus Christ.
Relating to Matt 9:37- "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.", we need to continue to pray for and support those who are in the field.
Say a prayer for the missionaries that you know who are "out in the fields" today serving their Master.
May you also pray that you'll be willing to go where He would send you. It could be right where you are.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
John 3:1-17
3 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."
3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him,"How can these things be?"
10 Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
NKJV
Good morning,
There are people who say they don't believe in the God of the Old Testament because He is a "jealous God" or a "God of wrath" but believe in the love of Jesus Christ. Their are churches that pretty much have the same belief or at least put forth the same message.
Today's verse should be familiar to everyone. It's a verse that is one of the first one that kids will learn in Sunday School or Awana Clubs. But as with so many other of those verses that we learn, it is often very important to learn or to know about the verses that precede or follow it.
John 3:16 tells of "how God so loved the world", this is the God of the Old Testament sending His "only begotten Son", that "while we were yet sinners" (Rom. 5:8) Christ died for us
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. NKJV
How many times have you read or spoken John 3:16 without also reading or saying verse 17. He sent His Son into the world to save sinners, not to condemn them. Who did Jesus minister to? Sinners of every shape and kind, tax collectors, prostitutes, and other outcasts of society. Who did He speak out against? Those who thought that they didn't need Him, who were convinced of their standing before God in themselves and their works and "religion".
You could think of Jesus as a missionary, an evangelist for the Father.
"The concept of God sending His servants into the world to save them from judgement is so important that the church recognizes her call in the very word used to describe worldwide outreach - missions. This word comes from the Latin verb missio, which means to send. When the church sends evangelists and missionaries to preach the Gospel, she is imitating the Creator Himself" - Tabletalk Magazine, Ligonier Ministries.
From the prophets to Christ to modern day missionaries God has sent His people into the world not to condemn the people, but to save them.
Read these verses from the Amplified Bible, especially regarding the word believes which it amplifies as trusts in, clings to, and relies on:
16For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([d]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
17For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.
Last Friday I mentioned how Peter and John ran into opposition as they went out ministering. Christ constantly faced opposition among the Pharisee's and High Priest.
I recently received a message from friends who are on the mission field in China who asked for prayer concerning the local authorities. Another friend is leading a team on a medical missions trip who ran into opposition in the form of a cancelled flight. While serving they trust in, cling to, and rely on Jesus Christ.
Relating to Matt 9:37- "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.", we need to continue to pray for and support those who are in the field.
Say a prayer for the missionaries that you know who are "out in the fields" today serving their Master.
May you also pray that you'll be willing to go where He would send you. It could be right where you are.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
John 3:1-17
3 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."
3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him,"How can these things be?"
10 Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
NKJV
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Verse of the Day - weekend 4/26
Through the Bible - 2 Samuel 17-21, Luke 21:20 - 22:23
Good morning,
For this weekend's verse we'll go to the psalms to Psalm 104.
As I was sitting on the back porch this morning and reading I could see and hear the beauty of spring around me. A little thing (literally) made me happy. It was the sound of a wren singing in the yard. Both of my grandfathers had made wren houses when I was a kid and I still have one that it probably older than me hanging in my yard. The small northern wrens are not as common down here and last year the wren house was vacant. Hopefully one of those singing this moring will find "this old house" attractive.
God's creation sings, not only in the birds but in the clouds, the storms, and the stars in the heavens on a clear night.
Read today's verse and think about what He has created.
Ps 104:24 O Lord, how manifold are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all.
The earth is full of Your possessions — NKJV
Today's verse and passage point back to Genesis 1 and the fifth day of creation.
Gen 1:20-21 God spoke: "Swarm, Ocean, with fish and all sea life!
Birds, fly through the sky over Earth!"
God created the huge whales,
all the swarm of life in the waters,
And every kind and species of flying birds.
God saw that it was good.
(from THE MESSAGE)
All this reminded me of the hymn that goes back as far as I can remember in childhood.
How Great Thou Art
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
Chorus
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
Chorus
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
Praise the God of creation and not creation itself this weekend. May your meditation be sweet to Him, may you be glad in the Lord.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Ps 104:24-105:1
24 O Lord, how manifold are Your works!In wisdom You have made them all.The earth is full of Your possessions — 25 This great and wide sea,In which are innumerable teeming things,Living things both small and great. 26 There the ships sail about;There is that LeviathanWhich You have made to play there.
27 These all wait for You,That You may give them their food in due season. 28 What You give them they gather in;You open Your hand, they are filled with good. 29 You hide Your face, they are troubled;You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. 30 You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;And You renew the face of the earth.
31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever;May the Lord rejoice in His works. 32 He looks on the earth, and it trembles;He touches the hills, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. 34 May my meditation be sweet to Him;I will be glad in the Lord. 35 May sinners be consumed from the earth,And the wicked be no more.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!Praise the Lord!
T
NKJV
Good morning,
For this weekend's verse we'll go to the psalms to Psalm 104.
As I was sitting on the back porch this morning and reading I could see and hear the beauty of spring around me. A little thing (literally) made me happy. It was the sound of a wren singing in the yard. Both of my grandfathers had made wren houses when I was a kid and I still have one that it probably older than me hanging in my yard. The small northern wrens are not as common down here and last year the wren house was vacant. Hopefully one of those singing this moring will find "this old house" attractive.
God's creation sings, not only in the birds but in the clouds, the storms, and the stars in the heavens on a clear night.
Read today's verse and think about what He has created.
Ps 104:24 O Lord, how manifold are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all.
The earth is full of Your possessions — NKJV
Today's verse and passage point back to Genesis 1 and the fifth day of creation.
Gen 1:20-21 God spoke: "Swarm, Ocean, with fish and all sea life!
Birds, fly through the sky over Earth!"
God created the huge whales,
all the swarm of life in the waters,
And every kind and species of flying birds.
God saw that it was good.
(from THE MESSAGE)
All this reminded me of the hymn that goes back as far as I can remember in childhood.
How Great Thou Art
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
Chorus
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
Chorus
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
Praise the God of creation and not creation itself this weekend. May your meditation be sweet to Him, may you be glad in the Lord.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Ps 104:24-105:1
24 O Lord, how manifold are Your works!In wisdom You have made them all.The earth is full of Your possessions — 25 This great and wide sea,In which are innumerable teeming things,Living things both small and great. 26 There the ships sail about;There is that LeviathanWhich You have made to play there.
27 These all wait for You,That You may give them their food in due season. 28 What You give them they gather in;You open Your hand, they are filled with good. 29 You hide Your face, they are troubled;You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. 30 You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;And You renew the face of the earth.
31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever;May the Lord rejoice in His works. 32 He looks on the earth, and it trembles;He touches the hills, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. 34 May my meditation be sweet to Him;I will be glad in the Lord. 35 May sinners be consumed from the earth,And the wicked be no more.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!Praise the Lord!
T
NKJV
Friday, April 25, 2008
Verse of the Day 4/24
Through the Bible - 2 Samuel 12-14, Luke 20:27-47
Good morning,
In last Friday's Verse of the Day was Matt 9:37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." ESV
The ESV says to pray "earnestly" you might also use the word fervently. We should be crying out to God for the community for the nation, mobilizing our small groups, Bible study groups, our whole churches to go to out "into the harvest". It is not only the crying out that is important it is the going out. Prayer leads to action.
Today's verse comes from Acts 5:
Acts 5:28 saying,"Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!"
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said:"We ought to obey God rather than men. NKJV
Peter and the disciples were facing opposition as they ministered the gospel. The opposition, the Pharisees noticed that they were having an impact.
John Piper had this to say regarding this verse and how it applied to his congregation to the city of Minneapolis:
"When the apostles were put on trial in Jerusalem the high priest said, “You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching” (Acts 5:28). That is what I dream for the churches of the Twin Cities. If all the Christians were talking about Christ, and giving out literature about Christ, and sending emails about Christ, and inviting people to church for Christ, and being lavishly generous to others for Christ, then someone might say, “Those Christians have filled the Twin Cities with their teaching.” May it be so. "
Wouldn't you like to have that said of St. Mark, of your church by someone of another denomination, another religion, or an atheist who wants to criticize or possibly put down your church but can't help but see the impact?
Continue to pray for the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers. In a few weeks St. Marks will have another "Inside Out" weekend where people from the church will be going out into the community in service projects. In what other ways are "laborers" being sent out?
What is the "doctrine" mentioned in verse 28 if not the "good news" about the love of Jesus Christ? How will it be displayed?
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Acts 5:26-40
26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying,"Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!"
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said:"We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."
Gamaliel's Advice
33 When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. 34 Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them: "Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it — lest you even be found to fight against God."
Good morning,
In last Friday's Verse of the Day was Matt 9:37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." ESV
The ESV says to pray "earnestly" you might also use the word fervently. We should be crying out to God for the community for the nation, mobilizing our small groups, Bible study groups, our whole churches to go to out "into the harvest". It is not only the crying out that is important it is the going out. Prayer leads to action.
Today's verse comes from Acts 5:
Acts 5:28 saying,"Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!"
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said:"We ought to obey God rather than men. NKJV
Peter and the disciples were facing opposition as they ministered the gospel. The opposition, the Pharisees noticed that they were having an impact.
John Piper had this to say regarding this verse and how it applied to his congregation to the city of Minneapolis:
"When the apostles were put on trial in Jerusalem the high priest said, “You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching” (Acts 5:28). That is what I dream for the churches of the Twin Cities. If all the Christians were talking about Christ, and giving out literature about Christ, and sending emails about Christ, and inviting people to church for Christ, and being lavishly generous to others for Christ, then someone might say, “Those Christians have filled the Twin Cities with their teaching.” May it be so. "
Wouldn't you like to have that said of St. Mark, of your church by someone of another denomination, another religion, or an atheist who wants to criticize or possibly put down your church but can't help but see the impact?
Continue to pray for the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers. In a few weeks St. Marks will have another "Inside Out" weekend where people from the church will be going out into the community in service projects. In what other ways are "laborers" being sent out?
What is the "doctrine" mentioned in verse 28 if not the "good news" about the love of Jesus Christ? How will it be displayed?
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Acts 5:26-40
26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying,"Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!"
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said:"We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."
Gamaliel's Advice
33 When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. 34 Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them: "Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it — lest you even be found to fight against God."
Verse of the Day 4/25
Through the Bible - 2 Samuel 15-16. Luke 21:1-19
Good morning,
This morning we'll return to the church sign, or the thought behind the sign that one of our High School students shared a couple of weeks ago. "Don't use God, ask God to use you".
For today's verse we'll go to Mark chapter 10 where Jesus has shared with his disciples, for the second time, how he was to be mocked, scourged, spit upon, put to death and rise again.
What follows is amazing, at least remarkable. Before reading it, what would you think that the disciples would ask for after hearing such a statement? What would you pray for (be honest)?
Here is their first recorded request:
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
Isn't that how we come to God in many of our prayers? As if we had God, or Jesus in a bottle that we can open up to grant our wishes. When you think about it, it sounds pretty much like the "prosperity gospel".
The disciples desires may have been for success in ministry with the recognition that would come along with it. Many of us may have that type of desire.
What should our prayer be? Think back to that church sign, can you, will you, instead of using God, ask God to use you, for His glory? His alone?
Today's verse comes from the end of the passage:
Mark 10:43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. NKJV
How can you be His servant today? On the ground, on the street, in the car, at Harris Teeter, in the yard, at school, at work, over lunch, on the phone, blogging, text messaging, in airplanes sharing the "good news" of what God has done for you. Having the joy "down in your heart" even in difficult, trying circumstances.
Remember who God is, what Jesus did and let it show in your life today.
In Christ,
Mike
33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”
Greatness Is Serving
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”
38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
39 They said to Him, “We are able.”
So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 but to sit on My right hand and on My left is no t Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.”
41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Good morning,
This morning we'll return to the church sign, or the thought behind the sign that one of our High School students shared a couple of weeks ago. "Don't use God, ask God to use you".
For today's verse we'll go to Mark chapter 10 where Jesus has shared with his disciples, for the second time, how he was to be mocked, scourged, spit upon, put to death and rise again.
What follows is amazing, at least remarkable. Before reading it, what would you think that the disciples would ask for after hearing such a statement? What would you pray for (be honest)?
Here is their first recorded request:
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
Isn't that how we come to God in many of our prayers? As if we had God, or Jesus in a bottle that we can open up to grant our wishes. When you think about it, it sounds pretty much like the "prosperity gospel".
The disciples desires may have been for success in ministry with the recognition that would come along with it. Many of us may have that type of desire.
What should our prayer be? Think back to that church sign, can you, will you, instead of using God, ask God to use you, for His glory? His alone?
Today's verse comes from the end of the passage:
Mark 10:43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. NKJV
How can you be His servant today? On the ground, on the street, in the car, at Harris Teeter, in the yard, at school, at work, over lunch, on the phone, blogging, text messaging, in airplanes sharing the "good news" of what God has done for you. Having the joy "down in your heart" even in difficult, trying circumstances.
Remember who God is, what Jesus did and let it show in your life today.
In Christ,
Mike
33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”
Greatness Is Serving
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”
38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
39 They said to Him, “We are able.”
So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 but to sit on My right hand and on My left is no t Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.”
41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Verse of the Day 4/23
Through the Bible - 2 Samuel 9-11, Luke 20:1-26
Good morning,
Over the past week or so we've looked at several verses in Jeremiah and Lamentations regarding the faithfulness of God in and through trying situations.
I had in mind to use a verse that could be considered a "life verse" for Jeremiah, other Bible greats, and many of us that have held on to God, and in fact dug deeper into His Word through the storms of life.
Reading in Proerbs this morning I came across a verse that led me to use the Jeremiah verse today.
Prov 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. NKJV
Isn't that how it is when you are in the depths, your heart "feels sick"?
Adversity can cause us to react mainly in two ways. We can run from God or seek Him more. Sometimes, we may run, realize that we're running from our only hope, and turn back to Him. But when we turn to Him, it is through His Word and prayer that we seek answers. This seeking God could be "the desire" spoken of in this verse. MacArthur comments that the "tree of life" is "an expression of a metaphor referring to temporal and spiritual renewal and refreshment."Today's verse comes from Jeremiah 15:
Jer 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them,
And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart;
For I am called by Your name,
O Lord God of hosts. NKJV
After a time of questioning God in the events in my life (detailed last week) I turned to God and dug deeper than I ever had. His Word and the prayers and support of others brought joy back.
The joy in His Word led me to some of the challenging books- Romans, Hebrews, Galations and Isaiah which became the focus of studies in our men's Bible studies at EEFC.
Do you realize that if you are His, a child of His, that you are called by His name, the Lord of Hosts, the Sovereign God of the universe?
If so, turn to Him, seek Him in His Word, eat them, devour them, that they may be the joy and rejoicing of your heart.
Think of the Bible characters that exemplified this in their lives. Who comes to mind?
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Jer 15:15-16:1
15 O Lord, You know;Remember me and visit me,And take vengeance for me on my persecutors.In Your enduring patience, do not take me away.Know that for Your sake I have suffered rebuke. 16 Your words were found, and I ate them,And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart;For I am called by Your name,O Lord God of hosts. 17 I did not sit in the assembly of the mockers,Nor did I rejoice;I sat alone because of Your hand,For You have filled me with indignation. 18 Why is my pain perpetualAnd my wound incurable,Which refuses to be healed?Will You surely be to me like an unreliable stream,As waters that fail?
The Lord Reassures Jeremiah
19 Therefore thus says the Lord:
"If you return,Then I will bring you back;You shall stand before Me;If you take out the precious from the vile,You shall be as My mouth.Let them return to you,But you must not return to them. 20 And I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall;And they will fight against you,But they shall not prevail against you;For I am with you to save youAnd deliver you," says the Lord. 21 "I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked,And I will redeem you from the grip of the terrible."
J
NKJV
Good morning,
Over the past week or so we've looked at several verses in Jeremiah and Lamentations regarding the faithfulness of God in and through trying situations.
I had in mind to use a verse that could be considered a "life verse" for Jeremiah, other Bible greats, and many of us that have held on to God, and in fact dug deeper into His Word through the storms of life.
Reading in Proerbs this morning I came across a verse that led me to use the Jeremiah verse today.
Prov 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. NKJV
Isn't that how it is when you are in the depths, your heart "feels sick"?
Adversity can cause us to react mainly in two ways. We can run from God or seek Him more. Sometimes, we may run, realize that we're running from our only hope, and turn back to Him. But when we turn to Him, it is through His Word and prayer that we seek answers. This seeking God could be "the desire" spoken of in this verse. MacArthur comments that the "tree of life" is "an expression of a metaphor referring to temporal and spiritual renewal and refreshment."Today's verse comes from Jeremiah 15:
Jer 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them,
And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart;
For I am called by Your name,
O Lord God of hosts. NKJV
After a time of questioning God in the events in my life (detailed last week) I turned to God and dug deeper than I ever had. His Word and the prayers and support of others brought joy back.
The joy in His Word led me to some of the challenging books- Romans, Hebrews, Galations and Isaiah which became the focus of studies in our men's Bible studies at EEFC.
Do you realize that if you are His, a child of His, that you are called by His name, the Lord of Hosts, the Sovereign God of the universe?
If so, turn to Him, seek Him in His Word, eat them, devour them, that they may be the joy and rejoicing of your heart.
Think of the Bible characters that exemplified this in their lives. Who comes to mind?
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Jer 15:15-16:1
15 O Lord, You know;Remember me and visit me,And take vengeance for me on my persecutors.In Your enduring patience, do not take me away.Know that for Your sake I have suffered rebuke. 16 Your words were found, and I ate them,And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart;For I am called by Your name,O Lord God of hosts. 17 I did not sit in the assembly of the mockers,Nor did I rejoice;I sat alone because of Your hand,For You have filled me with indignation. 18 Why is my pain perpetualAnd my wound incurable,Which refuses to be healed?Will You surely be to me like an unreliable stream,As waters that fail?
The Lord Reassures Jeremiah
19 Therefore thus says the Lord:
"If you return,Then I will bring you back;You shall stand before Me;If you take out the precious from the vile,You shall be as My mouth.Let them return to you,But you must not return to them. 20 And I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall;And they will fight against you,But they shall not prevail against you;For I am with you to save youAnd deliver you," says the Lord. 21 "I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked,And I will redeem you from the grip of the terrible."
J
NKJV
Verse of the Day 4/22
Through the Bible - 2 Samuel 6-8, Luke 19:28-48
Good morning,
How much do we change from day to day? In appearance, in weight, in our personalities? Often, not as fast as we'd like when we're trying to lose weight or build muscle.
How much does God change?
As we live our lives however, change for us is inevitable. The years fly by and we wonder what happened to that kid who spent his summers playing baseball?
For today's verse we'll go to Psalm 90:
Ps 90:1 Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. NKJV
The Lord God has literally been around forever yet doesn't change.
Today, I'd like you to consider verse 4 of this psalm:
Ps 90:4 For a thousand years in Your sight
Are like yesterday when it is past,
And like a watch in the night. NKJV
What are some of the ramifications of this? The days of Jacob, Moses, David, to Jeremiah and the rest of the prophets to God are just a few days ago, and He hasn't changed.
Some people like to think that the Bible is irrelevant in modern society, but anyone who studies the Bible will clearly see that while the world has become more mechanized, people, at the core in their hearts are the same and have the same needs. They need God, they need a Saviour Jesus Christ. The Old Testament pointed to Him, the New Testament, testified, revealed Him as He is.
From everlasting to everlasting He is God.
Just as God desired the hearts of the Israelites, so He desires that we would turn our hearts to Him.
Read the end of Psalm 90 from "THE MESSAGE" below. The NKJV Bible commentary states "Psalm 90 is a psalm of lament in which the community complains of God's judgement and the brevity of life. But even in the midst of sorrow, the people acknowledge the security they have in the Lord and pray for renewal. This is the only psalm in the Book of Psalms that is attributed to Moses."
Ps 90:12 Oh! Teach us to live well!
Teach us to live wisely and well!
Come back, God — how long do we have to wait? —
and treat your servants with kindness for a change.
Surprise us with love at daybreak;
then we'll skip and dance all the day long.
Make up for the bad times with some good times;
we've seen enough evil to last a lifetime.
Let your servants see what you're best at —
the ways you rule and bless your children.
And let the loveliness of our Lord, our God, rest on us,
confirming the work that we do.
Oh, yes. Affirm the work that we do!
Lord teach us to live well.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Ps 90:1-7
90 Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
3 You turn man to destruction,
And say,"Return, O children of men."
4 For a thousand years in Your sight
Are like yesterday when it is past,
And like a watch in the night.
5 You carry them away like a flood;
They are like a sleep.
In the morning they are like grass which grows up:
6 In the morning it flourishes and grows up;
In the evening it is cut down and withers.
7 For we have been consumed by Your anger,
And by Your wrath we are terrified.
8 You have set our iniquities before You,Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance. 9 For all our days have passed away in Your wrath;We finish our years like a sigh. 10 The days of our lives are seventy years;And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11 Who knows the power of Your anger?For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. 12 So teach us to number our days,That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O Lord!How long?And have compassion on Your servants. 14 Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy,That we may rejoice and be glad all our days! 15 Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us,The years in which we have seen evil. 16 Let Your work appear to Your servants,And Your glory to their children. 17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,And establish the work of our hands for us;Yes, establish the work of our hands.
NKJV
Good morning,
How much do we change from day to day? In appearance, in weight, in our personalities? Often, not as fast as we'd like when we're trying to lose weight or build muscle.
How much does God change?
As we live our lives however, change for us is inevitable. The years fly by and we wonder what happened to that kid who spent his summers playing baseball?
For today's verse we'll go to Psalm 90:
Ps 90:1 Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. NKJV
The Lord God has literally been around forever yet doesn't change.
Today, I'd like you to consider verse 4 of this psalm:
Ps 90:4 For a thousand years in Your sight
Are like yesterday when it is past,
And like a watch in the night. NKJV
What are some of the ramifications of this? The days of Jacob, Moses, David, to Jeremiah and the rest of the prophets to God are just a few days ago, and He hasn't changed.
Some people like to think that the Bible is irrelevant in modern society, but anyone who studies the Bible will clearly see that while the world has become more mechanized, people, at the core in their hearts are the same and have the same needs. They need God, they need a Saviour Jesus Christ. The Old Testament pointed to Him, the New Testament, testified, revealed Him as He is.
From everlasting to everlasting He is God.
Just as God desired the hearts of the Israelites, so He desires that we would turn our hearts to Him.
Read the end of Psalm 90 from "THE MESSAGE" below. The NKJV Bible commentary states "Psalm 90 is a psalm of lament in which the community complains of God's judgement and the brevity of life. But even in the midst of sorrow, the people acknowledge the security they have in the Lord and pray for renewal. This is the only psalm in the Book of Psalms that is attributed to Moses."
Ps 90:12 Oh! Teach us to live well!
Teach us to live wisely and well!
Come back, God — how long do we have to wait? —
and treat your servants with kindness for a change.
Surprise us with love at daybreak;
then we'll skip and dance all the day long.
Make up for the bad times with some good times;
we've seen enough evil to last a lifetime.
Let your servants see what you're best at —
the ways you rule and bless your children.
And let the loveliness of our Lord, our God, rest on us,
confirming the work that we do.
Oh, yes. Affirm the work that we do!
Lord teach us to live well.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Ps 90:1-7
90 Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
3 You turn man to destruction,
And say,"Return, O children of men."
4 For a thousand years in Your sight
Are like yesterday when it is past,
And like a watch in the night.
5 You carry them away like a flood;
They are like a sleep.
In the morning they are like grass which grows up:
6 In the morning it flourishes and grows up;
In the evening it is cut down and withers.
7 For we have been consumed by Your anger,
And by Your wrath we are terrified.
8 You have set our iniquities before You,Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance. 9 For all our days have passed away in Your wrath;We finish our years like a sigh. 10 The days of our lives are seventy years;And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11 Who knows the power of Your anger?For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. 12 So teach us to number our days,That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O Lord!How long?And have compassion on Your servants. 14 Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy,That we may rejoice and be glad all our days! 15 Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us,The years in which we have seen evil. 16 Let Your work appear to Your servants,And Your glory to their children. 17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,And establish the work of our hands for us;Yes, establish the work of our hands.
NKJV
Monday, April 21, 2008
Verse of the Day 4/21
Through the Bible - 2 Samuel 4-5, Luke 19:11-27
Good morning,
For the last couple of Sunday's our High School Sunday School class has been looking at the importance or our attitudes (last week) and the Lord's prayer (this week) and how they relate to one another.
Last week one of the students said that she had seen a statement on a church sign that week which read "don't use God, ask God to use you".
Another student closed in prayer. I had to write down something that he prayed, "teach me to know how to let you use me". Those two things stuck with me, were in my mind, all of this past week.
As part of my devotions I normally read a devotion from Tabletalk Magazine which is put out by R.C. Sproul's "Ligonier Ministries". They don't put out a verse or devotion for Sunday's and I normally read one of the short articles in the devotional. Today's article was on the Heidelberg Catechism.
The catechism came about when the political leader of the "Palatinate" (one of 300 small states that made up the Holy Roman (German) Empire in the 16th century), Elector Frederick III, came to power in 1559. Dr. Bierma writes, " He conducted a visitation of the churches in his realm to assess their spiritual progress. What he found was disheartening. The young people were growing up "without the fear of God and the knowledge of His Word". Where doctinal instruction was being offered, teachers and preachers were using a variety of catechisms, and some of the instructors were even confusing their students with irrelevant questions and unsound teachings. If we are really to bring about a reformation in our territory, Frederick III concluded, the place to begin is with the training of our children - youth ministry. And for that we need a single, clear guide to biblical truth and instructors who teach and live by that guide."Couldn't that be written in this country today?
Today's verse comes from Romans 14, a couple of verses which are the first referrenced in this catechism.
Rom 14:7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. NKJV
The catechism starts with the question, "What is thy only comfort in life and death?". The answer is as follows:
Answer: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, (a) am not my own, (b) but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; (c) who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, (d) and delivered me from all the power of the devil; (e) and so preserves me (f) that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; (g) yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, (h) and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, (i) and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him. (j)
The focus of our Christian lives should not be on ourselves, but to please our Lord and Saviour, submitting our will to His.I've attached the references to question 1.. If you have the time, read through them, may the verses inspire you to live to the Lord this week.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Romans14:7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.
8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God."
12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.
16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
(a) Rom.
Good morning,
For the last couple of Sunday's our High School Sunday School class has been looking at the importance or our attitudes (last week) and the Lord's prayer (this week) and how they relate to one another.
Last week one of the students said that she had seen a statement on a church sign that week which read "don't use God, ask God to use you".
Another student closed in prayer. I had to write down something that he prayed, "teach me to know how to let you use me". Those two things stuck with me, were in my mind, all of this past week.
As part of my devotions I normally read a devotion from Tabletalk Magazine which is put out by R.C. Sproul's "Ligonier Ministries". They don't put out a verse or devotion for Sunday's and I normally read one of the short articles in the devotional. Today's article was on the Heidelberg Catechism.
The catechism came about when the political leader of the "Palatinate" (one of 300 small states that made up the Holy Roman (German) Empire in the 16th century), Elector Frederick III, came to power in 1559. Dr. Bierma writes, " He conducted a visitation of the churches in his realm to assess their spiritual progress. What he found was disheartening. The young people were growing up "without the fear of God and the knowledge of His Word". Where doctinal instruction was being offered, teachers and preachers were using a variety of catechisms, and some of the instructors were even confusing their students with irrelevant questions and unsound teachings. If we are really to bring about a reformation in our territory, Frederick III concluded, the place to begin is with the training of our children - youth ministry. And for that we need a single, clear guide to biblical truth and instructors who teach and live by that guide."Couldn't that be written in this country today?
Today's verse comes from Romans 14, a couple of verses which are the first referrenced in this catechism.
Rom 14:7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. NKJV
The catechism starts with the question, "What is thy only comfort in life and death?". The answer is as follows:
Answer: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, (a) am not my own, (b) but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; (c) who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, (d) and delivered me from all the power of the devil; (e) and so preserves me (f) that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; (g) yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, (h) and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, (i) and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him. (j)
The focus of our Christian lives should not be on ourselves, but to please our Lord and Saviour, submitting our will to His.I've attached the references to question 1.. If you have the time, read through them, may the verses inspire you to live to the Lord this week.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Romans14:7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.
8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God."
12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.
16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
(a) Rom.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Verse of the Day -weekend 4/20
Through the Bible - 1 Samuel 30 - 2 Samuel 3, Luke 18:1 - 19:10
Good morning,
For this weekend's verse we'll return to the Psalms.
Psalms 56 and 57 can be looked upon as "gut wrench" prayers. In these psalms David is praying for relief from his tormentors and safety from his enemies.
Today's verses begin Psalm 57.
Ps 57:1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by.
2 I will cry out to God Most High,
To God who performs all things for me. NKJV
John MacArthurs' comments from Psalm 56 carry over to this psalm as well. He writes, "This psalm .... expresses the kind of confidence in the Lord that believers should exude when they find themselves in terrifying circumstances. David's natural reaction was to panic (56:3,4, 11). But he demonstrates in the psalm that the believer can replace potential terror with the composure of trust."
Read Psalm 57. David feels that traps have been set for him and that his very soul "is among lions". But he prays that his heart would remain steadfast and that his God would be exalted through it all.
Shouldn't that be the attitude of our hearts.
Be thinking about attitude, your attitude this weekend and as you begin the work week. What is your attitude towards God, in trying circumstances, in your day to day life at home, at work, among friends and family. Our attitude will have a great impact on the situations and will be evident to others.
Ps 57:9 I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing to You among the nations.
10 For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,
And Your truth unto the clouds.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Ps 57:1-6
57 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by.
2 I will cry out to God Most High,
To God who performs all things for me.
3 He shall send from heaven and save me;
He reproaches the one who would swallow me up.
Selah
God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.
4 My soul is among lions;
I lie among the sons of men
Who are set on fire,
Whose teeth are spears and arrows,
And their tongue a sharp sword.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.
6 They have prepared a net for my steps;
My soul is bowed down;
They have dug a pit before me;
Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen.
Selah
NKJV
Good morning,
For this weekend's verse we'll return to the Psalms.
Psalms 56 and 57 can be looked upon as "gut wrench" prayers. In these psalms David is praying for relief from his tormentors and safety from his enemies.
Today's verses begin Psalm 57.
Ps 57:1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by.
2 I will cry out to God Most High,
To God who performs all things for me. NKJV
John MacArthurs' comments from Psalm 56 carry over to this psalm as well. He writes, "This psalm .... expresses the kind of confidence in the Lord that believers should exude when they find themselves in terrifying circumstances. David's natural reaction was to panic (56:3,4, 11). But he demonstrates in the psalm that the believer can replace potential terror with the composure of trust."
Read Psalm 57. David feels that traps have been set for him and that his very soul "is among lions". But he prays that his heart would remain steadfast and that his God would be exalted through it all.
Shouldn't that be the attitude of our hearts.
Be thinking about attitude, your attitude this weekend and as you begin the work week. What is your attitude towards God, in trying circumstances, in your day to day life at home, at work, among friends and family. Our attitude will have a great impact on the situations and will be evident to others.
Ps 57:9 I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing to You among the nations.
10 For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,
And Your truth unto the clouds.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Ps 57:1-6
57 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by.
2 I will cry out to God Most High,
To God who performs all things for me.
3 He shall send from heaven and save me;
He reproaches the one who would swallow me up.
Selah
God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.
4 My soul is among lions;
I lie among the sons of men
Who are set on fire,
Whose teeth are spears and arrows,
And their tongue a sharp sword.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.
6 They have prepared a net for my steps;
My soul is bowed down;
They have dug a pit before me;
Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen.
Selah
NKJV
Friday, April 18, 2008
Verse of the Day 4/18
Through the Bible - 1 Samuel 27-29, Luke 17:20-37
Good morning,
Our church is going through a series regarding prayer in small groups and in Bible studies.
As we've seen in the verses from the last few days a key aspect or area of prayer for Christians should be for others. The church, family, neighbors, friends and ulimately for His Kingdom.
Today's verse comes from the book of Matthew where Jesus shows how He feels about the things going on in the world around him.
Matt 9:36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. NKJV
It's pretty much the scene from Jeremiah's time, pretty much the scene for today. Jeremiah had compassion for the people Jesus has compassion for them. What was His answer to the problem? To send out His disciples, to pray for more "helpers" for the harvest.
Matt 9:37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." ESV
The ESV says to pray "earnestly" you might also use the word fervently. We should be crying out to God for the community for the nation, mobilizing our small groups, Bible study groups, our whole churches to go to out "into the harvest". It is not only the crying out that is important it is the going out. Prayer leads to action.
I'm reminded of the Steve Green / Larnell Harris recording:
"Teach Me to Love".
All my life I've had to struggle to be free
Though I see no end in sight
I stand in line with men
Who made a vow to never stop the fight
And to trust that you can comprehend
A loss you've never known
Will take a love that I have searched for
But love I cannot find alone
There's no power but the power of the cross
That can melt my hardened heart
And show me all the pride and arrogance
That tear our souls apart
For injustice that you suffer
And for our nation's shameful sin
I humbly ask for your forgiveness
We need to learn to love again
Chorus:
Lord, teach me to love
Show me how to care for others
Cause my soul to burn within
For the fellowship of my brother
Only You can break the chains
That have held me for so long
Lord, You're my hope, my only hope
Teach me to love
Chorus
So daily I seek to know the Christ
Who suffered for all men
For in Him I find the courage
To ask again and again
Lord teach me to Love.
I can see the heart of Jeremiah in this song crying out for the nation, realizing that only Christ can break the chains of sin and that the way to reach out to the world is in love, love for our brothers, neighbors. Which begs the question "who is my brother" and "who is my neighbor"?
If we are to reach others it is through Christ. He is our only hope. Daily, seek to know Him more.
As you see what is going on in the world around you what are your thoughts, what is your prayer?
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Matt 9:35-10:1
The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few
35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
ESV
Good morning,
Our church is going through a series regarding prayer in small groups and in Bible studies.
As we've seen in the verses from the last few days a key aspect or area of prayer for Christians should be for others. The church, family, neighbors, friends and ulimately for His Kingdom.
Today's verse comes from the book of Matthew where Jesus shows how He feels about the things going on in the world around him.
Matt 9:36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. NKJV
It's pretty much the scene from Jeremiah's time, pretty much the scene for today. Jeremiah had compassion for the people Jesus has compassion for them. What was His answer to the problem? To send out His disciples, to pray for more "helpers" for the harvest.
Matt 9:37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." ESV
The ESV says to pray "earnestly" you might also use the word fervently. We should be crying out to God for the community for the nation, mobilizing our small groups, Bible study groups, our whole churches to go to out "into the harvest". It is not only the crying out that is important it is the going out. Prayer leads to action.
I'm reminded of the Steve Green / Larnell Harris recording:
"Teach Me to Love".
All my life I've had to struggle to be free
Though I see no end in sight
I stand in line with men
Who made a vow to never stop the fight
And to trust that you can comprehend
A loss you've never known
Will take a love that I have searched for
But love I cannot find alone
There's no power but the power of the cross
That can melt my hardened heart
And show me all the pride and arrogance
That tear our souls apart
For injustice that you suffer
And for our nation's shameful sin
I humbly ask for your forgiveness
We need to learn to love again
Chorus:
Lord, teach me to love
Show me how to care for others
Cause my soul to burn within
For the fellowship of my brother
Only You can break the chains
That have held me for so long
Lord, You're my hope, my only hope
Teach me to love
Chorus
So daily I seek to know the Christ
Who suffered for all men
For in Him I find the courage
To ask again and again
Lord teach me to Love.
I can see the heart of Jeremiah in this song crying out for the nation, realizing that only Christ can break the chains of sin and that the way to reach out to the world is in love, love for our brothers, neighbors. Which begs the question "who is my brother" and "who is my neighbor"?
If we are to reach others it is through Christ. He is our only hope. Daily, seek to know Him more.
As you see what is going on in the world around you what are your thoughts, what is your prayer?
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Matt 9:35-10:1
The Harvest Is Plentiful, the Laborers Few
35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
ESV
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Verse of the Day 4/17
Through the Bible - 1Samuel 24-26, Luke 17:1-19
Good morning,
I watched the Democratic Presidential Debate last night which took place in Philadelphia. Having been to Philadelphia and Washington D.C. you can't help but see our Christian heritage in the writings and actions of our founding fathers.
Jeremiah had to feel the same way.
In yesterday's devotional I related to Lam. 3:22 -23 on a personal level, however, the book was actually "a cry for Israel". Jeremiah was commisioned by God to be a prophet not only to Israel, but to "the nations" (Jer. 1:5). He is still being so today.
Read the following verses and see if they hit home.
Jer 2:11 Has a nation changed its gods,
Which are not gods?
But My people have changed their Glory
For what does not profit. NKJV
During the debate, there were references to "religion" and "faith" but no call to turn to it. Many of the things going on in Washington, many of the battles in the courts are trying to suppress God.
Today's verse comes a couple of verses later in the chapter:
Jer 2:13 'For My people have committed two evils:
They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters,
And hewn themselves cisterns — broken cisterns that can hold no water. NKJV
Regarding the "two evils", MacArthur writes, "First, Isael had abandoned the Lord, the source of spiritual salvation and sustenance. Secondly, Israel turned to idolatrous objects of trust; Jeremiah compared these with underground water storage devices for rainwater, which were broken and let water seep out, thus proving useless."
If Christians don't hold on to their faith, their God, what will they turn to, where will it lead them?
This nation doesn't need to turn to a political party or candidate for hope but to God in the person of Jesus Christ.
Ps 39:7 "And now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You. NKJV
What are some of the broken cisterns of today? What do people "glory in" today instead of Jesus Christ?
Draw near to the "Fountain of living waters".
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Jer 2:1-14
1 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 "Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the Lord:
"I remember you,The kindness of your youth,The love of your betrothal,When you went after Me in the wilderness,In a land not sown. 3 Israel was holiness to the Lord,The firstfruits of His increase.All that devour him will offend;Disaster will come upon them," says the Lord.'"
4 Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel. 5 Thus says the Lord:
"What injustice have your fathers found in Me,That they have gone far from Me,Have followed idols,And have become idolaters? 6 Neither did they say, 'Where is the Lord,Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt,Who led us through the wilderness,Through a land of deserts and pits,Through a land of drought and the shadow of death,Through a land that no one crossedAnd where no one dwelt?' 7 I brought you into a bountiful country,To eat its fruit and its goodness.But when you entered, you defiled My landAnd made My heritage an abomination. 8 The priests did not say, 'Where is the Lord?'And those who handle the law did not know Me;The rulers also transgressed against Me;The prophets prophesied by Baal,And walked after things that do not profit.
9 "Therefore I will yet bring charges against you," says the Lord,"And against your children's children I will bring charges. 10 For pass beyond the coasts of Cyprus and see,Send to Kedar and consider diligently,And see if there has been such a thing. 11 Has a nation changed its gods,Which are not gods?But My people have changed their GloryFor what does not profit. 12 Be astonished, O heavens, at this,And be horribly afraid;Be very desolate," says the Lord. 13 'For My people have committed two evils:They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters,And hewn themselves cisterns — broken cisterns that can hold no water.
NKJV
Good morning,
I watched the Democratic Presidential Debate last night which took place in Philadelphia. Having been to Philadelphia and Washington D.C. you can't help but see our Christian heritage in the writings and actions of our founding fathers.
Jeremiah had to feel the same way.
In yesterday's devotional I related to Lam. 3:22 -23 on a personal level, however, the book was actually "a cry for Israel". Jeremiah was commisioned by God to be a prophet not only to Israel, but to "the nations" (Jer. 1:5). He is still being so today.
Read the following verses and see if they hit home.
Jer 2:11 Has a nation changed its gods,
Which are not gods?
But My people have changed their Glory
For what does not profit. NKJV
During the debate, there were references to "religion" and "faith" but no call to turn to it. Many of the things going on in Washington, many of the battles in the courts are trying to suppress God.
Today's verse comes a couple of verses later in the chapter:
Jer 2:13 'For My people have committed two evils:
They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters,
And hewn themselves cisterns — broken cisterns that can hold no water. NKJV
Regarding the "two evils", MacArthur writes, "First, Isael had abandoned the Lord, the source of spiritual salvation and sustenance. Secondly, Israel turned to idolatrous objects of trust; Jeremiah compared these with underground water storage devices for rainwater, which were broken and let water seep out, thus proving useless."
If Christians don't hold on to their faith, their God, what will they turn to, where will it lead them?
This nation doesn't need to turn to a political party or candidate for hope but to God in the person of Jesus Christ.
Ps 39:7 "And now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You. NKJV
What are some of the broken cisterns of today? What do people "glory in" today instead of Jesus Christ?
Draw near to the "Fountain of living waters".
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Jer 2:1-14
1 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 "Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the Lord:
"I remember you,The kindness of your youth,The love of your betrothal,When you went after Me in the wilderness,In a land not sown. 3 Israel was holiness to the Lord,The firstfruits of His increase.All that devour him will offend;Disaster will come upon them," says the Lord.'"
4 Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel. 5 Thus says the Lord:
"What injustice have your fathers found in Me,That they have gone far from Me,Have followed idols,And have become idolaters? 6 Neither did they say, 'Where is the Lord,Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt,Who led us through the wilderness,Through a land of deserts and pits,Through a land of drought and the shadow of death,Through a land that no one crossedAnd where no one dwelt?' 7 I brought you into a bountiful country,To eat its fruit and its goodness.But when you entered, you defiled My landAnd made My heritage an abomination. 8 The priests did not say, 'Where is the Lord?'And those who handle the law did not know Me;The rulers also transgressed against Me;The prophets prophesied by Baal,And walked after things that do not profit.
9 "Therefore I will yet bring charges against you," says the Lord,"And against your children's children I will bring charges. 10 For pass beyond the coasts of Cyprus and see,Send to Kedar and consider diligently,And see if there has been such a thing. 11 Has a nation changed its gods,Which are not gods?But My people have changed their GloryFor what does not profit. 12 Be astonished, O heavens, at this,And be horribly afraid;Be very desolate," says the Lord. 13 'For My people have committed two evils:They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters,And hewn themselves cisterns — broken cisterns that can hold no water.
NKJV
Verse of the Day 4/16
Through the Bible - 1 Samuel 22-23, Luke 16:14-31
Good morning,
The prophet Jeremiah is credited with writing the book of Lamentations, the title of which conveys the idea of "loud cries". Jeremiah knew a little about "gut wrenching" prayers. The Jewish rabbis began calling this book "loud cries" or "lamentations" early in history. These are prayers and laments offered by the prophet over the national tragedies that had occured in his country. He grieved over how they had fallen away from God.
Through it all, he still believed and trusted in God's faithfulness.
Smack dab in the middle of this book of lament comes one of the greatest encouragements that one can find:
Lam 3:22 Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 "The Lord is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I hope in Him!" NKJV
Some of those "loud cries" can be prayers sent up in the midst of tragedies and trials.
I remember driving home from Lexington KY after hearing of my son Jeff's accident. I spent 7 long hours driving home, crying out to God much of the way. I cried out that my son would not die, please Lord, save him. Looking back it may have been a selfish prayer. The prayers were answered in way that I could not have imagined. The ensuing years have been challenging, but filled with His love and mercy.
Jeff is now the happiest kid, I should say, young man, that you'd ever meet. After two years of silence in which Jeff did not speak. For me, God's mercies are renewed every morning when I go in to see Jeff and he smiles and says something like "my peace to you" or "I appreciate you".
Yesterday, before 8 AM I received a call from my younger son Jason with the news that he had just been accepted into a doctorate level class in seminary (one of only two students not currently in doctoral studies). It was another "new mercy" from God. A little over three years ago Jason had a seizure at Bible college (UMHB in TX) which led to the discovery of an inoperable brain tumor. We didn't know what to expect out of it. But our prayers had changed. We still asked for healing, but instead of "why" the questions were more of "what". God, what are you trying to show us, what are you going to do through this? Those questions are still being answered.
He is still showing us His compassion, mercy, and faithfulness.
Perhaps then you can look back over your life and see "how great is His faithfulness" and how he has seen you "through it all".
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness
Oh God my father
There is no shadow of turning with thee
Thou changest not
Thy compassions they fail not
As thou hast been
Thou forever will be
Summer and Winter
Springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join in all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness
Mercy and love
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Lord unto me
(So Great)
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Your strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with ten thousand aside
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning
New mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Lord unto me
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Lam 3:21-28
21 This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
22 Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness. 24 "The Lord is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I hope in Him!"
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for a man to bear
The yoke in his youth.
NKJV
31 For the Lord will not cast off forever.
32 Though He causes grief,
Yet He will show compassion
According to the multitude of His mercies.
33 For He does not afflict willingly,
Nor grieve the children of men.
34 To crush under one's feet
All the prisoners of the earth,
35 To turn aside the justice due a man
Before the face of the Most High,
36 Or subvert a man in his cause —
The Lord does not approve.
37 Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass,
When the Lord has not commanded it?
38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
That woe and well-being proceed?
39 Why should a living man complain,
A man for the punishment of his sins?
40 Let us search out and examine our ways,
And turn back to the Lord;
41 Let us lift our hearts and hands
To God in heaven.
NKJV
Good morning,
The prophet Jeremiah is credited with writing the book of Lamentations, the title of which conveys the idea of "loud cries". Jeremiah knew a little about "gut wrenching" prayers. The Jewish rabbis began calling this book "loud cries" or "lamentations" early in history. These are prayers and laments offered by the prophet over the national tragedies that had occured in his country. He grieved over how they had fallen away from God.
Through it all, he still believed and trusted in God's faithfulness.
Smack dab in the middle of this book of lament comes one of the greatest encouragements that one can find:
Lam 3:22 Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 "The Lord is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I hope in Him!" NKJV
Some of those "loud cries" can be prayers sent up in the midst of tragedies and trials.
I remember driving home from Lexington KY after hearing of my son Jeff's accident. I spent 7 long hours driving home, crying out to God much of the way. I cried out that my son would not die, please Lord, save him. Looking back it may have been a selfish prayer. The prayers were answered in way that I could not have imagined. The ensuing years have been challenging, but filled with His love and mercy.
Jeff is now the happiest kid, I should say, young man, that you'd ever meet. After two years of silence in which Jeff did not speak. For me, God's mercies are renewed every morning when I go in to see Jeff and he smiles and says something like "my peace to you" or "I appreciate you".
Yesterday, before 8 AM I received a call from my younger son Jason with the news that he had just been accepted into a doctorate level class in seminary (one of only two students not currently in doctoral studies). It was another "new mercy" from God. A little over three years ago Jason had a seizure at Bible college (UMHB in TX) which led to the discovery of an inoperable brain tumor. We didn't know what to expect out of it. But our prayers had changed. We still asked for healing, but instead of "why" the questions were more of "what". God, what are you trying to show us, what are you going to do through this? Those questions are still being answered.
He is still showing us His compassion, mercy, and faithfulness.
Perhaps then you can look back over your life and see "how great is His faithfulness" and how he has seen you "through it all".
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness
Oh God my father
There is no shadow of turning with thee
Thou changest not
Thy compassions they fail not
As thou hast been
Thou forever will be
Summer and Winter
Springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join in all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness
Mercy and love
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Lord unto me
(So Great)
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Your strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with ten thousand aside
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning
New mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Lord unto me
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Lam 3:21-28
21 This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
22 Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness. 24 "The Lord is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I hope in Him!"
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for a man to bear
The yoke in his youth.
NKJV
31 For the Lord will not cast off forever.
32 Though He causes grief,
Yet He will show compassion
According to the multitude of His mercies.
33 For He does not afflict willingly,
Nor grieve the children of men.
34 To crush under one's feet
All the prisoners of the earth,
35 To turn aside the justice due a man
Before the face of the Most High,
36 Or subvert a man in his cause —
The Lord does not approve.
37 Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass,
When the Lord has not commanded it?
38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
That woe and well-being proceed?
39 Why should a living man complain,
A man for the punishment of his sins?
40 Let us search out and examine our ways,
And turn back to the Lord;
41 Let us lift our hearts and hands
To God in heaven.
NKJV
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Verse of the Day 4/14
Through the Bible - 1 Samuel 18-19, Luke 15:11-32
Good morning,
Our Pastor Bob had a very powerful message this weekend regarding "gut wrenching prayer". I must say that with the events in my life that I could easily relate to the message. I've made some "gut wrenched" prayers in my life and I know that there will be more. These types of prayers are life changing. They do not always, perhaps don't usually (at least immediately) change the circumstances, but often change our hearts which lead to a change in ourselves and eventually our circumstances.
I know that I've shared several times the circumstances around our son Jeff's accident which left him with a traumatic brain injury and permanently disabled. That was a time of "gut wrenching prayer".
The morning before his accident, providentially, God had brought me to Hebrews chapter 10 followed by Hebrews chapter 11 the day of his accident. I've always looked to Hebrews 11 and the "Hall of Faith" to help me through difficult times.
Today's verse comes from chapter 10 which encourages and challenges us to "draw near to God" and to "hold fast without wavering". Good advice, especially when approaching Him with a "gut wrenching prayer".
Heb 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. NKJVJohn MacArthur writes, "
This verse (22) describes the prerequisites for entering the presence of God (Ps. 15) sincerity, security, salvation, and sanctification." Regarding the "true heart" he writes, "The Greek term behind "true" carries the idea of being sincere, genuine and without ulterior motives (Jer. 24:7, Matt. 15:8)."
These prayers may not be eloquent or polite, in fact they may be (as Bob had mentioned) quite "raw", but they are open and honest. This is what it means to "pour out our hearts to God".
No matter what the situation, I would encourage you to have the "boldness" (verse 19) "pour out your hearts to God". The holding fast and confession of faith without wavering don't come easy, but give evidence of the salvation and faith that we have.
Lord willing, we'll take a look at some more verses on this topic this week.
Read the rest of the passage below. There is instruction and guidance for those of us in these situations and for us who know of others that are in them.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Heb 10:19-26
Hold Fast Your Confession
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 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.
NKJV
Good morning,
Our Pastor Bob had a very powerful message this weekend regarding "gut wrenching prayer". I must say that with the events in my life that I could easily relate to the message. I've made some "gut wrenched" prayers in my life and I know that there will be more. These types of prayers are life changing. They do not always, perhaps don't usually (at least immediately) change the circumstances, but often change our hearts which lead to a change in ourselves and eventually our circumstances.
I know that I've shared several times the circumstances around our son Jeff's accident which left him with a traumatic brain injury and permanently disabled. That was a time of "gut wrenching prayer".
The morning before his accident, providentially, God had brought me to Hebrews chapter 10 followed by Hebrews chapter 11 the day of his accident. I've always looked to Hebrews 11 and the "Hall of Faith" to help me through difficult times.
Today's verse comes from chapter 10 which encourages and challenges us to "draw near to God" and to "hold fast without wavering". Good advice, especially when approaching Him with a "gut wrenching prayer".
Heb 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. NKJVJohn MacArthur writes, "
This verse (22) describes the prerequisites for entering the presence of God (Ps. 15) sincerity, security, salvation, and sanctification." Regarding the "true heart" he writes, "The Greek term behind "true" carries the idea of being sincere, genuine and without ulterior motives (Jer. 24:7, Matt. 15:8)."
These prayers may not be eloquent or polite, in fact they may be (as Bob had mentioned) quite "raw", but they are open and honest. This is what it means to "pour out our hearts to God".
No matter what the situation, I would encourage you to have the "boldness" (verse 19) "pour out your hearts to God". The holding fast and confession of faith without wavering don't come easy, but give evidence of the salvation and faith that we have.
Lord willing, we'll take a look at some more verses on this topic this week.
Read the rest of the passage below. There is instruction and guidance for those of us in these situations and for us who know of others that are in them.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Heb 10:19-26
Hold Fast Your Confession
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 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.
NKJV
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Verse of the Day - weekend 4/12
Through the Bible - 1 Samuel 13-17, Luke 14:25-15:10
Good morning,
I like having my morning devotions in specific places. One is in "my" recliner in the living room, the other is out in the "Carolina room" (or screened in porch for most of us northerners). Today marked the fist day of the year that it was warm enough to sit outside without a robe or sweatshirt. I love being in God's Word and in prayer amid the sounds His creation singing (the birds) and the beauty of spring with the flowers and blossoming trees.
Another thing that I was able to see was how weeds have crept in and started growing in areas they shouldn't be. The yard needs a lot of work. Where do I start?
Today's verse comes from Psalm 119, a psalm that is all about the Word.
Ps 119:132 Look upon me and be merciful to me,
As Your custom is toward those who love Your name.
133 Direct my steps by Your word,
And let no iniquity have dominion over me. NKJV
We can have "winters" in our spiritual relationship with God as well. Times where we fall away from spending as much time in His word. When that happens it is easy for "weeds", sin, to creep into our lives. Getting back into His Word will reveal these things to us.
Can you say "I love the Lord" this morning? Do you need to get closer to Him in His Word and in prayer? These verses can easily be said as a prayer for God's mercy, for His guidance, and for deliverance from temptation and sin.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Ps 119:129-137
129p PE
Your testimonies are wonderful;
Therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.
131 I opened my mouth and panted,
For I longed for Your commandments.
132 Look upon me and be merciful to me,
As Your custom is toward those who love Your name.
133 Direct my steps by Your word,
And let no iniquity have dominion over me. 134 Redeem me from the oppression of man,
That I may keep Your precepts.
135 Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes.
136 Rivers of water run down from my eyes,
Because men do not keep Your law.
NKJV
Good morning,
I like having my morning devotions in specific places. One is in "my" recliner in the living room, the other is out in the "Carolina room" (or screened in porch for most of us northerners). Today marked the fist day of the year that it was warm enough to sit outside without a robe or sweatshirt. I love being in God's Word and in prayer amid the sounds His creation singing (the birds) and the beauty of spring with the flowers and blossoming trees.
Another thing that I was able to see was how weeds have crept in and started growing in areas they shouldn't be. The yard needs a lot of work. Where do I start?
Today's verse comes from Psalm 119, a psalm that is all about the Word.
Ps 119:132 Look upon me and be merciful to me,
As Your custom is toward those who love Your name.
133 Direct my steps by Your word,
And let no iniquity have dominion over me. NKJV
We can have "winters" in our spiritual relationship with God as well. Times where we fall away from spending as much time in His word. When that happens it is easy for "weeds", sin, to creep into our lives. Getting back into His Word will reveal these things to us.
Can you say "I love the Lord" this morning? Do you need to get closer to Him in His Word and in prayer? These verses can easily be said as a prayer for God's mercy, for His guidance, and for deliverance from temptation and sin.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Ps 119:129-137
129
Your testimonies are wonderful;
Therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.
131 I opened my mouth and panted,
For I longed for Your commandments.
132 Look upon me and be merciful to me,
As Your custom is toward those who love Your name.
133 Direct my steps by Your word,
And let no iniquity have dominion over me. 134 Redeem me from the oppression of man,
That I may keep Your precepts.
135 Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes.
136 Rivers of water run down from my eyes,
Because men do not keep Your law.
NKJV
Friday, April 11, 2008
Verse of the Day 4/11
Through the Bible - 1 Samuel 10-12, Luke 14:1-25
Good morning,
Yesterday we witnessed the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch. He had been seeking God, had not found him in the pagan religions, he wanted to find out more of this God of the Jews. He may have found religion in the synagogue or church, but came away still searching for God. God found him by sending Philip to meet him as we read in Martyn Lloyd-Jones comments "arise and go towards the south at noon".
In today's passage Saul is carrying out his persecution of the church, of Christ when he is met by Jesus on the road to Damascus.
I picture it as being a "white hot" day like we might experience in North Carolina in mid August. It didn't deter Saul from his mission. However, he was stopped in his tracks by a vision, a great light brighter than the noon day sun, blinded him.
Acts 22:6 "Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' NKJV
After "it happened", after he questioned Jesus and heard Jesus' answer, " Saul responded by saying "What shall I do Lord?".
Saul had thought that he was carrying out God's will in persecuting Jesus. Jesus met him along the road and sent him to Damascus to be told all the things "that were appointed" to him.
Saul had been practicing religion, following the prescribed rules above and beyond the call of duty of the synagogue, persecuting the Christians who he thought were enemies of God. Now he had found salvation in the one that he had been persecuting.
The though of "outshining the sun" made me think of a praise song that we sang in church recently, "Glorious One" by Steve Fee.
Glorious One
Our hands are lifted high
our hearts are bowing reverence
and we're surrounded by
the glory of Your presence
with every creature every tongue
we're lifting our voice to the Glorious One
Glorious One
Glorious One
Light of the world
You outshine the sun
King of all Kings
eternity sings
Glorious One
God of infinite worth
with hands that carve out the ocean
You hold the universe
and still You run to the broken
with every heart that's been redeemed
we're lifting our song to the Glorious King
there is none more beautiful
there is none more wonderful (repeat)
Where did Jesus meet you? In the church or along the road it doesn't matter, what matters is that He will use whatever means it takes.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Acts 22:1-17
22 "Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now." 2 And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent.
Then he said: 3 "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, 5 as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 "Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' 8 So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'
9 "And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. 10 So I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.' 11 And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.
12 "Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, 13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that same hour I looked up at him. 14 Then he said,'The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. 15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'
NKJV
Good morning,
Yesterday we witnessed the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch. He had been seeking God, had not found him in the pagan religions, he wanted to find out more of this God of the Jews. He may have found religion in the synagogue or church, but came away still searching for God. God found him by sending Philip to meet him as we read in Martyn Lloyd-Jones comments "arise and go towards the south at noon".
In today's passage Saul is carrying out his persecution of the church, of Christ when he is met by Jesus on the road to Damascus.
I picture it as being a "white hot" day like we might experience in North Carolina in mid August. It didn't deter Saul from his mission. However, he was stopped in his tracks by a vision, a great light brighter than the noon day sun, blinded him.
Acts 22:6 "Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' NKJV
After "it happened", after he questioned Jesus and heard Jesus' answer, " Saul responded by saying "What shall I do Lord?".
Saul had thought that he was carrying out God's will in persecuting Jesus. Jesus met him along the road and sent him to Damascus to be told all the things "that were appointed" to him.
Saul had been practicing religion, following the prescribed rules above and beyond the call of duty of the synagogue, persecuting the Christians who he thought were enemies of God. Now he had found salvation in the one that he had been persecuting.
The though of "outshining the sun" made me think of a praise song that we sang in church recently, "Glorious One" by Steve Fee.
Glorious One
Our hands are lifted high
our hearts are bowing reverence
and we're surrounded by
the glory of Your presence
with every creature every tongue
we're lifting our voice to the Glorious One
Glorious One
Glorious One
Light of the world
You outshine the sun
King of all Kings
eternity sings
Glorious One
God of infinite worth
with hands that carve out the ocean
You hold the universe
and still You run to the broken
with every heart that's been redeemed
we're lifting our song to the Glorious King
there is none more beautiful
there is none more wonderful (repeat)
Where did Jesus meet you? In the church or along the road it doesn't matter, what matters is that He will use whatever means it takes.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Acts 22:1-17
22 "Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now." 2 And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent.
Then he said: 3 "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, 5 as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 "Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' 8 So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'
9 "And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. 10 So I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.' 11 And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.
12 "Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, 13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that same hour I looked up at him. 14 Then he said,'The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. 15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'
NKJV
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Verse of the Day 4/10
Through the Bible - 1 Samuel 7-9, Luke 13:22-35
Good morning,
Over the last few days we've seen the hand of God at work in the intimate details in the lives of Naomi, Ruth, and Samuel. They reveal the sovereignty of God while pointing out the importance of prayer in those "intimate details". God is in control.
This thinking flies in the face of many people today who would be more inclined to think like Ernest Henley in his poem "Invictus".
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
For today's verse we'll go to the book of Acts, chapter 8 where Philip is instructed by an angel of the Lord to head south where he runs into an Etheopian who just happens to be reading the book of Isaiah.
Acts 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, NKJV
Martyn Lloyd - Jones comments, "the Authorized version says "arise, go towards the south" but an alternate translation reads "arise, and go about noon..." Of course, there is no contradiction because at noon the sun is in the south. But interestingly the only other place where this Greek word is used in the New Testament is in this same book of Acts, in 22:6, and there it is translated "about noon", and I believe it is the right translation here.
What is the point ? Asks somebody.
It is this: if Philip had gone down an hour earlier or an hour later, he would never have met this Etheopian eunuch at al. But God knows everything. There were two roads that went down from Jerusalem to Gaza in the south; but God knew which of the two the man would be travelling on, and He knew the exact time that would lead to his meeting this man who was seeking salvation."
The meeting between these two men was not by chance. God sent His servant at a critical moment so that this wonderful thing would happen to this man who was "seeking salvation".
Who do you think was "captain of his soul"? Who is the Captain of yours? What "chance" circumstances brought you to where you are today?
In Christ,
Mike
Acts 8:26-9:1
Christ Is Preached to an Ethiopian(cf. Isa 53:7,8)
26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot."
30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
31 And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this:
"He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,So He opened not His mouth. 33 In His h umiliation His justice was taken away,And who will declare His generation?For His life is taken from the earth."
34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?" 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?"
37 Then Philip said,"If you believe with all your heart, you may."
And he answered and said,"I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the ci ties till he came to Caesarea.
NKJV
Good morning,
Over the last few days we've seen the hand of God at work in the intimate details in the lives of Naomi, Ruth, and Samuel. They reveal the sovereignty of God while pointing out the importance of prayer in those "intimate details". God is in control.
This thinking flies in the face of many people today who would be more inclined to think like Ernest Henley in his poem "Invictus".
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
For today's verse we'll go to the book of Acts, chapter 8 where Philip is instructed by an angel of the Lord to head south where he runs into an Etheopian who just happens to be reading the book of Isaiah.
Acts 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, NKJV
Martyn Lloyd - Jones comments, "the Authorized version says "arise, go towards the south" but an alternate translation reads "arise, and go about noon..." Of course, there is no contradiction because at noon the sun is in the south. But interestingly the only other place where this Greek word is used in the New Testament is in this same book of Acts, in 22:6, and there it is translated "about noon", and I believe it is the right translation here.
What is the point ? Asks somebody.
It is this: if Philip had gone down an hour earlier or an hour later, he would never have met this Etheopian eunuch at al. But God knows everything. There were two roads that went down from Jerusalem to Gaza in the south; but God knew which of the two the man would be travelling on, and He knew the exact time that would lead to his meeting this man who was seeking salvation."
The meeting between these two men was not by chance. God sent His servant at a critical moment so that this wonderful thing would happen to this man who was "seeking salvation".
Who do you think was "captain of his soul"? Who is the Captain of yours? What "chance" circumstances brought you to where you are today?
In Christ,
Mike
Acts 8:26-9:1
Christ Is Preached to an Ethiopian(cf. Isa 53:7,8)
26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot."
30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
31 And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this:
"He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,So He opened not His mouth. 33 In His h umiliation His justice was taken away,And who will declare His generation?For His life is taken from the earth."
34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?" 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?"
37 Then Philip said,"If you believe with all your heart, you may."
And he answered and said,"I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the ci ties till he came to Caesarea.
NKJV
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Verse of the Day 4/9
Through the Bible - 1 Samuel 3-6, Luke 13:1-21
Good morning,
In yesterday's passage Naomi had changed her name to Mara which means bitter. In time, God turned things around in her life for the good of all people.
Today we'll move ahead to 1 Samuel where Hannah "was in bitterness of soul" and "wept in anguish" over her situation. She desired a child and to this point had not been able to conceive. She kept on praying and went to the tabernacle to seek after God where Eli and God heard her prayers.
Today's verse shows her rejoicing in the birth of a son.
1 Sam 1:20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked for him from the Lord." NKJV
Can you look back in your life where you desired something of the Lord and He delivered it "in the process of time", His time?
Regarding Samuel, MacArthur writes, "the name literally meant "name of God" but sounded like "heard by God". For her, the assonance was most important, because God had heard her prayers.
The story doesn't end there. She dedicated Samuel to the Lord. God blessed her with more children. Samuel went on to be the last Judge of the people of Israel until they chose a king to be over them. Samuel continued to play an influential part through the reign of Saul and God's choosing of David to be king.
God had worked through Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz as David came from that lineage. Samuel ended up annointing David as the king. He would go on to be the greatest king of Israel.
All this He worked through the lives of two women who were in "bitterness of soul" but still prayed, still clinged to the God of their salvation.
Many small groups in our church are going through a series on prayer. We may not see the answers in the here and now, but these two passages show that God does listen, hear, and "in the process of time" answers our prayers.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com/
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
1 Sam 1:19-2:12
Samuel Is Born and Dedicated
19 Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked for him from the Lord."
21 Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever."
23 So Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the Lord establish His word." Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
24 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, "O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord." So they worshiped the Lord there.
Hannah's Prayer(cf. Luke 1:46-55)
2 And Hannah prayed and said:
"My heart rejoices in the Lord;My horn is exalted in the Lord.I smile at my enemies,Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
2 "No one is holy like the Lord,For there is none besides You,Nor is there any rock like our God.
3 "Talk no more so very proudly;Let no arrogance come from your mouth,For the Lord is the God of knowledge;And by Him actions are weighed.
4 "The bows of the mighty men are broken,And those who stumbled are girded with strength. 5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,And the hungry have ceased to hunger.Even the barren has borne seven,And she who has many children has become feeble.
6 "The Lord kills and makes alive;He brings down to the grave and brings up. 7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;He brings low and lifts up. 8 He raises the poor from the dustAnd lifts the beggar from the ash heap,To set them among princesAnd make them inherit the throne of glory.
"For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,And He has set the world upon them. 9 He will guard the feet of His saints,But the wicked shall be silent in darkness.
"For by strength no man shall prevail. 10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces;From heaven He will thunder against them.The Lord will judge the ends of the earth.
"He will give strength to His king,And exalt the horn of His anointed."
11 Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah. But the child ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest.
NKJV
Good morning,
In yesterday's passage Naomi had changed her name to Mara which means bitter. In time, God turned things around in her life for the good of all people.
Today we'll move ahead to 1 Samuel where Hannah "was in bitterness of soul" and "wept in anguish" over her situation. She desired a child and to this point had not been able to conceive. She kept on praying and went to the tabernacle to seek after God where Eli and God heard her prayers.
Today's verse shows her rejoicing in the birth of a son.
1 Sam 1:20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked for him from the Lord." NKJV
Can you look back in your life where you desired something of the Lord and He delivered it "in the process of time", His time?
Regarding Samuel, MacArthur writes, "the name literally meant "name of God" but sounded like "heard by God". For her, the assonance was most important, because God had heard her prayers.
The story doesn't end there. She dedicated Samuel to the Lord. God blessed her with more children. Samuel went on to be the last Judge of the people of Israel until they chose a king to be over them. Samuel continued to play an influential part through the reign of Saul and God's choosing of David to be king.
God had worked through Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz as David came from that lineage. Samuel ended up annointing David as the king. He would go on to be the greatest king of Israel.
All this He worked through the lives of two women who were in "bitterness of soul" but still prayed, still clinged to the God of their salvation.
Many small groups in our church are going through a series on prayer. We may not see the answers in the here and now, but these two passages show that God does listen, hear, and "in the process of time" answers our prayers.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com/
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
1 Sam 1:19-2:12
Samuel Is Born and Dedicated
19 Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. 20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked for him from the Lord."
21 Now the man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever."
23 So Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him. Only let the Lord establish His word." Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
24 Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, "O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord." So they worshiped the Lord there.
Hannah's Prayer(cf. Luke 1:46-55)
2 And Hannah prayed and said:
"My heart rejoices in the Lord;My horn is exalted in the Lord.I smile at my enemies,Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
2 "No one is holy like the Lord,For there is none besides You,Nor is there any rock like our God.
3 "Talk no more so very proudly;Let no arrogance come from your mouth,For the Lord is the God of knowledge;And by Him actions are weighed.
4 "The bows of the mighty men are broken,And those who stumbled are girded with strength. 5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,And the hungry have ceased to hunger.Even the barren has borne seven,And she who has many children has become feeble.
6 "The Lord kills and makes alive;He brings down to the grave and brings up. 7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;He brings low and lifts up. 8 He raises the poor from the dustAnd lifts the beggar from the ash heap,To set them among princesAnd make them inherit the throne of glory.
"For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,And He has set the world upon them. 9 He will guard the feet of His saints,But the wicked shall be silent in darkness.
"For by strength no man shall prevail. 10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces;From heaven He will thunder against them.The Lord will judge the ends of the earth.
"He will give strength to His king,And exalt the horn of His anointed."
11 Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah. But the child ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest.
NKJV
Verse of the Day 4/8
Through the Bible - 1 Samuel 1-2, Luke 12:35-59
Good morning,
I must admit that there are times when you are down, and things (from cancelled flights to illnesses, to relationships), actually nothing seems to be going right, that you can (at least for a second) question whether God is really in control.
When this happens and you are in God's Word, He'll reveal a little (or a lot) about such things. I had such feelings as recently as this past weekend. Where did I find myself reading in my devotions? It started with Psalm 8 "what is man that you are mindful of him". The read through the Bible plan that is posted above then brought me to Ruth and I Samuel.
Ruth is one of my favorite "little" books of the Bible, only 4 chapters, but it is remarkable how it shows how God is in control of even the small stuff, even when it seems that things are happening "by chance" (see Ruth 2:3).
The book, most believe to be written by Samuel, takes place at a time when Israel was ruled by Judges, and was going through a time of moral and spiritual decay. Naomi had experienced the loss of her husband and sons. She gave herself the name "Mara" which means "bitter".
Today's verse is a turning point in her life, her daughter in laws lfe, and as it ends up a turning point for the nation of Israel.
Ruth 2:20 Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law,"Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!" And Naomi said to her, "This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives." NKJV
Naomi could now see things beginning to turn around, she was seeing God's mercy in Boaz' treatment of Ruth. Boaz turns out to be the "kinsman redeemer" for the family and ends up taking Ruth as his wife. Out of this lineage comes Obed, Jesse, and David. You know the rest of the story.
MacArthur comments, " this turn of events marks the point where Naomi's human emptiness (1:21) begins to be refilled by the Lord. Her night of earthly doubt has been broken by the dawning of new hope. (Romans 8:28-39)"
Who was Naomi that "He was mindful of her"?
When you feel "insignificant" these episodes from the Old Testament can help us to see that God is in control, even in those "just happened to be" circumstances.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
1 There was a relative of Naomi's husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz. 2 So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor."
And she said to her, "Go, my daughter."
3 Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
4 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers,"The Lord be with you!"
And they answered him, "The Lord bless you!"
5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, "Whose young woman is this?"
6 So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, "It is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 And she said, 'Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.' So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house."
8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, "You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn."
10 So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?"
11 And Boaz answered and said to her, "It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. 12 The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge."
13 Then she said,"Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for you have comforted me, and have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants."
Ruth 2:14-3:1
14 Now Boaz said to her at mealtime, "Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar." So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched grain to her; and she ate and was satisfied, and kept some back. 15 And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. 16 Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her."
17 So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 Then she took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. So she brought out and gave to her what she had kept back after she had been satisfied.
19 And her mother-in-law said to her, "Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who took notice of you."
So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, "The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz."
20 Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law,"Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!" And Naomi said to her, "This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives."
21 Ruth the Moabitess said, "He also said to me, 'You shall stay close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.'"
22 And Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, "It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, and that people do not meet you in any other field." 23 So she stayed close by the young women of Boaz, to glean until the end of barley harvest and wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law.
NKJV
Good morning,
I must admit that there are times when you are down, and things (from cancelled flights to illnesses, to relationships), actually nothing seems to be going right, that you can (at least for a second) question whether God is really in control.
When this happens and you are in God's Word, He'll reveal a little (or a lot) about such things. I had such feelings as recently as this past weekend. Where did I find myself reading in my devotions? It started with Psalm 8 "what is man that you are mindful of him". The read through the Bible plan that is posted above then brought me to Ruth and I Samuel.
Ruth is one of my favorite "little" books of the Bible, only 4 chapters, but it is remarkable how it shows how God is in control of even the small stuff, even when it seems that things are happening "by chance" (see Ruth 2:3).
The book, most believe to be written by Samuel, takes place at a time when Israel was ruled by Judges, and was going through a time of moral and spiritual decay. Naomi had experienced the loss of her husband and sons. She gave herself the name "Mara" which means "bitter".
Today's verse is a turning point in her life, her daughter in laws lfe, and as it ends up a turning point for the nation of Israel.
Ruth 2:20 Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law,"Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!" And Naomi said to her, "This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives." NKJV
Naomi could now see things beginning to turn around, she was seeing God's mercy in Boaz' treatment of Ruth. Boaz turns out to be the "kinsman redeemer" for the family and ends up taking Ruth as his wife. Out of this lineage comes Obed, Jesse, and David. You know the rest of the story.
MacArthur comments, " this turn of events marks the point where Naomi's human emptiness (1:21) begins to be refilled by the Lord. Her night of earthly doubt has been broken by the dawning of new hope. (Romans 8:28-39)"
Who was Naomi that "He was mindful of her"?
When you feel "insignificant" these episodes from the Old Testament can help us to see that God is in control, even in those "just happened to be" circumstances.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
1 There was a relative of Naomi's husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz. 2 So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor."
And she said to her, "Go, my daughter."
3 Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
4 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers,"The Lord be with you!"
And they answered him, "The Lord bless you!"
5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, "Whose young woman is this?"
6 So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, "It is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 And she said, 'Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.' So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house."
8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, "You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn."
10 So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?"
11 And Boaz answered and said to her, "It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. 12 The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge."
13 Then she said,"Let me find favor in your sight, my lord; for you have comforted me, and have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants."
Ruth 2:14-3:1
14 Now Boaz said to her at mealtime, "Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar." So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched grain to her; and she ate and was satisfied, and kept some back. 15 And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. 16 Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her."
17 So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 Then she took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. So she brought out and gave to her what she had kept back after she had been satisfied.
19 And her mother-in-law said to her, "Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who took notice of you."
So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, "The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz."
20 Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law,"Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!" And Naomi said to her, "This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives."
21 Ruth the Moabitess said, "He also said to me, 'You shall stay close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.'"
22 And Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, "It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, and that people do not meet you in any other field." 23 So she stayed close by the young women of Boaz, to glean until the end of barley harvest and wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law.
NKJV
Verse of the Day - weekend 4/6
Through the Bible - Judges 18 - Ruth 2, Luke 11:1-12:3
Good morning,
A friend from the church that I grew up in sent a note to me about the hymn used earlier in the week and how it brought back memories. This sent me to an old hymn book looking up some of those old songs. I remember singing many hymns that were written by Fanny Crosby.
One of them was "To God Be the Glory"
To God be the glory, great things He hath done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.
Refrain:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done.
Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truely believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.
For today's verse we'll go to Galations 1:
Gal 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. NKJV
The Greek word for "age" in this passage doesn't refer to a period of time but to an order system, in this case the world system.
Praise God this weekend that He offers this deliverance from the "world system" to all who come to Him in faith. In this present time as in the first century, isn't that what we need, "grace" and "peace" to face the challenges day by day. It's how we can live a life where we will say "to God be the glory" for the great things He has done and continues to do.
In Christ,
Mike
Gal 1:1-11
1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Only One Gospel
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
NKJV
Good morning,
A friend from the church that I grew up in sent a note to me about the hymn used earlier in the week and how it brought back memories. This sent me to an old hymn book looking up some of those old songs. I remember singing many hymns that were written by Fanny Crosby.
One of them was "To God Be the Glory"
To God be the glory, great things He hath done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.
Refrain:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done.
Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truely believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.
For today's verse we'll go to Galations 1:
Gal 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. NKJV
The Greek word for "age" in this passage doesn't refer to a period of time but to an order system, in this case the world system.
Praise God this weekend that He offers this deliverance from the "world system" to all who come to Him in faith. In this present time as in the first century, isn't that what we need, "grace" and "peace" to face the challenges day by day. It's how we can live a life where we will say "to God be the glory" for the great things He has done and continues to do.
In Christ,
Mike
Gal 1:1-11
1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Only One Gospel
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
NKJV
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Verse of the Day 4/2
Through the Bible - Judges 11-12, Luke 9:38-62
Good morning,
There is a book that has been out for a while entitled "The Audacity of Hope" which was taken from a message from a pastor who has been in the news lately. I have not read the book or the message so I wont comment on them.
Reading in Matthew chapter 8 I came across a New Testament example of "the audacity of hope". It is the account of a leper that approached Jesus for healing.
Lepers were outcasts of society during those days, moreso than people who had aids when it first surfaced. They were forced to live in isolation or in leper colonies. They couldn't worship, do business, or have any kind of "normal" life interacting with others.
This being the case the leper in this passage acts with "the audacity of hope" in approaching Jesus. He is his only hope. Despite others that would be thinking and saying "how dare him" come among the throng surrounding Jesus, he pushes forward not only in hope, but in faith, believing that Jesus would be willing to do for him what no one else could.
Matt 8:2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."
3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. NKJV
Jesus could have healed him with His word alone, but He chose to reach out and touch the man. It would have made Him ceremonially "unclean", but He is not defiled. Instead this contact with an "unclean" man purifies and heals the man.
The lesson before us today is that even the vilest sinner can approach, can turn to Jesus for cleansing, for healing, for restoration, and for salvation. But they must come to Him in faith, believing that He can accomplish what no one else can.
I've heard personal testimonies that, while not being as miraculous as being cured of leprosy, nonetheless are miracles in themselves of what Jesus can and will still do for those that will come to Him and surrender their lives to Him.
Have you been praying for someone who has seemed beyond hope? Keep praying, keep hoping and keep reaching out.
It's a short passage which ends with the leper being "a testimony" to others including his priest.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Matt 8:1-5
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
(Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16)
1When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. 2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."
3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
4 And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
NKJV
Good morning,
There is a book that has been out for a while entitled "The Audacity of Hope" which was taken from a message from a pastor who has been in the news lately. I have not read the book or the message so I wont comment on them.
Reading in Matthew chapter 8 I came across a New Testament example of "the audacity of hope". It is the account of a leper that approached Jesus for healing.
Lepers were outcasts of society during those days, moreso than people who had aids when it first surfaced. They were forced to live in isolation or in leper colonies. They couldn't worship, do business, or have any kind of "normal" life interacting with others.
This being the case the leper in this passage acts with "the audacity of hope" in approaching Jesus. He is his only hope. Despite others that would be thinking and saying "how dare him" come among the throng surrounding Jesus, he pushes forward not only in hope, but in faith, believing that Jesus would be willing to do for him what no one else could.
Matt 8:2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."
3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. NKJV
Jesus could have healed him with His word alone, but He chose to reach out and touch the man. It would have made Him ceremonially "unclean", but He is not defiled. Instead this contact with an "unclean" man purifies and heals the man.
The lesson before us today is that even the vilest sinner can approach, can turn to Jesus for cleansing, for healing, for restoration, and for salvation. But they must come to Him in faith, believing that He can accomplish what no one else can.
I've heard personal testimonies that, while not being as miraculous as being cured of leprosy, nonetheless are miracles in themselves of what Jesus can and will still do for those that will come to Him and surrender their lives to Him.
Have you been praying for someone who has seemed beyond hope? Keep praying, keep hoping and keep reaching out.
It's a short passage which ends with the leper being "a testimony" to others including his priest.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Matt 8:1-5
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
(Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16)
1When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. 2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."
3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
4 And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
NKJV
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Verse of the Day 4/1
Through the Bible - Judges 8-10, Luke 9:1-37
Good morning,
We'll continue where we left off yesterday with the state of affairs in the church in Germany in the 1930's. Bonhoeffer was calling for the people of the churches to "test the spirits to see if they were of God".
Following is an excerpt from a Christmas sermon preached in Berlin in 1936:
"And just as our ancestors did not lose their faith in the coming light and the sun despite the ice and cold of the longest night, yes, indeed even celebrated seeing again the light of sun, which their God would give them in the coming year. And this is why we still give gifts around the Christmas tree.
Germany, after the Great War, was threatened with collapse. But then came he who, despite the great darkness in so many German hearts, spoke of light and showed them the way to the light. His appeal found an echo in thousands and hundreds of German souls, who carried the appeal further. It swelled out like a sweeping cloud and then happened the greatest miracle: Germany awoke and followed the sign of light, the Swastika.
The darkness is now conquered, now suffering is over, which so long gripped our people. The sun is rising even higher, with our ancient German symbol, the Swastika, and it's warmth surrounds the whole German people, melts our hearts together into one great community. No one is left out, no one needs to hunger or freeze, despite the deep night and snow and ice because the warmth from the hearts of the whole people pours out, in the emblem of the National Socialist Welfare programme and the Winter Help work and carries the German Christmas into the most forsaken German heart.
In this hour, Adolf Hitler is our benefactor, who has overcome the winter night with its terrors for the whole people and has led us under the Swastika to a new light and a new day." - From the book "Not Every Spirit" Christopher Morse pages 35-36.
How far the church (or at least many of the churches) had fallen..
For today's verse we'll continue in 1 John 4:
1 John 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. NKJV
In this "Christmas" message, where is the focus? Certainly not on Christ who "humbled Himself" in coming to earth and what He came to accomplish. The message was looking for leadership and deliverence from an ego maniac, looking for power and glory.
These "German Christians never represented the majority of Chrisitians in Germany. Officially the Roman Catholic leaders declared opposition to the "German Christians as did the "Confessing Church" which Bonhoeffer was a part of.
However, some within those churches supported the movement. One archbishop warned against saying or doing anything that "could be construed as criticism of the leading personalities in state and community of the political views they represent".
Seeing all of this one can understand how Bonhoeffer would call the people to "test the spirits in the Church of Christ".
There is a lot of "talk" going around today from pulpits and in the news that is being attributed to churches and to Christ. I would think a question to ask would be "where is Christ" in the messages that are coming out?
The Church of Christ should be exalting Christ. We are still being challenged to test the spirits, to test the messages to see if they are of God.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
1 John 4:1-5:1
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Knowing God Through Love(cf. John 3:16)
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Seeing God Through Love
12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
The Consummation of Love
17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.
Obedience by Faith
20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
NKJV
Good morning,
We'll continue where we left off yesterday with the state of affairs in the church in Germany in the 1930's. Bonhoeffer was calling for the people of the churches to "test the spirits to see if they were of God".
Following is an excerpt from a Christmas sermon preached in Berlin in 1936:
"And just as our ancestors did not lose their faith in the coming light and the sun despite the ice and cold of the longest night, yes, indeed even celebrated seeing again the light of sun, which their God would give them in the coming year. And this is why we still give gifts around the Christmas tree.
Germany, after the Great War, was threatened with collapse. But then came he who, despite the great darkness in so many German hearts, spoke of light and showed them the way to the light. His appeal found an echo in thousands and hundreds of German souls, who carried the appeal further. It swelled out like a sweeping cloud and then happened the greatest miracle: Germany awoke and followed the sign of light, the Swastika.
The darkness is now conquered, now suffering is over, which so long gripped our people. The sun is rising even higher, with our ancient German symbol, the Swastika, and it's warmth surrounds the whole German people, melts our hearts together into one great community. No one is left out, no one needs to hunger or freeze, despite the deep night and snow and ice because the warmth from the hearts of the whole people pours out, in the emblem of the National Socialist Welfare programme and the Winter Help work and carries the German Christmas into the most forsaken German heart.
In this hour, Adolf Hitler is our benefactor, who has overcome the winter night with its terrors for the whole people and has led us under the Swastika to a new light and a new day." - From the book "Not Every Spirit" Christopher Morse pages 35-36.
How far the church (or at least many of the churches) had fallen..
For today's verse we'll continue in 1 John 4:
1 John 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. NKJV
In this "Christmas" message, where is the focus? Certainly not on Christ who "humbled Himself" in coming to earth and what He came to accomplish. The message was looking for leadership and deliverence from an ego maniac, looking for power and glory.
These "German Christians never represented the majority of Chrisitians in Germany. Officially the Roman Catholic leaders declared opposition to the "German Christians as did the "Confessing Church" which Bonhoeffer was a part of.
However, some within those churches supported the movement. One archbishop warned against saying or doing anything that "could be construed as criticism of the leading personalities in state and community of the political views they represent".
Seeing all of this one can understand how Bonhoeffer would call the people to "test the spirits in the Church of Christ".
There is a lot of "talk" going around today from pulpits and in the news that is being attributed to churches and to Christ. I would think a question to ask would be "where is Christ" in the messages that are coming out?
The Church of Christ should be exalting Christ. We are still being challenged to test the spirits, to test the messages to see if they are of God.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
1 John 4:1-5:1
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Knowing God Through Love(cf. John 3:16)
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Seeing God Through Love
12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
The Consummation of Love
17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.
Obedience by Faith
20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
NKJV
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