Bible Thoughts by Terry Hedderman

Sunday, 1/26/13  Ps 44:1 We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old. Is your personal Christianity more of a “history book” or a “daily newspaper” Christianity? Is God doing anything in your life? Draw closer to Him and He will draw closer to you.                                    Do you feel tht the blessings of God have pretty much bypassed you? “I’m not God’s favorite!”  Ps 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. “Keep” means to value highly or guard as a treasure. And notice, the blessings go to those who engage their whole heart.  Try this:  Pour yourself into devoted, sold-out Christianity for 6 months: tithe, go to 3 services a week, win souls, have personal Bible and prayer, attend a prayer meeting, keep short accounts with God....try it: give God’s way an honest effort, and then tell me the blessings have bypassed you. He challenged us in Malachi:  “Prove me.”
Monday, 1/27/14  Ps 118:18 The Lord hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death. Notice 2 things: How far/hard God will chasten His kids, and notice the restraining hand of God.                                            Ps 118:19  Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord.  The chastening of the Lord in v18 turns the child of God to rightousness.  Chastening is corrective; punishment is retributive, or recompensatory.        
Tuesday, 1/28/14  Ps 119:23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in th statutes. If you are the victim of gossip and slander from princes (the “upper class” or moderately powerful people), your lifeline is to think upon the Bible.                                        Pro 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter1God puts puzzles into our lives.  2We are to attempt to solve them.  3It’s an honor to work to solve them.
Wednesday, 1/29/14  Rom 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. Could your pastor brag on your faith (belief + works)? If he couldn’t, Jesus probably couldn’t...maybe some honest re-evaluation needs to be made.                                           Ps 47:2 For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth. His terribleness, His awesomeness, His scariness....they are on your side. Take comfort; take cheer; and take orders!!
Thursday, 1/30/13  Ps 48:9 We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple. Here’s a revolutionary thought: Let’s try to think of Jesus the next time we go to church!!! Set a calendar reminder on your phone to remind you.                                    Ps 119:30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me. The way of truth is completely tied to the Word of God. You cannot live any version of godly or right apart from the Bible (You might live morally, but not godly.) There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Message me for help getting more from your Bible.
Friday, 1/31/14  Ps 119:66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments. This is basic, but we first believe the Bible (the word means to trust or confide in) then we derive benefit from it. So the next step is yours: you give, then you get.                                    1 Sam 27-29  He was probably wrong for doing it, but David lived with the Philistines for 16 months. But can you blame him? God’s leader kept trying to kill him; God’s people kept betraying him to that king. It’s sad that Goliath’s hometown accepted him better than God’s people. How gracious are you toward those who’re struggling? The sinful? The different? Those not quite as polished as you are? Do you go out of your way to greet them and love them...or do you just go out of your way to avoid them?
Saturday, 2/1/14  Ps 119:72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. I wonder how different our lives (no, MY life) would be if we came anywhere near living that verse.... What would we do?                        Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and let the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  RE-TURN We get right with God the same way we got saved: acknowledge the problem, realize there’s a penalty, Come to a Person, depend on His provision: in this case, it’s 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Thoughts from some others
Pro 31:3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. In this verse and the next two, the 2 areas that will destroy/ruin leadership are warned against: women and drink. Our leaders need to heed this warning today.
Ps 47:6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our king, sing praises. As a nation, a church, a family, and individuals, we have so much to sing and praise God for. If we don’t have a heart full of praise and a song to sing about it, we need an attitude check.
Lev 10:1-2 In these 2 verses, God deals harshly with 2 men who were anointed priests of god, who knew better, but became lazy and careless with what was serious & sacred to God. We need to be very aware of who and what is sacred to Him today: His preachers, Son, Word, Salvation, etc.
Pro 29:27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked. Attitude toward wickedness, sin, and justice reveal our heart’s condition and one’s spiritual condition.
Pro 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. A prerequisite to confidence and boldness in decision making is eternal salvation in Christ and righteous living.
Pro 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Real friends encourage, build, and assist whenever and wherever they can.
Ps 41:4 I said, Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul! For I have sinned against thee.  David got his heart right, admitted his guilt to God and was forgiven, but ruined lives, broken dreams, hurts, and loss of family, friends, and respect remained. Sins can be forgiven and souls healed, but the scars and effects still remain.
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