Sunday, 12/27/15 Ps 95:7b-8a, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart, as in the provocation... It seems that hardening is a possible (or probable) daily occurrence, so softening must also be done daily (at least.) Prepare your mind and heart before coming to your Bible or prayer time. Ps 95:2, Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. An idea for you musical people: set more Scripture to music and share it. An idea for all of us: set more Scripture to music for you and God to enjoy. YES: Y-O-U come up with some tunes. How? Memorize a verse; review it frequently, ask God to help with a tune, go out walking and reciting, refine it, and hopefully, share it, but at least use it for you. Quit making excuses and let God use you to obey this verse and be a blessing to others.
Monday, 12/28/15 John 21:3, Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. Whatever the time, whatever the hour, it’s too soon to quit: too soon to quit on God, to quit on your marriage, to quit on your kids, to quit on a friendship, to quit on attempts at reconciliation. It’s too soon to quit. Ezra 1:1-2, Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia...the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus...saying, Thus saith Cyrus...The Lord God of heaven...hath charged me to... God put the idea into the heart of Cyrus and then stirred up his spirit to accomplish it. Perhaps we need to pray more and post less about the offenses of our politicians. (I never know how to react to the political posts anyway: what can I do other than vote? My question to all of the political posters is this, “Do you spend as much time in prayer for your country or its leaders as you do in reading and posting about its ills? Only you can answer the question...)
Tuesday, 12/29/15 Ps 99:2, The Lord is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people. We know this verse theologically, but practically, no. We wonder if He’s actually aware of our circumstances, if He cares, or if He’s actually in a position to intervene. He knows; He cares; He can. Talk to and trust Him. Jon 1:3, But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and wend down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. An old sermon outline: 1Mankind feels the need to flee from God's presence. 2When man does flee, the direction that he goes is always down. (The one fleeing won't have as good of a marriage, family, life, purpose in life, etc. the farther he flees.) 3There WILL be a destination available to run toward (there is a ‘life” apart from God.) 4There is a fare that must be paid in order to flee. 5Others will join you in fleeing. (Just cuz there's a crowd doing what you are doesn't make it right or smart...) 6However, in time, those who were “with” you in fleeing will throw you overboard when trouble comes. 7Try as you might, the child of God cannot run from His Daddy. (If God isn't pursuing you as you run, perhaps you're actually running toward your real dad; perhaps you were never born into God's family. That God “nags” and “bothers the one fleeing shows that birth relationship.)
Wednesday, 12/30/15 Ps 1, Blessed is the man that [chooses not to do some things]. But his delight [is in the things of God.] The ungodly are not so... I’m not big on New Year’s resolutions, but how about a New Year’s Eve Eve decision to start some godly habits and drop or alter some bad ones? Ps 25:5, Lead my in thy truth (Step #1), and teach me (Step #2): for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. You and I are much more likely to be taught (get something out of our Bibles or church) if we’re obeying previous lessons. If your Bible or church attendance has become a boring, simply necessary thing that you do...check your obedience level. How? Take a walk with the Lord, clear your mind and cleanse your heart and sincerely ask Him if there is anything between yourself and Him that He wants you to correct.
Thursday, 12/31/15 Ps 129:1-2, Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me. Afflictions, many afflictions, have always been part and parcel of belonging to God, but so is ultimate victory. I wonder how many “disasters out of the clear blue” that we undergo; the “unfair treatments” that show that “God is picking on me,” or that “I’m not one of His favorites like So-n-so” were really telegraphed to us ahead of time. Pro 29:1, He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. I wonder how often we ignore the reproofs of life, the speed bumps or pot holes which were sent to alter our course or speed...
Friday, 1/1/16 Mic 1:2, Hear, all ye people...and let the Lord God be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. Maybe it’s not that God isn’t trying to talk to you or reprove you, or point out/tell you your sin is wrong, maybe it’s that you’re not LETTINGHim speak at all. We all know people who used to be in church, but who, for any of a dozen reasons, are not anymore. (‘Tis sad.) I read this verse recently and wondered how many of those whom we feel quit on God or self-destructed are really casualties from wounds I/we inflicted upon them. Pro 29:5, A man that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet. (Compare this thought with Pro 27:6, Faithful are the wounds of a friend.) Read Pro 31:10-31. I count about 25 specific things that the Pro 31 lady did. (v10, virtue: moral excellence, strength of character, courage, bravery; v12, doing good to family; v12, consistency.) Idea: study/find the entire list and write down each action/trait on a 3x5 card, and look at a new card each day and work on doing/being that for that day. Do it each day of this year.
Saturday, 1/2/16 Pro 31:3b-4a, Give not...thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. It is not for kings...to drink wine. If alcohol can destroy kings, it’ll destroy you and me. Two statements: you may be exceptional, but you’re not the exception. Overestimate sin’s power and underestimate your ability to resist. Acts 6:1, And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected... Problems between individuals or groups is nothing new in NT churches.1Don’t let your faith be shaken because of a dispute. 2Remember, you can only control YOUR actions and attitudes. 3Remember, other will answer to their Lord for their actions, and He hasn’t enlisted you in an advisory or prosecutorial capacity.
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Miscellaneous thoughts from others:
- When you see someone who seems to have everything in order, don't be deceived. What we see, is only a single picture; a snapshot in time. Even if we had order for a split second, it can develop into chaos in the next frame. So, it's only a fantasy, observing the "still pictures" of other folk's best moments! If you are in a frame of loneliness, or infirmity, or affliction, waiting on the Lord is the exercise that must be used. Every moment becomes a still picture when it is passed. Even in a motion picture, it is the very lows that make the highs so high! Instead of being deceived, be defined and determined!
- When you put everything on God, and do nothing, then you will blame God for doing nothing.
- We cannot see what is ahead in the coming year, but we know the One Who does. Trust Him.
- Christ's love is deeper than any pit of sin into which we may fall.
- You cannot change enough to make God love you, but when you know how much God loves you it will change you.
- People are hurting and most people couldn't care less. So today show people the love of a God who couldn't care more.
- An occasional glance in the rearview mirror is fine, but mainly focus on where you’re going.
- Symbolism is important in the Christian life, but not near as important as the substance of the Christian life.
- If you are not getting the answer you are seeking, God is not rejecting you, he is merely redirecting you.
- When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.
- Biblical dispensation is a division of time NOT doctrine.
- Grace is the thread God uses to stitch the wounds our sins have caused.
- If you want to improve your walk with God in 2016 make certain you are walking in the same direction as He is.
- 5 things to do on New Years Day: 1. Begin with prayer. 2. Start a new Bible reading plan. 3. Review your financial goals. 4. Do at least one random act of kindness. 5. Love today like it may be your last.
- Never protect the past at the expense of the future.
- God often allows us to experience low places in our lives in order to teach us lessons that we could learn no other way. If you are in one of those places, pay attention to the Teacher.
- You weren't an accident. You weren't mass produced. You aren't an assembly-line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on the earth by the Master Craftsman.
- If you live long enough you will make mistakes and if you learn from your mistakes you will live even longer.
- Christians should be praying because Satan is preying.
- Stop blaming the person who hurt you when you are the one who keeps picking at the scab.
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Bible thoughts from some others:
- Bible thoughts! Ps 28:1, Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. Sometimes it feels as if we are "in a pit" or in a bind in life. Aren't we so glad God can reverse it if we will allow Him??!!
- Grace does not ignore or indulge sin. Grace deals with sin, both with truth and mercy. The purpose is not punishment for, but deliverance from. Many mistake grace as being too soft on sin, while others ignore grace and show no mercy. Both are mistaken. Grace is Godlike in that it both condemns the sin, while offering pardon for the repentant sinner.
- Ps 94:9,He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see? How foolish and ignorant we are to try to hide all we say and do from our God and get by with it. Thanks be to God for His mercy, grace, patience, and forgiveness, or we would all be in a mess!
- Ps 100:1-2, Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. The music we prefer is a reflex ion of our hearts and a barometer of our spiritual health. What do the CDs we prefer and listen to say about us before our God?
- Ps 90:12, So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Each of us needs to make this our prayer and purpose every day of our lives. Life is too short for us to fritter away or waste a moment of it without consciously living it with purpose and direction.
- Pro 12:21a, There shall no evil happen to the just. All that happens to those who are eternally saved is of God is not an accident or evil.
- He remembers our frame and knows that we are dust. He may sometimes chasten us, it is true, but even this He does with a smile, the proud, tender smile of a Father who is bursting with pleasure over an imperfect but promising son who is coming every day to look more and more like the One whose child he is.
- Bible thoughts! Ps 32:11, Be glad in the Lord , and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart." A good New Year's resolution for us all would be to find joy in the Lord, regardless of our circumstances.
- Ps 107:9, For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with gladness. We need to look for circumstances and events in our lives that drive us to have this genuine zeal for the divine presence of God in our lives every day in 2016, and not rebel and complain about them.
- Ps 107:8, 15, 21, 31, O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Here’s a challenge and a question that everyone must face: why allow our circumstances to be in control of our attitude instead of all the blessings that He has given to us?
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