Sunday,
12/14/14 Another reason we don’t pray:
pride. Ps 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after
God. Solve pride by directing your thinking; by fasting; by body position:
lay face down and remind yourself you’re made of dirt, and are filthy. Try
it.... Ps
119:158 I beheld the transgressors, and
was grieved; because they kept not thy word. Do you ever hurt because God
must hurt at sin? Do you ever hurt for
the people who suffer because of their sin and its consequences?
Sunday, 12/7/14 Matt 22:40 On these two
commandments hang all the law and the prophets. The two commandments, love
God and love your neighbor, are the essence of all the “rules and standards”
that you complain and balk about. Maybe it’s not a “rules thing” that’s your
problem, but a “love thing.” Ps
112:4 Unto the upright there ariseth light
in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 1To
fully see and appreciate the light, we must be in darkness. 2Jesus,
the Bible, and believers are lights of the world...look to them and for them in
your darkness. 3Be upright in dark and scary times...and, 4if
there is no force trying to push you over, is there any merit to being
UP-RIGHT?
Sunday,
11/30/14 Job 16:12 I was at ease, but [God] hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me
by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark. Job was
godly and right and yet, out of the blue, calamity came. 1If
all’s good: rejoice. 2While it’s good, strengthen
your spirit. 3It won’t always be good: hard times WILL come. Matt
12:30b ...and he that gathereth not with
me scattereth abroad. Just a reminder that being a soul winner is a
command, not an option. If you’re not trying to win the lost, not only are you
disobedient and very ungrateful for your salvation, according to this verse
(“scattereth”), you make it harder on those who are trying to win the lost.
Sunday,
11/23/14 Pro 19:2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that
hasteth with his feet sinneth. In context, look at the 2nd half
of the verse with the first. Maybe we get to moving so fast that we run right
by knowledge that we’re to get for our soul (attitude, spirit). Pro 20:15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies:
but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. Knowing rightly is not
sufficient. Doing rightly is stopping short. We must teach rightly also. God
blessed Ezra because he sought the law of the Lord, he did it, and he also
taught it. God said in Hebrews 5:12 that when they should have been teachers,
they still needed to be taught. YOU need to teach what you know. YOU are the
smartest biblical scholar that someone knows. YOUR knowledge wasn’t just given
you to for you: it was given you for you and others. Please consider starting
to send out a daily text or make a daily post like I do. Message me for more
details on how to get started.
Sunday, 11/16/14 Est 6:11-12 Thus shall it
be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor. And Mordecai came again
to the king’s gate. After an unexpected, huge blessing, Mordecai simply
resumed his duties; he didn’t suddenly feel he was a big shot. There’s a lesson
there for us. 2
Chron 36:15 And the Lord God of their
fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because
he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place... Because of
compassion, God sends preachers to remind us of our sin. He simply wants us to
do what’ll make us happy. Are you responding properly?
Sunday,
11/9/14 Is one of your pastimes “hanging
out with friends”? Don’t pray that God’ll bless your actions; do what God
blesses (Part 2): Ps 1:1b Blessed is the man that...standeth [not] in
the way of sinners. The old saying is still true: “Idle minds are the
Devil’s workshop.” And out of the heart
proceed evil thoughts... Gen
17:10 This is my covenant, which ye shall
keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you
shall be circumcised. Some thoughts re: Abraham & circumcision: Why did
God institute it? Why a drastic, exterior, somewhat visible sign of
identity? 1To identify His people as different; 2as
an obedience tester; & 3as a sign of special
relationship. Others? Likewise, it seems
that baptism is an exterior rite with no “practical purpose” other than
picturing and identifying and obedience. Throughout His word, God has given His
people commands to obey “just cuz He said so.” I think of their dietary
restrictions, some of their laws re: seed, and clothing and use of animals. Are
you a simple enough believer to simply obey “just cuz” or are you stubborn and
demand reasons for everything? (You demand your children obey you “just cuz”
you say it, don’t you??)
Sunday,
11/2/14 Are you frustrated that God’s no helping you? So is God!! Ps 81:14: I should have soon subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against
their adversaries. But look at v13: Oh
that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways.
Before getting upset at Him, examine your (dis)obedience. Heb 5:2 Who [earthy high priests] can have compassion on the ignorant, and on
them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with
infirmity. Leaders (dads, pastors, teachers, coaches, bosses): don’t ever
forget that you’re not better than your lowliest follower. Your degrees or
titles or power or position are from God. Don’t ever think that you’re one whit
better in any way, shape, or form.
Sunday,
10/26/14 Ps 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in
unity! “Unity” not “union.” If we get too close to anyone, we’ll find
negatives. A big key to life is to get as close as possible while still
maintaining the good relationship. Ps
72:3 The mountains shall bring peace to
the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. The whole psalm is
about Christ: it’s become almost a throw-away truth, but if your life is
lacking peace, a close relationship with the Prince of Peace is the only way.
Quit searching for peace and fulfillment by indulging in the things that
millions of others also found to be ineffective. The Bible, church, living for
others, soul winning, holiness, prayer....these are still the answer for the
hole in your soul and life.
Sunday, 10/19/14 Ps 119:165 Great peace
have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Perhaps the
peace and love shown in this verse came from the praise in v164: Seven times a day do I praise thee because
of thy righteous judgments. Phil 1:24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. Who
needs you? Whom do you need? Make sure they know that you’re depending on them
and for what. Many a person feels useless and unwanted...even by those closest
to them: their family.
Sunday, 10/12/14 Don’t have anything special planned for
today? Start working on 2 Cor 7:1: Having
therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Acts 18:15 But if
it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will
be no judge of such matters. Gallio wouldn’t rule in matters in he didn’t
have authority over, or in matters of which he was ignorant. Perhaps we could
learn this lesson?? Acts
21:23 Do therefore this that we say to
thee: We have 4 men which have a vow on them... They used a human solution to Paul’s presence
in Jerusalem, but there is no mention of praying for Divine intervention for
his protection. There is no mention of submission and supplication and seeking
the mind of the Lord. How do you tend to solve your problems? By man’s best guesses,
or by God’s precepts? Ps
119:89 For ever, O Lord, thy word is
settled in heaven. However disrupted and unsettled your life is, rest and
revel in the stability of eternal things.