NOVEMBER ARCHIVES
November 1st
Proverbs 1:32-33
Ever heard the saying “Give a man enough rope and he will hang himself?” What does that mean? I believe it might have something to do with today’s verses. Why would people turn from the wisdom of the Word of God? Especially people that claim to believe there is a one true God. I mean, I could somewhat understand a person that believes there might be another god or no god not paying any attention to the warnings in Gods Word. But people that say they do believe in Jesus, God and Holy Spirit turn from the wisdom of Gods Word. WHY? I think it might just be that they have been given enough rope to hang themselves. It usually starts out small with just a little success or a little prosperity or a little of what the world calls joy and happiness. And as the days go by and turn into weeks and months and years, they begin to feel that there is no way this could change. And then it happens. They have begun to believe in themselves more than God. They might subconsciously think they really don’t need a God. In fact, some begin to wonder if there really is a God after all. They begin to think, “Look how long I have gotten away with not obeying what the Bible says. I’ve had no problems, no worries, no God helping me. I earned it all myself.” And there you have it. As the verse above says “the prosperity of fools” destroys them. And in the end… they hang themselves with their own stuff. THINGS took them from God. THINGS kept them from God. THINGS send them to Hell. And then they have no more THINGS.
As you go through this day, look at the things you have acquired. As you see
each one, take a second to thank God who gave that thing to you. Thank Him for
it and ask Him how you might use it to glorify Him. In Colossians 1:16 it says
that all THINGS were created by Him and for Him. Thank Him, that He allows you
to play with His THINGS.
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November 2nd
Acts 20:7
Why do we meet on Sunday? Some have said we violate the scripture by meeting on Sunday rather than the Jewish Sabbath Day. Some say that we meet on Sunday just because it was more convenient for merchants and farmers years back. Some have absolutely no idea at all why we meet on Sunday; they just come to church and worship. Truth be known, you can worship and should worship God on every day of the week. So why do we gather on Sunday? Because the Bible gives illustration of how we ought to conduct church. It tells us clearly who should and should not be Pastors, Deacons and leaders in the church. It tell us what we should be doing (singing psalms and praising God and preaching His word) and what we should not be doing (Read the book of Corinthians. its too long to type out here.) It also shows us what day the disciples meet to have church. Disciples are the followers and those that studied the word of God. It says upon the first day of the week thy gathered to break bread and preach the word of God. Just as we do. The early church is our example. The Apostles lead the church. They are our example. And the first day of the week was then called the Lords day, as it was the day our Lord rose from the tomb. And He, most of all, is our example. Why do we meet on Sunday? Because we want to do as Gods Word says and gather together to worship our Lord.
Did you take timeout this week to worship God with other believers? Did you
gather with them in the House of God and hear the Word of God preached? Be sure
to take time out to meet with God’s people. In doing so you also meet with
Jesus. Jesus is the Head and the church is the Body of Christ.
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November 3rd
Job 31:1
What have you promised your body lately? Did you promise it that if you behaved real good this week and did not eat too much and exercised a little that this week end it could have a double chocolate fudge brownie with hot fudge on top and ground pecans with whip cream and a cherry on it? Did you promise your arms and legs a little R&R after working extra hard? Whether we think about it or not, we do make promises to ourselves. Some promises are better than others. But what about your eyes? What have you promised them besides maybe a little rest? Have you promised your eyes that you would not look on anything sinful on purpose? Do you dare make yourself that promise? Or are you afraid it would cut into your TV programs? Could it change the magazines you read? Would it stop you from going some place you wanted to go? Can you make a covenant with your eyes? Not to look at sin as satisfying? Not to see filth as fine? To not see worldliness as wise? Can you make that covenant with your eyes?
If you’re a Christian, you kind of already did when you gave yourself to God.
See God cannot look on sin. It disgusts Him when He sees it. It cost Him His
only Son. It made Him watch Jesus, the one He loved so much, be beaten and spit
on’ slapped and crucified. God does not like to see sin. And when you see sin,
you take Him with you. What did you make God watch yesterday? What are you going
to make Him look at today?
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November 4th
Psalm 106:21
Often in the scripture we find that Egypt is used as a picture of the world around us. God brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt just as He takes His church out of the world today by salvation. God called the Children of Israel to be different from the rest of the world and their beliefs, just as He does the church today. In the passage above, the Psalmist is clearly referring to the Jewish people that were freed from their bondage in Egypt by the miracles that God had done in the presence of the Pharaoh. It is referring to how God had freed them, provided for them in their journey. Made a place in the land of Israel for them and turned it over to them when they arrived. Then He blessed the land and filled it with everything they could dream of. And all the things God gave them cluttered their view of God. And they forgot Him. I do know this verse is about a time centuries ago. But the living Word of God is proving that Satan never changes his tactics. Same old tricks. People just forget. God brings a person out of sin, saves them, and frees them from the bondage that sin once had on them, and gives them a brand new home in heaven. God begins to bless their new life. And the next thing you know, the things God gave them cloud the view they had of God. And they forget who they receive everything from. Even a Nation that was once UNDER GOD… Now is UNDER ATTACK. The freedoms given by God are being taken away by the world. Let’s remember who gave us this land.
Where did God bring you from? Besides saving you from a place called hell, and
making a home for you in heaven some day. What did God bring you from? Think a
moment and remember God’s goodness to you. Then thank Him for all His blessing
on you today. Thank Him for our country. Then show Him you care. He can do great
things again, if we will do our part and trust Him.
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November 5th
Proverbs 5:6
Read this story as if you were saying these things. Lets begin: Ok, now that I am ___ (You fill in the age, and be honest) I finally understand life. I did not really understand it a year ago, or three years ago or five years ago. But today I am sure I have it all figured out. Look at all I have learned from life. And those poor people who are not my age yet, when will they ever learn. And all those people that are older than me trying to tell this and that won’t work. Where do they get off anyway? They have no idea of what’s happening today in today’s market. They are just old fashioned. Sound familiar? Yes, if your honest, you kind of feel that way from time to time, and then, the bottom falls out of your dream or idea. Things seem to change for absolutely no reason. I saw a poster once that had a frog setting on a lily pad looking at another lily pad a ways away and the caption under it said, “Just when you thing you can make ends meet, someone moves the ends!” Oh how true it seems to be. Why must life be this way? Well, one reason is, the world does not love you. In fact they really do not even like you. You are a person in their scheme of getting ahead. PROGRESS not people is what this world seems to be all about. And when you no longer help them make progress, then you become expendable. And today we see that all too often. There is little if any stability it seems in this world today. Nothing seems to be for sure anymore. Well in this world that seems true. But one thing that is for sure and never changes is God. He said He would never leave you or forsake you. Why? Not because He likes you. Because He truly LOVES you and cares very much for you.
Looking for stability in and ever-changing world? Let me invite you to look to
someone that is never ever changing. Look to God. He’s out of this world.
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November 6th
Romans 1:12
Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name…. And they’re always glad you came… These are the first two lines of a song that opened a TV show in the mid 80’s to 90’s. It centered on a local bar that people seemed to gather around because everyone made them feel welcome there. People just wanted to be around people that were like them. And nothing ever changes. People just want to feel they are accepted and loved. They want to know that there are other people like them with hurts and trials in their life. They want to know that someone cares about what happens to them. People want to be around people just like them. Why did Paul want to be around the church he was writing to? So he could find COMFORT in people that believed like him. He was being cursed at, mistreated, imprisoned, laughed at and rejected. He longed to be around someone that understood. Sound familiar? The world today will cuss at you, mistreat you, imprison you with all types of vices, and then laugh at you when your hooked, and reject you for what you’ve become. That is why I like to go to church. Those people know how I feel. They too have been laughed at for their faith this week. Just like me they have felt they did not fit in someplace because of what was going on there. These people understand me and love me for who I am, and who God is through me. And because they love me that way, I cannot help but love them back in the same way they love me. I love to go to church where they all know my name. It is wonderful to be welcomed by people each week that are just glad you came. I like to be around people like me.
What about you? Where do you feel you fit best? Look around at the crowd you
hang out with. What is the heart of your relationship with these people?
Whatever you see in them, that’s you! In the world, there are gangs, clubs and
social groups to try to help you fill that void. My friends are eternal. I will
always get to hang out with them. What a comfort. Our relationship is based on
REAL LOVE!
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November 7th
Job 42:10
Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen, nobody knows my sorrow…. Oh woe is me. Moan, groan, IS ANYBODY PAYING ATTENTION HERE? I AM HURTING AND WANT SOMEONE TO SEE!!!! Sounds normal doesn’t it. When we are in physical pain or emotional distress it is sure hard to think of anything, much less anyone else. Our full attention is on ourselves and our problems. And by golly someone ought to be paying attention to me. I paid attention to them when they were hurting. Truth be known if you did pay attention to others in their time of need and you look around, you will probably see a host of people gathered for your support now. But sometimes our desire for comfort has seemed to blind us somehow. As I read this passage of scripture I found it interesting to see just when it was that God released Job from his captivity of calamity that Satan had brought his way. Job was not only released, but also restored and even more so when he took his eyes off his situations and prayed for his friends. When Job interceded on behalf of his friends the Lord removed the trials and health problems. Why? Because Job was showing Christian love for another. His concern was not look at me and my situations, but God help someone else. Absolute true humility. One of the best ways I have found to deal with struggles I am facing is a two-step process. Step 1. Find a quiet place where I can be alone with God and bare my heart to Him. Cry if I need to. Beg if I need to. Do whatever is required for me to give all of my concerns to Him. And then get up and trust that He truly will deal with it. Step 2. Find someone else to help with his or her struggles. Getting my focus on others helps me lose sight of my immediate struggles and also makes me feel good to know that I am using the gifts God gave me to help someone else.
Are you in the midst of trials and terrible circumstances? Want to be free from
them? Give them to God and go on to help someone else. You might be God’s answer
to someone else prayer today. And who knows, they might be yours!
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Need a hand fixing a car? Call someone that is licensed in Auto Mechanics and they usually can fix you right up. Need a room painted? Call over a couple of friends and they can probably help you paint a room in no time. Having problems with the old pipes in your house clogging up? Call a plumber, they will snake out those old pipes or replace them with little problem. Need a broken heart mended? Need to be freed from an addiction? Need all the terrible things that you have done in your life cleared away? Need your conscience right before God? Need to be sure that when you die you’ll go to Heaven? There is no man on earth that can do these things. People can point you toward God and remind you of the promises He has made and even join you in prayer about something. But Only God can mend a heart, release from addiction, cleanse from sin, and help you know where you stand now and in eternity. ONLY GOD.
Only God can fix our troubles. Maybe you have a situation that needs attention
today. Let me point you to Him. He can and will listen and give real help. Oh
yes, and by the way, all those other things that I mentioned that man would help
you with, (car, painting, plumbing,) God gave them the ability to do those
things too. So really God and God alone can fix every trouble,,, even your car.
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November 9th
Proverbs 9:10, 11
I remember as a young boy watching a TV Science Fiction show, where one of the characters would often say, “Live Long and Prosper Captain.” Each and every time he would walk away to be beamed someplace or to be separated for an extended time he would say those words. What did he actually mean? “Live Long…” How does a person go about doing that? To live long. What is long? Is it 30 years? 50 Years? 100 years? 200 Years? What would be considered long? So If I were to walk up to you and say Live Long! What would go through your mind? “And Prosper…” Prosper at what? Your job? Your status in the community? Your wealth? What does it mean to you to prosper? Well I do not have all the answers to all the questions that may be running through your mind right now. But I can offer this. Our verses today say that the beginning of wisdom is to reverence or fear the Lord. If you really want to have the wisdom it takes to survive in today’s world, you need to know Jesus. Why? Because He is Omniscient. That means He is ALL KNOWING. Need an answer? Ask someone that is All Knowing. They should have an answer. Then the verses say you will live longer. Your days shall be multiplied and the years of your life increased. How long will that be? We don’t know. But it’s a promise most people would want to have. A good long prosperous life. As Long as it can possibly be.
How is it a prosperous life? Well if you are in communication constantly with
someone that knows all the answers to every question that ever was or will be,
don’t you think that is sort of like “Insider Trading?” Even though sometimes He
might say in essence “You don’t need to know that today.” Even that is the right
answer.
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Romans 8:1
JAIL!! INCARCERATED! IMPRISONED! LOCKED AWAY! All these words sound scary to most of us. The idea of being put someplace and the doors locked and never being able to get out sounds way too restrictive. Most people just want to be free. Free to roam around and do what they will. But now if I say SAFETY! SECURITY! PROTECTION! PROVIDED FOR! These words all sound good to us. Why? Because it gives us a sense of peace and happiness to know we are safe and taken care of. Guess what? People in jail are, for the most part safe, protected, secure, and provided for. So what makes the difference? Jail and Prison are someplace we are placed usually against our will. We do not choose to go there. We are placed there because we have violated others rights. But if there was a riot in the streets and an empty prison real close, you might choose to go there for a time to escape the riot. You would be safe in there. Or if you could build a wall around your city to keep the riot out, or a defense system that would keep it way from you in you neighborhood. You see, they are all just bigger borders that we place ourselves in for protection. Voluntarily. We live in houses with locks, in a city with Police, in a State with a national guard, and a nation with a military that protects us. We are free in the boundaries of our voluntary borders. Leave the country and you are warned when you go, “You go at your own risk, and we cannot guarantee your safety out there.” In our verse today we can find safety in one word. The word is “IN”. Those who are IN Christ Jesus. You’re safe. Secure. Protected. Provided For. If you voluntarily placed yourself in Him.
Some will say, but if I leave Him I am no longer safe. Well let’s look at the
borders for a second. In case you forgot, He is everywhere. How can you leave
that? Or maybe if you were strong enough to break free from His hold. OPPS! That
can’t happen either.. Cause you’re NOT THAT STRONG. Safe IN JESUS!!!
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November 11th
Ezekiel 9:9-10
People never change. We might change our outward appearance a bit. We might change our lifestyles somewhat. But over all people never really change. Adam and Eve started it all. “God won’t care if we eat just one bite.. it’s such a little sin. Surly He won’t be that mad.” Or how about the people of Noah’s time? “A flood? Rain? What is rain? God is not that mad at us. He’s not punished us yet has he Noah? Just leave us alone.” And then there were the Children of Israel spoke of here in this passage. “God’s not coming back, He’s forsaken us. We have everything we need without Him. He’s not even watching. Ezekiel, get a life.”
And after all the evidence
of the accuracy of God’s promises, still people say, “I have never seen Jesus in
the sky so why should I believe it will happen today? Really, my grandparents
believed that, my parents believed that and they have died and He did not come
back. Preacher quit bothering us with this legalistic garbage of not sinning.
God does not care about our little sins. Just the big ones and I have not
committed them. Will you please leave us alone?”
But just as with all those in the past that did not believe and mocked His
coming and His judgment, there is still a price to pay for sin. His promises are
sure. He shall return in the twinkling of an eye. Where will you be found on
that day?
God’s word says He will not be mocked. You cannot live a life that makes a
mockery of Christ and expect His blessings. If you do not care about His
blessings, then you probably do not know Him. For me to live is CHRIST.
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November 12th
Psalm 111:5
When I was younger I use to see the word GUARANTEED on things and thought, “Well that will be good forever, it’s guaranteed.” Why in the world would they Guarantee something if it would break? That just did not make sense to me. But as I grew older I learned a few things about Guarantees. One of those things was that the Guarantee was only as good as the company that was making the claim. As a young boy I believed that every big company that had enough money to make something would just be there forever in case anything went wrong with their product. Oh the innocence of childhood. I have grown a little older and I guess a little wiser and now know that not all companies are reputable and not every person is trustworthy. Sadly that colors the decisions that all adults make. So how do I make decisions now? I look at the manufacturer and see how long they have been in business. I try to see if they have made very many products that have had problems and did they take care of them if they did. Then look to see how stable they are before any major purchases are made. Most adults are the same with God. One thing we can rely on is that God has been around for a long time. (A real long time.) God has always taken care of the products He has made. (Us) He has a great retirement program that has never been beaten. (Heaven) He is as stable as anything anyone can think of. (And Better) Our verse today kind of says that. “He has given meat unto them that fear Him,” simply means He has provided for all those that have given themselves to Him and love and serve Him. “He will ever be mindful of his covenant,” says He will never break a promise. His Guarantees are great. You can trust them forever.
In a world that seems to be mixed up on value and promise, it’s good to know at
lease one thing is still true. The Word of God has never been proven wrong.
Never!!! Know why? Because it’s never wrong. You can rely on God and His word.
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There Is Never Reading Scheduled On Sundays |
November 13th
Ezekiel 13:3
You can hardly turn on a TV set anymore without seeing some TV Evangelist giving other real preachers a bad name. You might ask how they go about giving others a bad name. By claiming extra revelations that are not in scripture. By claiming to have a word from God on someone’s healing. I never saw people in the Bible with telepathic revelations on others healing miles away. Jesus was the only one who knew the beginning from the end and could do so. I turned TV on the other day and there was a man begging for money (Bet that surprises you huh…) with a table full of pieces of paper. There were hundreds of slips of paper where people had called in a pledged “x” amount of dollars expecting a miracle from their so-called seed pledge. This TV charlatan said, In a moment I will be laying my hands on this pile of prayer requests and I hear in my spirit (small s on purpose) that when I pray millions of people are going to be healed all over the world. Right behind him was a large plate glass window and behind the window were operators on phones taking these pledges. In the very front row of these operators was a young lady that was answering phones with a Huge White Neck Brace On. If this man can heal people all over the world, why did he not heal the lady right behind him working for him? Because he can’t. Neither can I. God can still heal and he never charged a person one dime in the bible to do so. Their faith was not tied to their pocket books. WOW ONTO FOOLISH PROPHETS… When a man stands to preach the word, make sure he is preaching God’s word, not his own.
People want to believe in something so bad that they will believe a lie. Don’t
fall for the fakes, fall in front of the Father. If you need healing, don’t go
to a coliseum, go to Christ. He still does heal people. In His time and in His
way and by His will. Put your faith in Him.
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November 14th
Romans 15:20, 21
Churches today are growing and dieing all the time. It seems as though one will get bigger while at the same time another will begin to lose all its members. This is in part due to the fact that people no longer have any loyalty to their church. If someone makes me mad, I’ll just pack up my stuff and move down the road to the next church. No trying to work out the differences. No trying to help a brother in need. No acting like a Christian and trying to help the church grow through tough times. It’s easier to pack up than to pray up. Easier to leave than to love. You hear the excuses “I just can’t talk with people.” That’s a lie. The true statement is, “I just won’t talk with people involved in the problem, and I’ll only talk with those who will listen to me cry about my side of the problem.” People do talk to people. Even the ones that say they can’t. Some say, “I just did not feel comfortable there anymore.” Well God never said that you were going to be comfortable all your life. In fact, if you are in a church where you always feel comfortable, then they probably are not preaching the gospel. You ought to feel convicted from time to time. You ought to be working through situations in your life. The Bible says the preaching is for the “perfecting of the saints.” If you’re so perfect why do you need preaching? There are those occasions where you have tried to reconcile differences and can’t. Or a time that you have prayed and tried to make things better or the church has gone in a direction that is away from the scripture. But those are rare. Paul was telling the church, I do not want to build a church from another mans work. Lets win the lost to Christ and disciple them to live for God.
God does call men and women to other churches to serve in various ministries.
When that happens, it is almost always a good parting of ways. Let’s spend most
of our time getting people out of hell and not out of church.
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November 15th
Proverbs 15:8
Pomp and Ceremony. Everything must be so so or we are not happy. Our religious acts of worship to God are often glorious reflections of our love and adoration and respect and worship of who He is in our life. I will in no way say that we should make little of our many means of worship. It teaches children and young Christians reverence to an Almighty Creator and Lord of our life. They help us to refocus our life in the way it should be and put God first again. They help us have continuity with the churches of old in our forms of adoration toward the Father in Heaven. The only time these become a problem is when they become the worship. For example, if taking communion is your worship to God, but then you never think of Him or live for Him in between these acts of worship, then the ceremony has become a problem. Why? Because it has become your worship to God and that is not worship. It is an act of obedience and love for Him. It is part of our way of expressing worship to the Lord. But it is not worship. Worship includes your entire life. If you are living like the world and then coming to the communion table believing somehow that makes it ok, there is a problem. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. No matter what that sacrifice is. Does your giving tithes and offering make you feel better because you love God and want Him to be able to reach others with your gift of love? Or do you feel like that is one more religious notch in my belt with God. God does not care about your sacrifice until you make the one most important sacrifice. Yourself to Him. If you will lay yourself on the altar of sacrifice to the Lord, then everything you do, say and think are filtered through who God is in your life. Then your prayers become His delight.
Everyone wants to delight God. I mean who does not want to make God happy. Well
this verse tells you how you can do that. Live upright for Him. Its not about
righteous ACTS, it’s about righteousness.
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November 16th
Psalm 115:17
As a young boy growing up, my father was not one much to say “Praise the Lord” out loud. He was not a hanky waving, amen yelling, hooting, hollering type of a man. But instead he lived a quiet peaceful life and was a Godly man in front of his wife, children, neighbors, co-workers and friends. He was human and would slip from time to time. But truthfully, I can remember very few of those times. It was not what characterized his life. People that knew him while he was still alive would always say things like, “Your dads a fair man” or “your dads a good man.” And he was. But toward the end of his life as cancer began to take away precious moments that he thought he was going to have, I began to see a change in him. He started saying “Praise the Lord” more out loud as the days began to dwindle away from him. He became a lot more vocal about how God should receive honor for what he was doing for him in those last days. He was not trying to score any brownie points with God by doing so. He knew he did not need brownie points as his salvation was already secured in Christ. He was not trying to make a name for himself among those around him. He already had a good name from living a good life. So why did he begin to be more vocal? Maybe today’s verse helps us to understand that. I think he realized that he only had a few more days or weeks or months at best to Praise God here. The dead can leave a great testimony with the life they have lived. But someone needs to share that testimony. My dad was, is and always will be one of my greatest heroes. But to the rest of the world he was just another factory working guy that went to church and lived a good life. But at the last he shared what he wanted people to remember most. “Praise the Lord for all he has given to me.”
Has a Godly person that you knew passed on? Be their voice of assurance to
others. The dead can only speak through the voices of the living. They praise
God in heaven every day now. Live your life today, to be a testimony tomorrow.
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November 17th
Proverbs 17:6
Children’s
children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers
Get around almost any grand parent and mention their grand children and you will have to see a book full of pictures and hear an hour worth of tales on how wonderful and magnificent their grandchild is. They are able to leap tall building in a single bound, diapers and all. I sort of make fun of it, but the Bible told us centuries ago that this was how it is suppose to be. Children’s Children are the crown of old men (and also of gracefully aging women). Grandparents talk more about the accomplishments of a 5 year old in kindergarten than they do of their own children, even if their child is a rocket scientist that went to the moon. And it’s great to be able to introduce your children to their grandparents. They have so many more exciting stories to tell and more time to tell them. My wife, our children and I are very fortunate in that we had godly men to look to for examples in our lives. There was my father who was a great example of a God fearing man before he passed away. There is my wives father who is a great Christian witness before them even today, (as well as the family jokester). But there is also our Heavenly Father. I count myself very fortunate to have 3 Godly forefather examples to give to my children. But even if I had only one, if that one was God the Father, that would be enough. The glory of children is their fathers. I love all of mine.
Have you introduced your children to their forefathers? They have wonderful
stories to tell. Some are recorded in the pages of the Bible. Some are recorded
in the hearts of those of us that love them.
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“NO, I don’t want to do that!” Ever heard those words? How about, “I just don’t see it that way!” And then when asked why, “Well I just don’t.” How frustrating it can be for a Pastor to hear well-meaning individuals share their childlike feelings. It seems there is a lack of prayer and absolutely no Biblical reasoning behind that type of response. How do you help someone understand the scriptural relevance of something if they are not in the scripture? If they operate on feelings, how can you show them the truth in the word? If God is directing you to do something and someone says, “No, I just don’t want to,” what do you do? Paul must have felt that way about now in this passage. He had not done exactly as God had asked him originally and now the legal authorities are persecuting him. But God came to him and said in essence, “You’re not done yet, I have work for you to do in Rome.” How that must have made his day better. Still being persecuted? Yes! Still incarcerated? Yes! Any idea of how he’s going to get out of this mess? Not really. Except, God said he was going to Rome. So he knew he was not done yet. They could now come at him with all their empty threats and he knew they could not kill him. Why? Because God said he was going to Rome. All he had to do is keep his eyes on God and follow His lead and he could not lose. God will win over man every single time.
Are you facing a struggle in life? Do you know that God’s leading is a
scriptural one? Are you claiming the promises of His word and not just your own
feeling? Then take heart. God is not through with you yet. Believe the promises
and move ahead, because, Jesus Never Fails.
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Sometimes what we say and what we do are two completely different things. It’s not that we out and out decided to lie to someone, but we had no idea of circumstances that were ahead of us. So we make promises that are broken and leave people discouraged with us. And yes, it happens to everyone at some time or another. Everyone that is except God. God’s promises are sure. He knows completely the future that is in store, and so He can make promises not having to worry about circumstances latter. That is good. But then again that can be terrifying. If you are standing in Jesus as a born again Christian, then this is a great thing. You are standing in the most secure place of all. All God’s promises of a blessed home in heaven are true. No circumstances can change that. He will provide for your needs and take care of you if you follow and serve Him. All the promises toward you as a Christian are true and will all come true. On the other hand, if you are not saved and standing outside of the will of God, all the promises for you are just as sure. If God would ask you the questions in the verse today, what would your response be? Do you think you can stand up against an almighty and powerful God and somehow win? No friend, when God deals with you He will deal with justice. You will be judged by your sin and found guilty. How can I say this for sure? Because God’s Word says so for sure. And as this verse says, if the Lord has spoken it, He will do it.
There is still good news. If you are reading this and do not know Christ you can still come to know Him. Bow your head and ask Him to forgive you of your sins and come into your heart and be your Lord and Saviour. If you ask in faith believing on Jesus for salvation and mean it, He will. Find a good local Bible teaching Church and talk with the pastor about your decision. You just received a lot of new promises that can never be broken. The Lord has spoken them, and He will do them.
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There Is Never Reading Scheduled On Sundays |
Have you ever seen just how much light one little match can give off in a very dark room? On special occasions our church will have a candle light service for special part of the service. Often we have begun with the sanctuary dark and just one person lighting one candle and then passing that flame on to another and then another and so on until everyone in the room has the candle they are holding burning brightly. But in a dark room just one little match seems so very bright. With all the other candles ablaze it does not seem to carry such a glow. But let everyone blow out their candles and then strike that match, and it seems to light every inch of the room. The brighter the room is the less the light of the match shows. So it is in our life. If we keep ourselves clean from the sins of this world and watch how we live our lives, the candle of the spirit does not seem to make a glaring show as God searches our hearts. But let sin come in and blow out all the other candles. The searching candle of God seems blinding bright as it searches our hearts and finds darkness there. Sin blows out the candle of love as it only think of itself and not others. Sin blows out the candle of peace as it causes uneasiness in our lives. Sin blows out the candle of joy as it robs from us the joy we once had when walking close to God and other believers. Sin causes our life to be dark and dreary and lonely. But the spirit of man is the candle that God uses to see into the heart of man and expose the darkness and drive it away. What does God see in you today?
As God searches your heart will you allow Him once again to light up your life? Doing away with greed and selfishness and once again lighting the candle of love. Finding the peace and joy you once had and allowing God to light those areas of our life again. Let Jesus be the Light of Your Life
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November 21st
Psalm 119:9
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according
to thy word.
Outlook from the In Book
Rehabilitation centers are everywhere today. Drug rehabilitation. Alcohol Rehabilitation. Anger Management Centers. Pornography Treatment Facilities. And the list goes on and on and on. If you have a problem, someone has gathered a group of people just like you together to talk about it. And somehow in the midst of all the discussions you are to realize you have a problem. Well dah!!! We know we have problems in this world. That’s a given. We don’t need more people to point out the problems we have. We need a way to deal with those problems. We need a way to help us control the urges that seem to control us. In the 119th Psalm in verse nine we have that solution. How can a young man cleanse his way? How can a person get free from the addictions? How can a person be free from the plague that has haunted and followed them? How? By taking HEED to the Word of God. Not just reading it. Not just going to church. Not just getting around other good people that really want to help. The only true help is found in the pages of the Bible. And when you read a truth in the scripture, you must commit to being obedient to it. Then and only then can we shed the baggage that sin has placed upon us. Please don’t misunderstand? There are a lot of great programs out there that can help you. Some of the Christian Based groups like Reformers Unanimous are doing a great work at helping. And support groups are wonderful. But if your program or group is not founded on the Word of God, then you are spinning in Satan’s trap of sin.
The Bible says that you should have life abundant and FREE. Free from the penalties and the hold of sin. Take heed according to His Word and be free indeed.
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November 22nd
Acts 27:35
And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks
to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
Outlook from the In Book
There is sort of a joke in our house about praying before you eat. If I catch anyone grabbing a quick sandwich or something and just sticking it in their mouth without praying first I’ll ask, “Did you pray over that?” If the answer comes back No., the next words they hear is “you better or your going to be sick.” Well I’m pretty sure God will not make you sick for forgetting to pray for a sandwich or something. But I do know there is a Biblical reason for praying before we eat. Jesus gave thanks over the food at the last supper and before he feed the multitudes. He thanked His Father for the food He provided. Paul also gave thanks in front of all the prisoners and guards on the ship before he distributed the food to them. Besides the Biblical Examples, there are other reasons to give thanks. It shows respect to thank God for the food that we are about to eat, that He provided. It causes us to take a pause in our schedule to remember God who is our provider of everything. It is also a powerful testimony in public of who you are and whose you are. I can not tell you the number of times I have prayed at a restaurant and someone walking by would say something like, “It was good to see you pray today, we don’t see that so much anymore.” Giving thanks to God is the right thing to do. It is respectful to God. It is placing thanks where a thanks is rightfully due and it is a great testimony in your life and in this world.
When you get ready to eat today, take just a moment and thank God for His provision for you. No matter what you’re eating, God has somehow provided it. Be a testimony for Christ. You don’t need to wear a big banner that says I’m a Christian. Just do what’s right in the eyes of God.
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November 23rd
Ezekiel 27:36
The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee; thou shalt be a terror, and
never shalt be any more.
Outlook from the In Book
If someone was to tell you that some day the city of New York would be no more, you might find that hard to believe. If they said that Real Estate there would be worth less than 1 dollar a square mile you would probably laugh. You can’t buy a speck on the sidewalks of New York today for a dollar, much less a square mile. It would be hard to imagine because New York is such a busy place, a financial metropolitan, and the hub of great wealth all around the world. People from everywhere look to New York and the stock markets there. World trading goes through this city that touches literally every continent on the globe. But if God said it would be destroyed… it would be destroyed. As New York is, so was Tyrus. It was the megaplex of that time. It seemed that everything came into and flowed out of Tyrus. It was the greatest seaport around. It seemed too secure. But God said there would be a time that it would not only be destroyed, but uninhabited and fishermen would cast their nets there. Guess what? That’s exactly what they do today. Nothing has ever been rebuilt there. It’s worthless property. No one wants it. Why? Because God said so years ago.
No mater what seems impossible for God, never doubt Him. He is always right. ALWAYS. If you doubt He can save you from your particular sins, you’re wrong. He says He can. If you doubt He can get you through your struggles today, you’re wrong, He says He can. Trust in Him with all your heart. He’s never wrong. NEVER!!!
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November
24th
Proverb 24:1 & 20
1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them
20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall
be put out.
Outlook from the In Book
The riches of the world can entice anyone. You might be saying, “No, not me.” But if someone came up with just the right offer, it would even be you. It’s not so much a desire to be filthy rich, just richer. Not to be the greatest, just better. Not to have it all, just more. How do I know this is true? Because what drives Americans, and for the most part, the entire world is the thought of, “I just want a little more.” For most of us if we would take just a moment and look at our life today compared with just 5 or 10 years ago we would have to say, I have more today than I did back then. Isn’t it funny that today we still want just a little more. When does it end? Being successful, even by the worlds standards, and having things is not a sin. But when we fall into the trap of that desire taking over, to where we will do almost anything to get more, then it can become greed and sin. The Bible warns us not to want so much that we end up following after or joining with sinful men to get it. Why? Because their end will be destruction. There shall be no reward for them. They have little if anything in common with you. Their desire is to glorify self, yours should be glorifying God. There desire is to lay up treasure here on earth; yours should be to lay up treasures in heaven. They will compromise anything to get ahead; you should never be willing to compromise your testimony to get anything. They love man and what man can offer; you love God and what He can offer. They want people to help them get ahead in life; you want to help people get ahead in life and eternity. There is little that you may have in common except this. Both of you have eternal life. One has chosen eternal life in heaven. And one has chosen eternal life in hell.
As you make decisions today that seem very innocent on the surface, remember, what you decide today and whom you decide to do it with can make a difference in your life and the life of others for years to come. Let just be thankful for what God has given us today.
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November
25th
Psalm 119:71
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might
learn thy statutes.
Outlook from the In Book
Driving in the city today takes a lot more concentration than it use to. I believe that is due to a number of things. One, there are more drivers on the road today. If you go into any good-sized city around noon you will know exactly what I mean. There are hundreds of people trying to get everywhere in a hurry. Two, I am getting older. My reflexes are not as quick as they use to be and my patience seems to have shortened at times. Third, according to most people that I ride with, everyone else on the road is stupid except for them. So with hundreds of people driving on the same roads as others and many with short tempers, what keeps the road ways moving? It’s the traffic laws. They tell us when and how long to wait at a light. There are literally hundreds of laws written that we are supposed to know. And surprisingly, we do seem to know most of them. How did we get so smart? By setting down and memorizing all those laws? Well some maybe, but most of us learned them by seeing that the laws made sense, seeing reminder signs along the road, and how these laws work together for all of us to safely keep driving. A special person with lights on top of his car taught some of the laws to us. And I bet you drove away from them saying “Oh boy I learned another lesson!” Yeh right. You were upset that you got caught, just like everyone else. And as we get older, we realize, even the laws we don’t like have a purpose. The same is true in life. When God allows things in our life that hurt, it never seems fair. But God teaches us something with each and every situation in life. Sometimes He just is saying, “Trust Me.”
With every trial in life there is a lesson to be learned or a character to be developed. As God molds us into the person He needs us to be, we must accept that He is doing this for His good first and for ours also. He made all the rules so we could all get where we are going in a somewhat reasonable time. The question here might be where are you going?
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