Today's reading: Jeremiah 10, 11, 12; Psalm 14, 44, 74, 104, 134; Proverbs 14
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Jeremiah 10:5, "They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good."
I was caught by the first part of our verse today, "...but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. ..." This reminds me of two things.
One it reminds me of those of the Bible that could not walk themselves. These are the ones that Jesus ministered to. He went to the lame who could not walk, the dumb who could not speak, the deaf who could not hear. Jesus met the most needy at their point of need. How glorious was their healing and how compassionate of Christ to help the helpless.
This also reminds me of those who are not very spiritually mature. You all know the main thrust of this blog is to exhort my readers to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. I hope as you go through these daily posts that you are challenged in your walk with Christ. Most importantly, if you have never put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation I hope this blog will cause you to do that immediately because of the importance of being born-again.
When a child is born we give them milk to fill their bellies and satisfy them. As they grow we begin to put cereal in the milk to give them more substance and to keep them full longer. Then one day we try giving them a smashed up green bean or a smashed up pea and they may or may not like it. If the child does not take steps forward in their diet they will become anemic and will be susceptible to any and all diseases.
It is the same for God's children. If we do not start with the "milk" truths of the Word of God and then go on to the "meat" truths of God's Word then we will become spiritually anemic and we will be susceptible to the attacks of our enemy. So my exhortation to you today is: Grow up!
So, how are you doing?
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
July 13, 2010
Today's reading: Jeremiah 7, 8, 9; Psalm 13, 43, 73, 103, 133; Proverbs 13
Jeremiah 7:3,"Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place."
There was a time in my life that I was going down the wrong path. I remember leaving a Christian school and starting a public junior high school (now called middle school today). The transition was not an easy one for me at all. I was in shock I think. It has been so long ago that I don't remember exactly how I felt. I am glad of that too.
I, unfortunately, have a real love for knives and I collect them. I got caught with a pretty good sized knife in school. I remember going to the principal's office and he took it away from me. My mom had to come to school and pick me up. Then we both had to set in the principal's office and endure his scolding. He would not believe that I had no ill intentions for this knife. I had gotten it from a classmate the evening before and I took it to school to show a friend.
This was just another step in the downward spiral that took me places that I did not want to go. There was a day when I heeded the counsel of our verse for today. There was a day when I ended up drawing a line in the sand and saying, "Enough is enough." Unfortunately, I was pretty low by then. Oh, I was still saved; but, I was not acting like it very often.
I am thankful for the counsel of this verse to, "Amend your ways". I think we all need to stop and do some soul searching and see if maybe we need to "Amend your ways" or not. I have a sneaking suspicion that we might all need to go just a little different direction.
So, how are you doing?
Jeremiah 7:3,"Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place."
There was a time in my life that I was going down the wrong path. I remember leaving a Christian school and starting a public junior high school (now called middle school today). The transition was not an easy one for me at all. I was in shock I think. It has been so long ago that I don't remember exactly how I felt. I am glad of that too.
I, unfortunately, have a real love for knives and I collect them. I got caught with a pretty good sized knife in school. I remember going to the principal's office and he took it away from me. My mom had to come to school and pick me up. Then we both had to set in the principal's office and endure his scolding. He would not believe that I had no ill intentions for this knife. I had gotten it from a classmate the evening before and I took it to school to show a friend.
This was just another step in the downward spiral that took me places that I did not want to go. There was a day when I heeded the counsel of our verse for today. There was a day when I ended up drawing a line in the sand and saying, "Enough is enough." Unfortunately, I was pretty low by then. Oh, I was still saved; but, I was not acting like it very often.
I am thankful for the counsel of this verse to, "Amend your ways". I think we all need to stop and do some soul searching and see if maybe we need to "Amend your ways" or not. I have a sneaking suspicion that we might all need to go just a little different direction.
So, how are you doing?
Monday, July 12, 2010
July 12, 2010
Today's reading; Jeremiah 4, 5, 6; Psalm 12, 42, 72, 102, 132; Proverbs 2
Jeremiah 4:3, "For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns."
This passage of Scripture has become one of my favorite over the years. Growing up on a farm this is what I call a farming passage. While I was involved in farming I never new there was a government program that pays a farmer not to work a portion of ground. It is called set aside ground. The ground is set aside for a season and not worked. This is what fallow ground is. This ground is plowed in the fall and left the following year and not worked. This gives the ground a season of rest if you will.
God is telling the Israelites that it is now time to "work the ground" if you will. They have had a season of laying dormant and it is now time to wake up and get busy.
It is the same in the lives of you and I. We get to a place where we do not serve God like we used to or we let the fire dim in our lives. Maybe we are like the ones in Psalm 12:1, "Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men." His command to you and I is "Break up your fallow ground".
How do we do this? Look at Jeremiah 6:16, "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein." We need to get back to the old paths. I do not mean that we must rid our lives of all modern conveniences or go back to a lifestyle of the 1800's.
We need to get back to a Bible Christianity if you will. We need a return to the Scriptures and obedience toward God like we never have before. We need to be sold out to Jesus Christ no matter what.
We need to get back to a thirst for God. Look at Psalm 42:1-2, "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?" This is another favorite passage of mine. The deer in this passage has a thirst like a deer that is being pursued by the hunter and he would love to just stop for a moment and take a drink of the cool running brook; but, he must keep running for his life.
We have a choice to make. We can keep running from God or ignoring Him or we can run to Him with a thirst or desire for Him like the driving thirst of a deer that is fleeing the hunter. What I am saying is we have some work to do in our lives. We need to "Break up the fallow ground" and we need to be as the writer in Psalm 42 and live the reality that "so panteth my soul after thee, O God."
So, how are you doing?
Jeremiah 4:3, "For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns."
This passage of Scripture has become one of my favorite over the years. Growing up on a farm this is what I call a farming passage. While I was involved in farming I never new there was a government program that pays a farmer not to work a portion of ground. It is called set aside ground. The ground is set aside for a season and not worked. This is what fallow ground is. This ground is plowed in the fall and left the following year and not worked. This gives the ground a season of rest if you will.
God is telling the Israelites that it is now time to "work the ground" if you will. They have had a season of laying dormant and it is now time to wake up and get busy.
It is the same in the lives of you and I. We get to a place where we do not serve God like we used to or we let the fire dim in our lives. Maybe we are like the ones in Psalm 12:1, "Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men." His command to you and I is "Break up your fallow ground".
How do we do this? Look at Jeremiah 6:16, "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein." We need to get back to the old paths. I do not mean that we must rid our lives of all modern conveniences or go back to a lifestyle of the 1800's.
We need to get back to a Bible Christianity if you will. We need a return to the Scriptures and obedience toward God like we never have before. We need to be sold out to Jesus Christ no matter what.
We need to get back to a thirst for God. Look at Psalm 42:1-2, "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?" This is another favorite passage of mine. The deer in this passage has a thirst like a deer that is being pursued by the hunter and he would love to just stop for a moment and take a drink of the cool running brook; but, he must keep running for his life.
We have a choice to make. We can keep running from God or ignoring Him or we can run to Him with a thirst or desire for Him like the driving thirst of a deer that is fleeing the hunter. What I am saying is we have some work to do in our lives. We need to "Break up the fallow ground" and we need to be as the writer in Psalm 42 and live the reality that "so panteth my soul after thee, O God."
So, how are you doing?
Sunday, July 11, 2010
July 11, 2010
Today's reading: Jeremiah 1, 2, 3; Psalm 11, 41, 71, 101, 131; Proverbs 11
Jeremiah 1:5-6, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child."
As I was reading this I could not help but think of my own life. It could be overwhelming if you really think about what God is telling Jeremiah here in our Scripture passage for today.
We who know Christ as our Saviour know that He has a plan for our lives. This is plainly set forth in the Scriptures. Think about the words of our text for today. "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; ..." I take great courage in knowing that the Creator of the universe knows me and even cares about me and for me. This is humbling if you really dwell on it.
I think God is also making a pro life statement here. He is telling Jeremiah that before the foundation of the world that God knew Jeremiah. The same is true for you and I. He knew us before anything was created. The awesome part of this is that He still chose to save us in spite of our selves.
Notice He says, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." God has set us apart ("sanctified"). You and I have been set apart by God for something that He has brought about for us to glorify Him.
Never forget that God loves you supremely and He has a wonderful plan for your life if you will yield yourself to that plan.
Remember, God knows you.
Jeremiah 1:5-6, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child."
As I was reading this I could not help but think of my own life. It could be overwhelming if you really think about what God is telling Jeremiah here in our Scripture passage for today.
We who know Christ as our Saviour know that He has a plan for our lives. This is plainly set forth in the Scriptures. Think about the words of our text for today. "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; ..." I take great courage in knowing that the Creator of the universe knows me and even cares about me and for me. This is humbling if you really dwell on it.
I think God is also making a pro life statement here. He is telling Jeremiah that before the foundation of the world that God knew Jeremiah. The same is true for you and I. He knew us before anything was created. The awesome part of this is that He still chose to save us in spite of our selves.
Notice He says, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." God has set us apart ("sanctified"). You and I have been set apart by God for something that He has brought about for us to glorify Him.
Never forget that God loves you supremely and He has a wonderful plan for your life if you will yield yourself to that plan.
Remember, God knows you.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
July 10, 2010
Today's reading: Isaiah 64, 65, 66; Psalm 10, 40, 70, 100, 130; Proverbs 10
Isaiah 66:20, "And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD."
At this writing tomorrow will be Sunday; the first day of the week. This is a busy day for us these days. I am thankful to be a member of a great Church with a Pastor who preaches God's Word as it is to anyone as they are with the goal of each one of us becoming more like Christ.
Tomorrow; after only one practice, our choir "The Voices of Calvary" will stand and open the services with the song, "Nothing is Impossible". Standing before them with knees knocking back and forth will be me directing. We have only had one practice and they all sounded great. We performed our first opener last Sunday morning for the Fourth of July and it went very well. I was thrilled and so proud of them all.
There is one detail that I hope you and I do not pass over here. Tomorrow those of us who will attend worship services will hopefully enter the presence of God. What I mean is that God will come down and be present in our services. When this happens I want to be in a right relationship with Him.
When I was reading the words "clean vessel" I immediately thought of preparation for tomorrow. Far too many of us just get up, clean up and go on to Church. We take no thought to preparing our mind and soul as we have the body all cleaned up and looking "Churchy" if you will.
I hope as you attend worship services tomorrow you will be clean inside and out. It is my prayer that you and I will all be righteous (in a right relationship with God). Then when Christ makes His presence known we will enjoy that fellowship that we so desperately desire. Get your bath it is almost time for Church.
So how are you doing?
Isaiah 66:20, "And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD."
At this writing tomorrow will be Sunday; the first day of the week. This is a busy day for us these days. I am thankful to be a member of a great Church with a Pastor who preaches God's Word as it is to anyone as they are with the goal of each one of us becoming more like Christ.
Tomorrow; after only one practice, our choir "The Voices of Calvary" will stand and open the services with the song, "Nothing is Impossible". Standing before them with knees knocking back and forth will be me directing. We have only had one practice and they all sounded great. We performed our first opener last Sunday morning for the Fourth of July and it went very well. I was thrilled and so proud of them all.
There is one detail that I hope you and I do not pass over here. Tomorrow those of us who will attend worship services will hopefully enter the presence of God. What I mean is that God will come down and be present in our services. When this happens I want to be in a right relationship with Him.
When I was reading the words "clean vessel" I immediately thought of preparation for tomorrow. Far too many of us just get up, clean up and go on to Church. We take no thought to preparing our mind and soul as we have the body all cleaned up and looking "Churchy" if you will.
I hope as you attend worship services tomorrow you will be clean inside and out. It is my prayer that you and I will all be righteous (in a right relationship with God). Then when Christ makes His presence known we will enjoy that fellowship that we so desperately desire. Get your bath it is almost time for Church.
So how are you doing?
Friday, July 9, 2010
July 9, 2010
Today's reading: Isaiah 61, 62, 63; Psalm 9, 39, 69, 99, 129; Proverbs 9
Isaiah 62:4, "Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married."
Today's reading was an emotional trip for me. Many in my family love the song Squire Parsons wrote and sings, "Beulah Land". It was Grandma Ruth's favorite song. My wife sang that song to her so many times. Grandma Ruth is and has been experiencing "Beulah Land" first hand for several years now. This time of year always brings back fond memories of Grandpa and Grandma. Their wedding anniversary is July 31st. My cousin and his wife honored them greatly by getting married on July 31st.
You see my grandparents were outstanding Christian people. The loved God with all of their hearts and it showed. I never seen them argue. Once in a very great while you might hear them disagree. This amounted to, "Howard." "Ruth." "Howard." "Ruth." That was it.
Now they are experiencing "Beulah Land" like our Scripture for today. The word "Beulah" means to marry and it is referring to our relationship to Christ. We who know Christ as our Saviour are the bride of Christ. When we arrive home there will be a wedding ceremony like no other and we (the bride of Christ) will be married to the one we have loved for so long.
Heaven gets sweeter every day as I remember those who have gone on before me. I hope that one day you and I will meet in heaven.
Are you going to "Beulah Land"?
Isaiah 62:4, "Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married."
Today's reading was an emotional trip for me. Many in my family love the song Squire Parsons wrote and sings, "Beulah Land". It was Grandma Ruth's favorite song. My wife sang that song to her so many times. Grandma Ruth is and has been experiencing "Beulah Land" first hand for several years now. This time of year always brings back fond memories of Grandpa and Grandma. Their wedding anniversary is July 31st. My cousin and his wife honored them greatly by getting married on July 31st.
You see my grandparents were outstanding Christian people. The loved God with all of their hearts and it showed. I never seen them argue. Once in a very great while you might hear them disagree. This amounted to, "Howard." "Ruth." "Howard." "Ruth." That was it.
Now they are experiencing "Beulah Land" like our Scripture for today. The word "Beulah" means to marry and it is referring to our relationship to Christ. We who know Christ as our Saviour are the bride of Christ. When we arrive home there will be a wedding ceremony like no other and we (the bride of Christ) will be married to the one we have loved for so long.
Heaven gets sweeter every day as I remember those who have gone on before me. I hope that one day you and I will meet in heaven.
Are you going to "Beulah Land"?
Thursday, July 8, 2010
July 8, 2010
Today's reading: Isaiah 58, 59, 60; Psalm 8, 38, 68, 98, 128; Proverbs 8
Isaiah 60:19-20, "The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended."
There is one thing in life that I enjoy a lot. I enjoy going to lighthouses and photographing them. If you know me then you know that about me. I love to photograph them in the early morning or late in the evening.
I remember one time my cousin related to me how sometimes when you look at the horizon as the sun is setting it looks like it is going down into the water. If the water is choppy it looks like the sun is setting into the water and making it boil. This just fascinated me for a long time. Then one day I took a picture of the setting sun at Michigan City, IN at the lighthouse and there it appeared. It look like the sun was setting into Lake Michigan and the waters appeared to be boiling. I was so excited.
My point of rambling today? Light is an interesting study. I enjoy light. It warms you on a cold day. Light will guide you in the darkness. Try living in total darkness for a while and see if you don't have a real affinity for light.
There is coming a day when the sun and moon will pass away and be no longer needed because Jesus Christ will be the Light of heaven. I cannot imagine it; but, I am looking forward to it. Even so come Lord Jesus!
Are you ready?
Isaiah 60:19-20, "The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended."
There is one thing in life that I enjoy a lot. I enjoy going to lighthouses and photographing them. If you know me then you know that about me. I love to photograph them in the early morning or late in the evening.
I remember one time my cousin related to me how sometimes when you look at the horizon as the sun is setting it looks like it is going down into the water. If the water is choppy it looks like the sun is setting into the water and making it boil. This just fascinated me for a long time. Then one day I took a picture of the setting sun at Michigan City, IN at the lighthouse and there it appeared. It look like the sun was setting into Lake Michigan and the waters appeared to be boiling. I was so excited.
My point of rambling today? Light is an interesting study. I enjoy light. It warms you on a cold day. Light will guide you in the darkness. Try living in total darkness for a while and see if you don't have a real affinity for light.
There is coming a day when the sun and moon will pass away and be no longer needed because Jesus Christ will be the Light of heaven. I cannot imagine it; but, I am looking forward to it. Even so come Lord Jesus!
Are you ready?
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