Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,204
|
Post by Murph on May 5, 2024 6:21:25 GMT -6
"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Mark 11:22-24
The incredible strength and majesty of our God! He has the might to move mountains and does so through even our smallest faith. When we place our trust in Him, He molds us as He gives us the desires of our hearts.
|
|
Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,204
|
Post by Murph on May 6, 2024 6:46:49 GMT -6
Complexion of Comfort
"God…has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6 When the sixteenth-century British poet and soldier Sir Philip Sidney died, his friend Matthew Roydon wrote a poem in his honor. He said that Sidney possessed: “A sweet attractive kind of grace; a full assurance given by looks; continual comfort in a face; the [complexion] of Gospel books.”1 In other words, the Gospel shone through Sidney’s face. Divine comfort was etched into his complexion. To look at him was to be reassured.
If the face of a mere mortal can express God’s grace, think of looking into the face of Christ Himself. Imagine being the blind man whose first sight was the smiling face of the Healer. Imagine Mary and Martha seeing our Lord’s concerned face in their grief. Imagine the disciples looking into the radiant face of our Lord as He ascended into heaven. Now imagine His face seeing you and your burdens today.
One day we’ll see Him face-to-face. Until then, we can still look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.
"Continual comfort in a face! Is this not truer of the face of Jesus, who was marred more than any other man? His benign countenance, loving eyes, gracious presence, and heartfelt messages all exuded comfort." Herbert Lockyer
Dr. David Jeremiah
|
|
Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,204
|
Post by Murph on May 7, 2024 6:52:22 GMT -6
Praise Him in the Morning
"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1
Don’t just praise the Lord for an hour on Sunday. Keep a song in your heart all the time. Start first thing each day. Scottish preacher Duncan Campbell resolved to bless the Lord at all times, starting with his morning devotions. According to his biographer, Campbell rose each morning as the farmers harnessed their horses to the plows. He was convicted by their work ethic and determined to be as diligent with his spiritual harvest as they were with their crops.
Campbell’s biography explained, “During these hours of communion with God, the fresh dew of heaven bathed his soul, refreshing and equipping him for daily service. He carried the fragrance of the presence of God with him from the secret place into his public ministry.”1
When we start the day praising the Lord, it keeps a song in our heart throughout our waking hours. When we offer our praise and worship to the Lord, He can dry our tears and banish our fears. His praise shall continually be in our mouth.
"Joy is balm and healing; and if you will but rejoice, God will give power." A. B. Simpson
Dr. David Jeremiah
|
|
Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,204
|
Post by Murph on May 8, 2024 6:44:28 GMT -6
The Father’s Love
"But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him." Luke 15:20
Rembrandt’s final great painting The Return of the Prodigal Son hangs in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. In the painting, the father’s face is full of compassion as his son kneels at his feet and presses his head into the man’s chest. The father’s hands rest on his son’s shoulders, and the father literally enfolds his son within his red cloak. It’s believed Rembrandt pictured himself as the son and that this painting was a sort of testimony of his own journey.
Like the father of the prodigal, God yearns for His children to run to Him. He is full of compassion, eager to forgive, ready to fellowship with us, and He longs to enfold us into the red robes of His grace.
If you’ve had a bad year so far, a bad month, a bad week, or a terrible day, take it to the Lord. Repent of sin. Kneel and confess your need. Cry out to Him, and you’ll find that even while you are a great way off, your Father will see you and run to you with His arms of mercy outstretched to you.
"No matter what storm you face, you need to know that God loves you." Franklin Graham
Dr. David Jeremaih
|
|
Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,204
|
Post by Murph on May 9, 2024 6:56:33 GMT -6
God Sees Our Tears
"Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy." Psalm 126:5
There are many kinds of tears. Some come from chopping onions. Others come from a fit of laughter. A sad movie can turn on the water works. Even smoke from a campfire can make our eyes water. Babies begin their lives with tears. Tears are important for lubricating our eyes and flushing away debris.
But when we think of tears, we usually think of burdens. God sees our tears as seeds. Each tear shed in grief, disappointment, pain, or emotional distress is like a seed that falls from our eyes and lands in the garden of God’s grace. He knows the meaning behind every drop, and none of them are unnoticed by Him.
In the same way that Romans 8:28 tells us that all things will work together for our good, Psalm 126:5 tells us that somehow our tears will produce a harvest of joy. How can that be? We don’t fully understand the scope of God’s grace, the power of His providence, and the depths of His mercy. But every promise in the Bible is true, so you can adopt Psalm 126:5 as your own today.
"Look unto Jesus even through your tears." Dr. Joseph Parker
Dr. David Jeremiah
|
|
Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,204
|
Post by Murph on May 10, 2024 6:43:56 GMT -6
Forgiveness
"When Jesus saw the friends’ faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” Mark 2:5 The hardest part of forgiving another person is acting like the offense never occurred. But that is what forgiving someone means—restoring relationships to the status they enjoyed before the offense took place. It’s one thing to say, “I forgive you,” but it’s another to act like all the effects of an offense are completely erased. After all, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, love is known by its actions more than its words.
Jesus faced this dilemma when He healed a paralytic man. When He told the man that his sins were forgiven (and by extension, he was healed), He was criticized. He was accused of blaspheming by saying He had the authority to forgive sins—something only God can do. So Jesus proved He had the authority to say, “I forgive you,” by doing something harder. He healed the man’s paralysis. After all, as Jesus explained, actions speak louder than words (Mark 2:8-11).
We cannot go through life without being hurt by others, so we should learn to forgive. Even more, we should practice demonstrating our forgiveness by our acts of lovingkindness. Look for opportunities to do both.
"Forgiveness is to be set loose from sins." G. Campbell Morgan
Dr. David Jeremaih
|
|
Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,204
|
Post by Murph on May 11, 2024 7:18:32 GMT -6
A Fascinating Few: Jabez
"And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested." 1 Chronicles 4:10
Jabez was an honorable man, but he lived with a specific burden. In Hebrew his name sounded like the word for “pain.” His mother named him “Jabez” because “she bore him in pain” (1 Chronicles 4:9). It was common in those days to give names related to certain circumstances. But imagine the shame Jabez might have endured for having “pain” for a name. As an honorable man, he didn’t want to be associated with pain.
So Jabez went to the Lord in prayer. He asked God to bless him and expand his land and livelihood; he asked God to be with him and keep him from being a source of pain to others. And God granted his request. We know nothing more about Jabez except he exchanged his fear for God’s blessing.
God will do the same for you. If there is any shame or fear you live with, ask God to remove it and grant you His blessing.
"Come, thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace." Robert Robinson
Dr. David Jeremiah
|
|
Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,204
|
Post by Murph on May 12, 2024 6:20:18 GMT -6
"I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." Proverbs 8:17
Take heart, O blessed body of Christ! The Lord your God has rewarded your diligent search. He has shown Himself to you. You are granted sight of things unseen-you are granted sight of Christ Himself! Christ, the Bright and Morning Star (Rev 22:16)! Christ, the eschatological Lamb! Christ, the fulfilment of all the history redemptive! Glory in Him, O congregation of all believers! For in Him consists your new life, your righteous standing, your power to sanctification, and your promise to heavenly rest! In Him consists all things (Colossians 1:17) and it is to Him that you ought be conformed! So give glory evermore: holy, holy, and surely, holy!
Amen!
|
|
Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,204
|
Post by Murph on May 13, 2024 7:02:04 GMT -6
Our Weakness, His Strength
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”... For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
A boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was only ten years old and had lost his left arm in a car accident. He was doing well, so he couldn’t understand why, after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move. “This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you’ll ever need to know,” the sensei replied.
Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. He won all three matches. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals. He asked the judo master why he had won.
“You won for two reasons,” the sensei answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.” The boy’s biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.
We don’t often view our weaknesses in the same way, but we should—just like Paul prayed fervently for God to remove some affliction unknown to us, what he called a “thorn in the flesh.” Refusing to remove it, God said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
"Live…daily, a life of dependence on the grace of God." Charles Spurgeon
Dr. David Jeremiah
|
|
Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,204
|
Post by Murph on May 14, 2024 7:04:10 GMT -6
Rest and Refresh
"Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” John 7:37
They were nuns, monks, hermits, and ascetics, and were known as the Desert Fathers (or Desert Mothers, for nuns). Beginning with Anthony the Great who moved to the Middle Eastern desert around A.D. 270, thousands of others followed in his footsteps, seeking spiritual purity, enlightenment, solitude, and perfection.
Their pattern of retreating contributed to today’s practice of taking a retreat to refresh oneself spiritually. Thankfully, it’s not necessary to retreat to the desert or a mountaintop, either temporarily or permanently, to find spiritual refreshment. Jesus said if we would but come to Him—for living water or for rest (Matthew 11:28-30)—we would find it in abundance. We can create that place of rest in a place of prayer or Bible study or meditation or worship, anywhere we can retreat from the cares and busyness of life. When we turn over those cares to God in prayer through Christ, His peace will guard our heart and mind (Philippians 4:6-7).
If you can retreat to a serene spot in nature—wonderful! If that’s not possible, retreat with Jesus wherever you can. He will meet you there.
"You made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless till they rest in you." Augustine
Dr. David Jeremiah
|
|
Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,204
|
Post by Murph on May 15, 2024 6:45:56 GMT -6
Not All Days Are Like This!
"Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving." Psalm 147:7
Alexander Whyte, a famous Scottish preacher, was known by his people as a man who was very optimistic and positive. He always prayed and devoted the first two or three sentences of his prayer to gratitude and thanksgiving to God.
On one particularly miserable Sunday in his church, about ninety percent of the congregation could not even get to the service because the weather was so bad. Rain, snow, wind, and ice were howling around the church. Dr. Whyte got up to pray, and his people wondered what he could possibly say that would be positive in his prayer that day.
“We thank Thee, O Lord,” he prayed, “that it is not always like it is today.”
Perhaps you’re having trouble feeling thankful today. Regardless of your circumstances and mood, you can lighten your heart today—and bless God’s heart—by developing your own personal thanksgiving prayer. Make a mental list. Think of things for which you’ve never before expressed gratitude.
Thanksgiving is a great antidote for self-pity, and it’s an effective cure for the blues!
"Count your blessings, name them one by one; and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done." Johnson Oatman, Jr.
Dr. David Jeremiah
|
|
Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,204
|
Post by Murph on May 16, 2024 6:42:57 GMT -6
Walking With God
"Enoch walked with God." Genesis 5:24
What does it mean to walk with God? There’s a clue in Hebrews 11:5: “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ‘and was not found, because God had taken him’; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”
To walk with God is to please God, and we please God by trusting Him with our troubles. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
As we worship this powerful God we know, we should be encouraged in our walk with Him. We should come to know God better—His omnipotence, His holiness, His ever-present nature, His faithfulness and truthfulness, His justice and love. By coming to know Him better, we trust Him more. By trusting Him more, we please Him. By pleasing Him, we walk with Him as Enoch did.
Is there a burden you need to entrust into God’s care? Do it now, trust Him fully, and enjoy walking with Him through the ups and downs of life.
"Day by day, morning by morning, begin your walk with Him in the calm trust that God is at work in everything." Anne Ortlund
Dr. David Jeremiah
|
|
Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,204
|
Post by Murph on May 17, 2024 6:46:31 GMT -6
Tell God Everything
"I cry out to the Lord with my voice; with my voice to the Lord I make my supplication." Psalm 142:1
When reading the New Testament, we sometimes wonder: “Was the apostle Paul thinking of such-and-such Old Testament event when he wrote those words?” That could be the case when we see an example (Old Testament) and exhortation (New Testament) to pour out our concerns to God.
When David was anointed king, King Saul tried to kill David to block his ascension to the throne. On one occasion, David hid in “the cave of Adullam” (1 Samuel 22:1) to escape the murderous Saul. In Psalm 142, we have a record of David’s prayer to God while he was hiding from Saul. And what a prayer! Surely it is an example of what Paul wrote about in Philippians 4:6-7—don’t be anxious, but through prayers and supplications let your concerns be made known to God. And just as David was guarded in a “stronghold” while he prayed (1 Samuel 22:4), so the believer is guarded by the peace of God as we commit our concerns to Him (Philippians 4:7).
Don’t be afraid to tell God your deepest needs and concerns. By example and exhortation, the Bible encourages that very thing.
"Anxiety and prayer are more opposed to each other than fire and water." J. A. Bengel
Dr. David Jeremiah
|
|
Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,204
|
Post by Murph on May 18, 2024 7:13:29 GMT -6
A Fascinating Few: Josiah
"Now before Josiah there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him." 2 Kings 23:25
No king before Josiah, king of Judah, or after him, was as obedient or faithful. Josiah became king when he was 8 years old. His father and grandfather had been idol-worshiping kings, but Josiah’s 31-year reign was a stark contrast.
When Josiah was 26 years old, he set about to restore the temple in Jerusalem which had fallen into disrepair due to lack of use. During the restoration, the high priest discovered a copy of “the Book of the Law” given through Moses—something Josiah was seemingly unfamiliar with (2 Kings 22:8). When it was read to him, he mourned over how Judah had failed to obey the Lord. He called the people together and renewed the covenant with them after reading them God’s Word. He then undertook a thorough cleansing of Jerusalem and Judah from the vile, pagan, idolatrous practices that had been allowed.
Josiah not only read God’s Word; he put it into practice. Purpose not only to hear the Word but also to do what it says (James 1:23-25).
Beware of reasoning about God’s Word—obey it! Oswald Chambers
Dr. David Jeremiah
|
|
Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,204
|
Post by Murph on May 19, 2024 6:53:37 GMT -6
"For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death." Psalm 48:14
When the storms of life assail us and we feel as though lost at sea, take heart, O Christian, take heart! Our Lord will never fail to lead us in the paths of righteousness, conforming us daily to the pure, holy, and loving image of His very Son, Christ our saviour!
|
|
Murph
Moderator
Be kind to your web footed friends. Amen?
Posts: 69,204
|
Post by Murph on May 20, 2024 7:02:37 GMT -6
Secret Hero
"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Romans 8:26
We try so hard to be self-sufficient. Although we delight in helping others out of our strength, it takes a giant swallow of our pride to accept help. We avoid feelings of brokenness and dependence. We would rather struggle for months on end before admitting we need help. This tendency stunts our growth because it rejects the help and power God has provided.
Although unseen, the Holy Spirit is the invisible hero dwelling within us. God knows our weakness and provides the Holy Spirit to guide, strengthen, and sustain us. The Spirit comes to our rescue time and again. We are loved, and our weakness is never mocked. When God calls us, we can rest assured that the Holy Spirit will equip us through His insight and power. The evidence is clear in both the life of Christ and the lives of His followers.
"The first thing that accounts for God’s using D. L. Moody so mightily was that he was a fully surrendered man. Every ounce of that two-hundred-and-eighty-pound body of his belonged to God; everything he was and everything he had, belonged wholly to God." R. A. Torrey
Dr. David Jeremiah
|
|