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Jul

24

Exalt the Lord!

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The word tells us to let our light shine before men so they may see our good works and glorify our Father, which is in heaven. Do we light a candle to put it in the closet or for the light to be seen?

The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation… ~ Psalm 18:46 (NASB)

In a psalm, David entreated the people to exalt the Lord together. In a trial while dealing with King Achish, David underwent a struggle for his life. Although he made a weak defense of feigning insanity to escape from him, David was certain that the Lord was the cause for his deliverance.

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! ~ Psalm 34:1-3 (ESV)

Singing to the Lord, praying, praising, thanking, teaching, preaching, witnessing for Christ daily in our walks are some of the ways to magnify the Lord. Lifting up his name is the least we can do for the loving savior whose light lives within us.

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So, I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands ~ Psalm 63:3-4 (ESV)

Jul

17

A gracious helper

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Without a shepherd’s guidance or a sturdy fence, a flock of sheep can easily roam right out of the pasture and end up falling off a cliff. Sheep are soft and cuddly but not too bright. People are sometimes referred to as sheep. Though for the saved, we have a personal 24-hour shepherd who holds us in the palm of his hand—no fence required.

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father ~ John 10:14-15.

 Like a sheep, we know the Lord’s voice when we hear it. Whether it’s that still, small prompting or a verse from the Bible, God speaks to our hearts. As we know him better, we tend to trust and follow him more. We recognize when he’s talking to us because we’re open to his instruction and our ears are tuned to Him.

A believer should be forever grateful to be part of the Lord’s flock because of the great shepherd, the Rock of Ages, who guides us. Though we may need prodding, to be one of the Lord’s sheep is the most gratifying places to find oneself.

We were once like sheep who went astray, but the Lord saw fit to call us by name into his sheepfold where we will remain safe throughout eternity. Surely, he’s our help in all of life’s situations.

Jul

10

Storm tossed

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After losing his little boy in the great Chicago fire of 1871, Horatio G. Spafford, who penned the words to the hymn, It Is Well with My Soul, later lost all four of his daughters in a ship accident at sea.

 When sorrows like sea billows roll…

Despite the tragedy, Spafford kept close to Christ, knowing God’s comfort would be true and sufficient for anything—and everything.

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord ~ Psalm 31:24

Like Job, David, Paul, Daniel, Joseph and many other saints from old, they leave us examples of hardship and persecution. With their dire troubles—even unto death—they maintained an abiding faith as they rested in the spiritual arms of Jesus.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction… ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4a

 Some by the fire and some by the flood…but all through the blood of Jesus are we sifted and refined like choice silver and gold. It would seem like Horatio Safford had been sifted with both water and fire in the Lord’s sanctification of this godly man. Like all of the ancient saints we read about, we are given hope that they survived their trials to tell the tale and only through the power of God.

Jul

04

Happy Birthday, America!

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Almost all of the world’s constitutions are documents in which governments tell the people what their privileges are. The U.S. Constitution is a document in which WE THE PEOPLE tell the government what it is allowed to do. WE THE PEOPLE are free, thus far, from tyranny.

But are we truly free in America?

In the USA, we have freedoms other countries only dream about. However, in our nation today, many citizens are still enslaved. The evil master who ensnares many is way wiser than any tyrannical king and even more menacing.

It’s easy to be led away by carnal devices and become entangled in sin. Though the Holy Spirit of our living God gives believers the power to overcome sin, we alone make the choice of which master we will serve. We cannot serve both God and mammon.

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” ~ Joshua 24:15

We may be free in this land, but we are only truly free when Jesus is on the throne of our lives.

“If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” ~ John 8:31-32

Jun

26

The earth is full of his goodness

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The magnificent works of the Lord are above and beyond amazing.  How can we measure the goodness of the Lord? Can mere words do them justice? Is there a measuring rod or scale big enough? With the rich abundance of all he supplies, it would take an eternity to count the blessings God bestows.

Every time the earth rotates around the sun, there is a new dawn and new opportunities to praise and worship Him, our maker. We are all blessed by what our Creator lends us for life on this planet every day. He brings the sunlight, provides our food for harvesting, and His word tells us that the rain, too, falls on the just as well as the unjust.

Take a look at the natural beauty of the sky, a flower, or a butterfly, and marvel at the handiwork of our Lord. If he can be concerned for such things, how much more for you?

As God has given us life more abundantly, we need to make it a priority to share the good news with others!

Jun

19

Father of fathers

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There is no official instruction guide for fatherhood, though the instruction book for life—the Bible—has everything one needs to accomplish the job. And what better example to follow than that of our heavenly Father who, by his grace, has given us more than we deserve. That is, not to spoil us, but to show us the riches of His glory.

What an awesome responsibility it is to bear the title of father. Being a father is more than just having children. The job requires time, patience, discipline, and sacrifice. Above all, love.

It’s a tremendous undertaking to rear children in the way to go. The task can be daunting, especially when a man does it in his own strength. Many times, a father will fail. We need to pray for them to seek their Father in heaven for the strength, wisdom, and courage to fulfill their earthly role.

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord ~ Ephesians 6:4

 Men, young and old, whether a father or a surrogate dad, have been given a generous task and privilege. With the Lord as the role model and his word as the guide, they have all that’s needed to achieve the responsibility of being a great father.

 

Jun

12

What’s lovely these days?

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In a world slowly devolving into more social unrest, where the secular powers-that-be continue to strive against everything godly, and while evil prevails around every corner—calamities, war, death, destruction, mayhem—it’s hard to find anything good in the news. But take heart. When the world looks bleak, keep in mind there’s a news story that rarely makes the front pages. It’s not the political Great Reset; it’s the news of Jesus, our Lord, who is coming back to earth one day to establish the Greatest Reset.

In the meantime, God’s word encourages us to keep our eyes focused on Jesus and to be prepared for his return like in the parable of the ten virgins. Half of them carried enough oil to keep their lamps aflame while waiting for their bridegroom. Sadly, the others did not, and their lamps burned out, preventing them from entering into the marriage feast. Why weren’t they prepared? They all knew he was coming, yet only a few of them were ready.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus and keep yourself focused there. Don’t be swayed by every wind of doctrine nor worry about what mere man can do here on earth. Be like the virgins who kept their lamps glowing—ready and waiting for their bridegroom.

When you focus on the beauty of Jesus—his truth, compassion, love—everything else will pale by comparison. When hope wanes under the cares of this world, remember that as believers, we are the bride of Christ. Know that Jesus is there to love us far better than the world ever can.

 

Jun

05

Welcome as you are

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When Christ came to earth, he was the division between the pompously proud and the humbly repentant. His purpose was to welcome into his family those who loved and sought the truth of God with a humble, open heart. No finery required.

No matter how much we want to dress up and present ourselves seamless and flawless to become acceptable, God sees the true thread of our character, and no amount of starched collars or polished buttons will cover our sins. Only the blood of Jesus.

Consider what the Lord has accomplished to welcome you into his family and know that as a son or daughter of God, truly you are loved and accepted through the redeeming work of Jesus on the cross. Nothing more, nothing less.

There’s no pretense with God. We don’t need to dress up for the Lord. Out of respect, we want to present ourselves clean when we come to church as members of a civil society. But remember, if you don’t have anything but the clothes on your back, the welcome mat to the Lord’s house is still free for you to set your foot upon. The Lord does not turn away anyone who comes knocking. By his blood, we are all cleansed of our filth in the precious blood of Jesus. 

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” ~ Romans 15:7

May

29

Celebrating all veterans!

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This Memorial Day, we celebrate our serviceman and heroes who’ve paid the price and sacrificed so much for our country. We salute them all for their valiant efforts to ensure the safe keeping of our land and its liberty.

America, the land of the free, is a concept our founding fathers brought forth on this continent that all men should be free from tyranny. They acknowledged their Creator as God, thus paving the way for America to become a blessed nation of freedom.

Among the heroic souls who braved their lives to secure our liberty, there’s another who made the ultimate and distinguished sacrifice—our savior, Jesus Christ. The price he paid was the willing offer to give up his own life in obedience to the Father in an effort to bring new life and restoration to every believer.

Thank you, Lord, that we have liberty to worship you in this great land because of the sacrificial efforts of so many…the greatest being your Son.

“…and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” ~2 Corinthians 3:17

May

22

Make a joyful noise

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Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation ~ Psalm 95:1

 What better way to communicate to the Lord than through prayerful and joyous singing. When a joyful surge wells up, it is often expressed through song. In addition to the book of Psalms, God’s word is full of verses that encourage believers to worship him through music.

Ephesians 9:15 says we are to speak to each other in psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.

Colossians 3:16 says to let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

Standing before the tabernacle at the tent of meeting as well as in the temple, cymbals, harps, lyres, trumpets were all used to worship and glorify the Lord. The Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and kinsmen together with the trumpets of the 120 priests, praised the Lord saying, He indeed is good for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Then the house of the Lord was completely filled with a cloud, signifying God’s glory filling the temple.

The word also says to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. No matter the skill or pitch of your vocal cords or whether you can even carry a tune in a handbag, God is honored when the sound you make comes from your heart.