The God of My Salvation

25 Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
4 Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.
5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Psalm 25:1-5 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into His Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Inspiration

There is a difference between “eating to live” and “living to eat.” The main motive when living to eat is the pleasure that comes from what tastes good. Eating only what tastes good in this modern age will time only make one sick. Today there are literally tons of highly delicious food-like stuff packed with sugar and void of nutrients on grocery shelves everywhere. This is why ours the fattest and sickest generation in history. It’s a consequence of our food producers being a for profit industry, and the use of modern science to hijack our taste buds to get at our dollars. Hansel, wake up and realize that Gretel is not going to save you. In the real life version of this fairy tale we are living, the witch has bought Gretel’s cooperation with a juicy corporate sponsorship. Many Pilgrims through the forest are enticed off the straight path by the deceiver’s sugary coated persuasions. Who is also quick to suggest the hardship on the way is something that they should want to avoid. Running from the promised tribulations of a righteous life will surely stunt the Christian’s growth. This will keep them a breast sucking babe long after the time when they should have be a fully develop flame of fire. Strive to be conformed to the Word of God in all you do, say, and think. Deny the taste buds, choose to walk by faith regardless of how hard the way may seem. Though the forest may be dark at times, there is a shining city up ahead. The Holy Guest is more than able to get you there safely.

Today’s Question to Consider

What are some of things we can do to resist using our own biology against us?

Unto Thee, O Lord, I Lift Up My Soul

2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
4 Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.
5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
6 Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O Lord.
8 Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
11 For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.
12 What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.
14 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
15 Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. Psalm 25:2-15 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into His Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Inspiration

Sometimes the fork in the road is only identified after having already passed by that way many times before. You will know you’ve reached the fork in the road when unless you choose to turn in faith, you will be stuck going round-n-round in the same old rut. Faith can be seen as actions inspired by belief in the truth. First we must come to believe the truth of the gospel, and then comes the testing of faith as we step out by ordering our life according to the pattern given to us in the Holy Bible. Without the testing of our faith, our conversion is incomplete. You believe the truth that the Lord will take care of you, and so the word of God affirms. Step out on that truth, hold it tight, and turn from worrying and being afraid. All who believe in their heart Jesus Christ was crucified for our sins, and that God has raised Him from the dead, have faith at least the size of a mustard seed. Your faith is more than big enough as long you fix your will to believe the truth and simply refuse to doubt. This is the proper use of our God given will power. Rejoice to step out in faith, because victory follows close behind. The enemy will try to scare you from it. To prevent this, it is wise never to take the counsel of fears that are contrary to word of God. Be of good cheer. The testing of faith is necessary in order for us to experience the victory that overcomes the world. The victory won for us by our Lord Jesus Christ with the Cross and with His resurrection. Ultimate victory is sure and nearer today than it was yesterday. 

Today’s Question to Consider

Today, today, today…where does your will power need to be focused to better support your faith?

I Will Make Known to This Generation Your Power and Strength

17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
18 Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.
19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!
20 Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. Psalm 71:17-20 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into His Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Inspiration

To be physically fit you must trust the process and not give up. The only effective program is the one followed with consistency. Faith also requires trust and consistency. It is especially necessary to walk by faith when things appear to be bad. God has promised that even those things which appear to be bad in the present moment will work together for good for all those who love Him. Since we have no way of knowing for sure what will happen even a few minutes from now, it is unreasonable to expect to be able to always see how God will make what is unfortunate water into celebration wine. Accept this most natural of human limitations and let God be God. When good things happen, praise Him for His goodness. When bad things happen, praise Him for His faithfulness. This is the will of God for all his children, and He will surely enable us to do it.. The bricks on the high road that leads to eternal life in Christ Jesus are made from such a consistent trust in the faithfulness of God. Bless the Lord and praise His name always. Trusting God to faithfully keep His precious promises honors God. And God has promised to will honor the man that honors Him.

Today’s Question to Consider

For what do you need to pray, trust, and praise?

The Lord is My Strength and My Defense

8 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them.
11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
12 They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.
16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. Psalm 118:8-16 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into His Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Inspiration

First seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness in all things. Stay on the narrow way that leads to eternal life. Keep to the fundamentals of good health, and fitness will improve steadily. Put away all that weakens and fight the good fight of the faith against the inner tempter. Practice denying self rather than giving into the inner tempter and its emotionally charged appeals to gratify self. Pick up your cross daily by refusing to live by the burger kingdom’s maxim to do things your own way. Follow Jesus by doing all to the glory of God, and all that is necessary will be added to you.

Truth is a fact that is known to be right. Things are not true because they are written in the Bible, they are written in the Bible because they are known to be true. “I feel this” or “I feel that”  may or may not be valid, as feelings are not facts. Feelings are just the brain’s best guess of what’s true based off the facts that it sees. To walk by sight means to ascribe truth based on the brain’s best guess of the proper interpretation of the facts. To walk by faith on the other hand, is to ascribe truth base on trust in God. The opposite of a fact is a falsehood, but there is an even more important truth to understand here. This more important understanding has to do with facts that contradict the word of God. Such facts, no matter how real they look and feel in this present physical world, are only what Jonah called “lying vanities” (Johan 2:8). Glory to God is all that can be said when this understanding is granted. Blessed rest for the soul. 

Today’s Question to Consider

What feelings based lying vanities trouble us most?

My Heart Rejoices in His Salvation

13 How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
6 I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into His Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Inspiration

Happiness doesn’t come from ease, and from luxury it will fly away. Enjoyment just leaks out of pleasure like an old tire on a broken down car leaks out air. If we only eat what tastes good, and only do what feels easy, what more do we do than those who rot on the couch like a potato in front of the TV? This is why youth is wasted on the young, because with such vanities they waste so much of their time. God has not called us to be like rotting couch potatoes. He has called us to be conformed to the image our Lord and Master Jesus Christ. That is our God-given destiny. He has set us on His narrow path. His grace is sufficient to make our faith firm. Refuse all that would pull you off into the ditches on the left and right sides of the way of righteousness. Fix your eyes on Jesus and walk with your right hand in His. Joy may be sowed with tears, yet the morning will come with rejoicing in the Lord for the bountiful harvest.

Today’s Question to Consider

If life were a stream, there would only be two types of fish…the quick and the dead. How can we tell them apart?