Month: August 2023

faith

Devotional for August 19

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Bring Me to Your Holy Mountain

3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 43:3-5 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Labor not for the meat that perishes. Hold tight to the faith that you are among the elect, called by God, as if your very life depends on it. Any persuasion that causes you to doubt your election is from the devil and is to be resisted in faith. This temptation to doubt only happens to the elect, as the non-elect are never troubled in this way. Realize we must first believe Jesus Christ, only then can we come to know Him. The order is important, because faith must first be mixed with the word of God before we can come to know the Lord. Then the believer will be prepared for the sweetest of victories snatched from the jaws of defeat, which is the salvation of the soul. Not that we are sufficient in our own strength to do any of this, it is precisely because we recognize our dependence on the living God that we are made more than conquerors. 

Question

Who are the elect of God?

Answer

All are called, but few are chosen (Scripture). Election is just one of the true mysteries of God (Scripture), unnecessary to be solved on this side of eternity, it is enough to know that while all are called only the elect are drawn by the Father to Jesus Christ (Scripture). The way is clear (Scripture) and God is just (Scripture). The only thing that separates the elect from the lost is a willingness to be reconciled to God (Scripture).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Grant to me, Lord. I pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that I, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for August 18

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Lord Reigns For Ever

146 Praise ye the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul.
2 While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:
6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners:
8 The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous:
9 The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
10 The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 146 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The one who knows only success is weaker than the one who knows both success and failure. If all you have ever done ends in success, it becomes too easy to trust in your own strength. The bigger that bubble gets, the bigger the mess it will leave when it blows up in your face. Nothing fertilizes the evil root of pride better than an unbroken string of successes. Guard your heart against all forms of pride. Not only against the common forms like arrogance, vainglory, and conceit, but also against the opposite forms like timidity, envy, and pretense. Any pride allowed in the heart gives the enemy a foothold. Pride is the dominant spirit controlling those who are in the flesh. The Bible tells us that all who are of a carnal mind, and sow to the flesh, will reap from the flesh disease, suffering, pain, and death.  Be diligent and repent! Be sober, set your mind on the things above, and be watchful against the deceitfulness of your own heart. Only God is worthy to sit on the throne of the human heart. 

Question

How can we know God?

Answer

A couple of thousand years in the making, the Holy Bible is the golden record for all who want to know the living God (Scripture). All who love the word of God, love God (Scripture). All who have the word of God abiding in their heart, have God abiding in their heart (Scripture). With the word of God and life experience comes wisdom (Scripture). Without meditating on the word day and night we are easy prey for the loud, constantly in the face, tempting voices of folly all around us (Scripture). Be ye doers of the word and you will come to know the Lord through personal experience (Scripture). 

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Grant to me, Lord. I pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that I, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for August 17

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Bless His Holy Name

103 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul. Psalm 103:1-5, 19-23 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Prayer is the privilege of every child of the living God from who all blessings flow. Prayer is the respiration of the soul, and the vitalizer of the spirit. Prayer is like weight training for the inner man. To gain membership in the big guns club, or the six pack abs fraternity, requires you to pay your dues. You can’t use credit for the payment, and cash on delivery isn’t accepted. You pay with hard work in advance and get your membership card by regular snail mail. Let prayer be your first priority of work, as the only the scoundrel considers prayer when all else has failed. Before asking for physical blessings, ask for that which is more essential: To have your conscience cleansed so as to know right from wrong; to have your affections transformed so that you desire what is good and abhor what is sinful; and to have your will purified so that you do what is pleasing to the Lord and turn from all that is not. If we ask for such things, we can be confident that God will grant them. These blessings are promised in the holy Scriptures and are at the heart of the life to which we are called to in Christ Jesus. Pray therefore, be lavish with your praise and hearty with your thanksgiving. Worthy is our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Kings!

Question

Why does faith require action?

Answer

Faith is like a bobsled race (Scripture). We’re not the driver (Scripture), our job is to get the sled moving, jump in, sit still and hold on to the end (Scripture). Faith requires prayer with corresponding action just as the bobsled requires pushing with coordinated running to get it moving (Scripture). Only a moving bobsled can be steered to victory (Scripture).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Grant to me, Lord. I pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that I, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for August 16

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

He Has Declared His Word

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.
13 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.
14 He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.
15 He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.
16 He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?
18 He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 147:12-21 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The masses in the mainstream are like obstinate children continuously feeding on poison, making them sicker and sickerm all the while refusing the cure. Pride makes us easy prey for all kinds of deception. The deceitfulness of riches seduces and destroys many who idolize the power of the money. More money is NOT the answer. Money is a bandage at best that only covers surface wounds and distracts the mind from pain. It does nothing to heal the real problem of unrighteousness in soul. For just such a reason, Christ came to save us from our bondage to sin. Throw off the worldly wisdom that refuses to give God the glory due His name. Humble yourself and cry out for the blessing of hunger and thirst for righteousness. Depend on the Lord to make you strong and courageous. Set your mind and affections on the things above and all these worldly things currently set against you, whatsoever they may be, will certainly pass away. Be full of hope and good cheer, because the day of our ultimate salvation is closer today than it was yesterday. 

Question

How can we cast our cares upon the Lord?

Answer

Know that God works all things together for good for those who love Him (Scripture). Be specific in prayer and direct your thoughts (Scripture). Go to work and demonstrate your faith in God by trusting Him to bring about the desired outcome (Scripture). Doubts and feelings to test your faith are sure to come (Scripture). Take them all back to the Lord by acknowledging that all outcomes depend on God alone (Scripture). Peace in the eye of every storm is keeping the mind fixed on God (Scripture).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Grant to me, Lord. I pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that I, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for August 15

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

May the Lord Strengthen You Out of Zion

20 The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions. Psalm 20:1-5 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Every hard packed area of the unbelieving heart can be broken up little by little. Have faith in God. Practice all the truth you receive from the word of God and never agree with the contrary thoughts suggested by the inner tempter. Such persuasion doesn’t come from the one who has died for you in order to reconcile you to God. Therefore, we are commanded to put on the full spiritual armor of God, and mediate on His word day and night. Be spiritually minded and reject the vanities of the materialistic worldview so prevalent during these last days. This world is filled with so much suffering and pain. Even still, the righteous have good reason for rejoicing through it all. For the tears of this life last only a moment when compared to the everlasting reward of eternal life in the presence of the Lord forever.

Question

What does it meant to be in Christ?

Answer

To be in Christ is to join the congregation of the righteous in both this physical world and the spiritual Kingdom of God (Scripture). To be in Christ means to have Christ dwelling in you (Scripture). Don’t look to feel it before your believe it (Scripture). Seeing and feeling are always lag indicators (Scripture). A basic principle of the Kingdom is that faith in God must always precede seeing and feeling (Scripture). First the blade, then the ear, and then the full corn in the ear (Scripture).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Grant to me, Lord. I pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that I, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for August 14

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Recount the Praiseworthy Deeds of the Lord

1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God. Psalm 78:1-8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Knowledge of the will of God is a divinely given map showing us where to go and where not to go, but alone knowledge is not power. Power comes from the application of knowledge. There can be no application without knowledge and it is equally true there will be no power without application. Blessings follow the proper application of the Word of God to all the heart, body, mind, soul, and spirit. Be determined to do all the will of God and depend on the grace of God to enable you to get it done. We can consistently be a doer of the Word by faith. Be diligent in guarding the heart against deceiving self in this matter. 

Question

What is the purpose of life?

Answer

The purpose of life is to glorify God (Scripture). It is the one thing that we can do now that we will also be doing in heaven (Scripture). Wisdom is knowing that our highest good and the will of God are one and the same (Scripture). To do the will of God, whether it be an archangel or a lowly man, is to glorify God (Scripture).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon all your faithful people your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for August 13

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Proclaim with Me the Greatness of the Lord

34 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Psalm 34:1-8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Fear, uncertainty, and doubt are the adult versions of the school playground bullies of the world. They won’t be satisfied with just your lunch money, little by little they will take more and more until you are left shaking with each change of the wind. There are many things in this life that seek to defeat us without having to go to battle. Screwtape doctrines using psychological trickery designed to create fear and worry are transmitted constantly throughout the digital spaces of our modern world. To be strong and courageous it is necessary to accept our weakness and depend totally on the strength of the Lord. Fight the good fight of faith by holding tight onto the truth as revealed in the word of God. Trust in the Lord. Our hope is in His salvation, and on His grace we can always depend. Victory and power is in the name of Jesus Christ, now and forever more!

Question

Is there more than just prosperity on earth and eternal life in heaven?

Answer

The Holy Bible promises much more than prosperity and eternal life (Scripture). That we come to know the fullness of Christ, this is the will of God for each of His children (Scripture). What can be shaken must be shaken if we are to truly learn what can never be moved (Scripture). All that is sin is destined to be burned in the fire (Scripture). Our heavenly Father draws us to Christ by faith (Scripture), and it is by the same faith that we receive more grace (Scripture). The measure that we hold back is the measure by which we are limited (Scripture). All of self for all of Jesus (Scripture), total of lesser things for the total of that which is greater (Scripture), everything old for everything new (Scripture).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon all your faithful people your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Daily Writing Prompt

Never Leave Home Without It

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Daily writing prompt
What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?
View all responses

Better than an unlimited charge card, far better than the smartest of phones, and more powerful than any speeding bullet is the Word of God. Carry it in your heart and nobody can ever take it from you. Think about it as often as you can, and you will never forgot it or leave it behind. See John 15:1-11

faith

Devotional for August 12

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Who Can Ascend the Hill of the Lord?  

24 The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah Psalm 24:1-6 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Darkness and light are like fear and faith in that when one comes the other must go. Blessed are those who have not seen a burning bush, nor a light brighter than the noonday sun, and still believe. It isn’t falling off the wagon that causes all the havoc, it’s the not getting back on after falling off. “Oh well, blown my diet anyway…another slice of pizza isn’t going to matter.” Or, “Had a couple of drinks already, one more won’t hurt.” Or, “Missed a couple of workouts this week, might as well just wait and start up again next week.” Such harmful rationalizations suggested by the inner tempter are endless. Falling doesn’t have to lead to disaster, as long as you remember that you don’t climb out of a pit by digging the hole deeper. The conscience must be keep both tender and clear in order for the goodness of the Lord to lead us to repentance. If not, the conscience is easily hardened against any sin we allow or permit by hiding, covering, or excusing it. When the Spirit moves the conscience to reprove you, be quick to call on the name of Jesus Christ for mercy rather than go on wallowing in the filth and condemnation of those who slide deeper and deeper toward the bottomless pit. Ask the Lord to cleanse your heart, your mind, and your hands. Such a request is pleasing to the Lord and He is always faithful and willing to do all that He has promised. We can be confident that such a prayer uttered sincerely will be granted.

Question

What is a good technique for learning to lead public prayer?

Answer

First: Acknowledge the infinite greatness of Almighty God (Scripture). Second; Petition the Lord by using the word of God pertaining to the specific needed grace (Scripture). Third: Give thanks for the expected blessing (Scripture).

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon all your faithful people your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.