Month: November 2023

faith

Devotional for November 30

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Excellent is the Name of the Lord

1 O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Psalm 8:1-2, 4-10 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Faith is every bit as real as salt, and salt is a good physical representation of faith. Salt is a necessary mineral for life and has been used since ancient times for seasoning, purifying, and preserving. So too is faith a necessary spiritual substance for life, by which our elders obtained a good report. If salt loses its saltiness, it becomes good for nothing. Like faith that loses it trust in God, so it too will avail nothing. The effectiveness of your faith depends on the will being firmly set on always trusting God. A wavering trust in God will produce a wavering experience, and the believer will remain spiritually immature. If the heart is to be perfect toward the Lord, the mind must be willing, and the body kept as a vessel holy for the Lord. God commands us to have faith. God is just, therefore anything that He commands of us, He will also enable us to do. To maintain our saltiness, we only need to ask and trust God for it. This is the will of God for all His children. Be strong and courageous in the face of every temptation to doubt. Dare to believe and He will work in you all that He requires.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 28; 2 Peter 2

Micah 5; Luke 14

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

Almighty God, give all of us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. 

faith

Devotional for November 29

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Myrrh, Aloes, and Cassia

45 My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
2 Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.
4 And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
5 Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.
6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.
9 Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
10 Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;
11 So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
12 And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour. Psalm 45:1-12 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

The will of God and our highest good are one and the same. We have only one lifetime to learn this truth. Check your motives. Reduce the extent of physical needs and clarify the intent of the heart. Enter in by the straight gate, fan into flame the Word planted within you, and glorify God in all you do. The desire of the sanctified human will is to do the will of God out of love. It is not the blind obedience of a robot slave that God desires, but a faithful love service of His sons and daughters. There is much happiness to be found in keeping our thoughts, as well as our prayer requests, pleasing to the Lord. There is divine power in His exceeding great and precious promises given to us so that we don’t have to be buffeted and battered by every whim and wind of our feelings and emotions. We can now choose faith in God to be our rule for life by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Faith is a matter of the will determined to trust God, not in any good or bad feelings about what we think is true or so. What God has said, that is so. Let the sometimes turbulent sea of feelings and emotions be as they may.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 26-27; 2 Peter 1

Micah 4; Luke 13

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

Almighty God, give all of us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. 

faith

Devotional for November 28

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Dwell in Safety

4 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.
4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.
6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. Psalm 4 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Faith, got to have it. All who believe in Christ Jesus do have faith at least the size of a mustard seed. With it you can move mountains. If you doubt, you shouldn’t expect much in the way of availing prayer. A doubting thought doesn’t equate to doubting by itself. This is important to understand. It is only agreeing with such thoughts that will move you from faith into doubting the Word of God. Train yourself to quickly vanquish doubting thoughts by countering them with the Word of Truth. Rather than agree with a flaming dart from the wicked one, affirm your choice to always believe that the Word of God is true. The fight of faith starts with decerning good and evil thoughts within the inner man. Faith stands in the will alone. What is easily seen requires no faith, and without faith it is impossible to please God. Walk by the light of the gospel and trust God. Remember every command of God is also a promise. Learn to encourage yourself by rehearsing all the goodness of God you can remember. Such as God is good, God is faithful, God is all powerful, God is my rock and my deliver. The mind can only hold on to one train of thought at a time. Let go of doubt and grab hold of faith in God.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 24-25; 1 Peter 5

Micah 3; Luke 12

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

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.  

faith

Devotional for November 27

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Lord Is a Shield

1 Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
4 I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. Psalm 3:1-5 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

The elite athletes in this world focus on honing necessary skills through deliberate practice over the course of many years. In the same way, the elect of the Lord need a singular focus on practicing truth in order to keep to the straight and narrow path. Truth is necessary for our sanctification, in order to have eternal life, and to know God. It takes the whole truth if we are to come to know God just as we know any other person with whom we have a close personal relationship. One part, one half, or even three quarters of the truth won’t do. Had Jesus accepted the half-truth in His wilderness testing, it would have been a disaster of catastrophic proportions. Our Master was well prepared though. The whole truth in that particular situation was twofold: 1) just as the accuser stated, God will send His Angels to protect you; and 2) in the Lord’s reply we see that to put God through a stupid test demonstrates a lack of faith. Unbelief and a lack of knowledge about the whole revealed truth in the Scriptures, increases our susceptibility to fall into all sorts of error. We lift the shield of faith by trusting God. Belief in the revealed truth of God is a purifying fire that burns away all falsehood and lies. Only two ways to know what is true. The first way is by an accurate detection with our physical senses. Life in this world would be quite impossible without our physical senses, but they are not always reliable. There is a whole class of modern day entertainers commonly known as magicians that earn their living by showing us how easily our physical senses can be deceived. Therefore, it is not difficult to understand why God commands us to live by the rule of faith and not by rule of our physical senses. To walk by faith is simply believing what has been revealed to us and acting accordingly. Believe the gospel and your whole spirit, soul, and body will be full of light. This is the second and most reliable way we come to know truth.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 23; 1 Peter 4

Micah 2; Luke 11

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

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.  

Daily Writing Prompt

What to Give Up

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

If you didn’t need sleep, what would you do with all the extra time?

Sacrifice the lesser to obtain the greater. Few things will be more important in 10 years than having gotten your 8 hours of muscle building beauty sleep each night. Sleep is anabolic and restores the soul. There will be times when sleep must be sacrificed, but let those be the rare exceptions and not the daily routine. A far better way to gain more time is to turn off the television and unplug from social media.

Psalm 127:2: It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

faith

Devotional for November 26

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Each Morning

1 Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.
2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.
3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. Psalm 5:1-7 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Carving a turkey is hard to do with a dull knife. It may be enjoyable to carve a turkey with a sharp knife, but it becomes a real chore with a dull one. Prayer is the spiritual equivalent of putting a fine edge on the knife, of sharpening the axe, and making the saw able to sing. Too often we think of prayer only as an afterthought, when we could have won the fight had we prayed to God for the victory before the battle had begun. Sin has been the death sentence hanging over all mankind since our fall in the Garden of Eden. Simply reducing sin, unlike the benefits gained by reducing sugar, is like trying to crave a turkey with a butter knife. For us to live, we must die to sin. This is only possible by the Cross of Jesus Christ. The essence of the gospel is this: just as by one man (Adam), we all have been sold into bondage to sin, by one man (Jesus), comes the gift of salvation to set us free. Jesus paid the required death penalty for us. By Christ’s death we die to sin, and by His resurrection we live to God. This is how Jesus completely destroyed the work of the devil, and prayer is how we win the battles that remain. Accept the testimony of the gospel by faith and praise His glorious name.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 22; 1 Peter 3

Micah 1; Luke 10

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

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.  

faith

Devotional for November 25

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Give Thanks to the Lord

I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
4 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
5 Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.
6 Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
8 The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. Psalm 138 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

All power belongs to God. Not most, not some, but ALL power belongs to God. God gives power to what and whom He will. He gives power to people, to remedies, to means, but the Bible tells us that God will not share His glory with anyone or anything. Here is a great secret: make prudent use of the remedies and means that God provides, and give abundant praise to the Lord for healing and increase. Remedies and means are but secondary causes, like the tools used to build a house. Therefore, praise the Carpenter and not the tools. God will give more grace to the one who does this. Fear not the ugly birds of prey that swoop down to try to snatch the Word out of your heart before it takes root downward and bears fruit upward. Cast down every thought that would steal the glory due His name. Such thoughts are ugly birds of prey. Exercise the grace of faith in God to chase them away.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 21; 1 Peter 2

Jonah 4; Luke 9

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

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.  

Daily Writing Prompt

There are Four

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Who are your current most favorite people?

My most favorite people of all time are eyewitness of the life of Jesus Christ. There are four known by the names of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Just as four different sportscasters watching the same football game will add their own unique flavor when describing the exact same play, so do the four books of the good news of Jesus Christ written Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John provide slightly different descriptions of the same events. Do you want to know Jesus Christ? Go read the recorded testimonies of these four eyewitnesses for yourself. (2 Corinthians 13:1; Isaiah 53:1-6; Matthew 1:22-23; Mark 1:1; Luke 1:1-4; John 20:24-31)

faith

Devotional for November 24

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Those Who Love the Lord

8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord.
9 For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. Psalm 97:8-12 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Ordinary prudence demands that in this modern age we do not neglect physical exercise. There are volumes of scientific evidence demonstrating the value of physical exercise, yet more valuable still is the exercise of the grace of faith that connects us to our divine power supply. Faith saves only because it connects us to our Redeemer. Christ our Redeemer is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Not because we feel this to be true, but because we choose to believe the report of this fact in the Holy Bible. Faith is the God ordained vital connection for the power of God working in us to enable our whole spirit, soul, and body to do His will. God is good. God is in control. God is our help and shield. When we have learned to trust God completely, worries and fears will flee like cockroaches suddenly caught out in the light.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 19-20; 1 Peter 1

Jonah 3; Luke 8

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

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.  

faith

Devotional for November 23

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Made Known Among the Peoples

11 I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
14 Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. Psalm 77:11-14 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Limit the extent and improve the intent of what you want to do. Blessed is the one who knows that what glorifies God, and our highest good, are one and the same. All the world is a bodybuilding stage. So, pray unceasingly and always control your abs. The breath of a righteous man is in the unceasing prayer of “Thy will be done.” Love much. For the love of God is the only worthy beginning, end, and means that gives living true meaning. Gold, jewels, and big guns are among the treasures of this life, but they all will eventual rust, cease to sparkle, and be gone with the wind. In that day, they will amount to one big pile of nothing to all those who have been devoted to them. Seek the Lord and His righteousness as you do the necessary things like maintaining your physical conditioning. Guard your heart as you improve. Beware of becoming a fitness Pharisee. How easy it is to compare self to everyone else you pass on the street. If self is judged superior in comparison, pride will soon find fertile ground in the heart. If self is judged inferior, covetousness for their abs, their arms, their chest, or their butt will spring up to defile the heart. Comparison is a deadly trap. Be quick to turn from such thoughts and refuse to compare self with others. Remain like the young child who doesn’t compare self with other children. They are too busy enjoying what they have to be concerned about who has more. Remember the Master’s command to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Do this and vain desires will soon lose their power over you. Pray and work. Ask God to give you wisdom to replace pride, and patience to replace covetousness. Let your heart be fully established by firmly setting your will to believe the Word of Truth. No good thing will God withhold from those who love Him.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 18; James 5

Jonah 2; Luke 7

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

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.