Month: November 2023

faith

Devotional for November 13

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Show Me the Way I Should Go

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
7 Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Psalm 143:1, 4-8 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

The baby Christian may be often blown and tossed about by the winds and waves of circumstance. However, if the pursuit of God is continued with diligence, God will bring each saint to full maturity in the likeness of our Lord Jesus Christ. Pray to receive the promise of a clean heart made willingly obedient to God by the love of Christ Jesus. Let the Word of God dwell richly in your innermost thoughts and meditations. Know that this is the will of God for all His children. Pray for it, and by faith receive it NOW. Praise God for His goodness and do not allow yourself to feel down, depressed, or worried for more than a few seconds. Such persuasions never come from the Holy Guest that dwells within you. Watch and guard your heart to keep it undefiled by unbelief. Remember that Almighty God is your Shepherd, and there are no secondary causes beyond His control. God hates all evil, but any that He permits to come near will always work together for your good. Receive all as coming from the hand of your loving heavenly Father and even the bitter will become less so. Know without a doubt that every bitter pill He gives is the most beneficial medicine for us in that particular moment regardless of the bottle, the person, or the circumstance in which it is packaged. To know that God loves you, and permits only what is best for you, is a great comfort. Receive it and Believe it. Always remember that according to your faith will it be done unto you. This is the rule and the only limit.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 1-2; Hebrews 8

Amos 2; Psalm 145

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

Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that I may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; 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 Skip

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

What part of your routine do you always try to skip if you can?

I would skip the getting up so early every morning. I would skip the hard work. I would skip the daily climb and just start at the top with a mega-giant-billion-dollar-power-ball jackpot without ever having to earn any of it. If there was anyway I could skip the effort, persistence, and work I would. On second thought, I wouldn’t. The difficultly along the way is the secret ingredient in all goal achievement that makes the reaching of it so good. (Proverbs 20:21; Proverbs 30:15-16; 2 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Timothy 6:3-8)

faith

Devotional for November 12

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

I Asked You for Grace, and You Gave It to Me

1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.
2 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:
4 Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.
5 For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Psalm 122:1-5 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

It is better to live true and lose, than it is to live deceitfully and win seven times over all the golden fleeces the world has to offer. Our pilgrimage on this earth is short. We bring nothing into this world and it is certain we can take nothing out. Our hope is fully set by the knowledge of what we will receive based on how we have lived, not on the multitude of vain trinkets we have won or collected. Trials and tribulations must come in this fallen world. None of them will seem good while we suffer under them. The Word of Truth however, promises that God will work even the rough and tough times together for our good. Believe the Truth. One of the first principles of the Christian life is that at all times, in all situations, help is always available. Not the kind of help that the world gives and then expects something in return. Our help comes from our heavenly Father who mercifully gives us all good things at the proper time and in the proper season. Always be quick to offer God a sacrifice of praise before deliverance is manifested and easily seen. It is also a first principle of Christ that nothing is impossible for God and only our belief sets the limit. We are commanded by God, therefore, to be sanctified by believing the Truth. Be transformed by the Truth and the Truth will set you free. Blessed is everyone who trusts in the Lord.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Kings 25; Hebrews 7

Amos 1; Psalm 144

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

Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that I may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; 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 November 11

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Love the Lord

1 I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
4 Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.
6 The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.
7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. Psalm 116:1-7 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

It is only by coming face to face and accepting our own weakness that we are able to really get strong. God has made known to us His great salvation in Christ Jesus planned before the foundation of the world. Followers of Christ are born again into a lively hope of an eternity in the presence of Almighty God. The poor unbelieving soul without this hope is dead while she is still living. They have only this life, and are taught by this perishing world to walk by their physical senses, to idolize money, and to rely on self. No matter how smart we are, how rich we get, or how strong we become, all of us fall short of the righteousness required by God. Everyone will learn this either in this life or shortly thereafter. Our strength, His Grace. Our rule, His Word. Our end, His Glory.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Kings 24; Hebrews 6

Joel 3; Psalm 143

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

Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that I may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; 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 November 10

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Wise Will Ponder These Things

33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
39 Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
40 He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
41 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord. Psalm 107:33-43 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Strengthening doesn’t come from one set, one workout, or even one 90-day extreme challenge. No lofty thing can be achieved without patience, consistency, and perseverance. High level appearance and performance comes from thousands of sets adding up to years of workouts. You can only get those kind of reps by exercising patience, consistency, and perseverance. Start where you are, and then brace yourself for the fire. Doubts, discouragement, and setbacks are the impurities that must be burned away if the gold is to shine forth with all its brilliance. It is God who began this good work in you, and it is God who will bring you to full maturity. Trust in the Lord your God with all your heart. We are to grow IN grace, but we cannot grow INTO grace. Just as a man can grow IN his coat, but he cannot grow INTO his coat. He must first put it on. In the same manner, by faith we must put off the old man like the vile moth eaten coat it is, and put on the new man created in Christ Jesus. Having been born again in Christ Jesus, we grow by the practice of the means of grace. Studying the Word and prayer being chief of these. Thoroughly nourished on the pure spiritual milk of the Word and given to the constant exercise of decerning good and evil according to the mind of Christ within us, thereby do we grow. By taking captive every thought to be obedient to Christ, we are changed more and more into His glorious image. Not by our own wisdom or might, but by the Holy Spirit working within us.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Kings 23; Hebrews 5

Joel 2; Psalm 142

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

Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that I may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; 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 November 9

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

We Walk, O Lord, in the Light of Your Presence

14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.
16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
17 For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.
18 For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king. Psalm 89:14-18 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

How quickly we forget His lovingkindness and His mercy that encompasses us about as a shield when we slack off in praising the Lord. The command to praise the Lord is altogether for our sakes as it adds nothing to the Lord. We are told to enter into His courts with thanksgiving and praise. Press on to obtain the mark of the full peace and rest of the children of God. It requires an effortless effort, a yielding of all self-proprietorship, and a belief based only on faith in God. Only believe. The royal way set before us is paved with belief and it must be walked by faith. Let not the difficulties of the way discourage you. Abundant provisions for all has already been provided, is being provided, and will also be provided in the future by our heavenly Father. Only believe. The pain that brings the gains often depends on how it is seen. When pain comes upon you from your own foolishness, accept it as discipline to be used to correct your course. Repent and wash your hands. When pain comes from the hand of other people, know that God only allows it because He will ultimately work it out for your good. Be encouraged. God often uses the trouble of this world as a refining fire to bring forth the genuineness of your faith so that it shines like pure gold. Trust God and you will see that it is easier to believe the revealed truth of the Holy Bible than it is not to believe it. We praise God because of who He is. Don’t just praise God when everything is going well. Faith is affirmed in speech and actions all the time. Praise God regardless of what you see and feel. All these precious promises aren’t true because they are in the Bible. They are already known to be true. Thus, they have been recorded in the Bible for our benefit. Only believe! He has promised to make you strong and firm in the faith. Praise is very appropriate even in the mist of every storm, because God is…completely faithful…yesterday, today, and forever.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Kings 22; Hebrews 4

Joel 1; Psalm 140-141

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

Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that I may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; 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 November 8

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Make Your Way Straight Before Me

5 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.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. Psalm 5:1-8 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

The quality of the muscle we develop has a positive correlation with the quality of the reps we use doing our workouts. Sloppy reptations will produce inferior results. Good reps bring good stress right where each exercise intends it. In the same way, neuroscientist tell us that our thoughts are like the reps that change the brain. The mind is wired and our heart sowed with either good or bad seed depending upon the preponderance of our thoughts. A single rep may seem insignificant, but many thought reps compounded over time eventually becomes a great unmovable weight. Whether this works for us or against us depends on the quality of our thoughts. Just to sit and think of God are the best and sweetest thoughts of all. Thoughts without acknowledging God are at best like artificial sweeteners, which only reinforces double-mindedness. They provide zero calorie appeasement for the conscience. This allows one to be comfortable with wanting to go north while walking south. How can we say we believe when we seek the artificial sweetener of honor from men rather than the honor that comes from the living God? God has graciously provided all things for our enjoyment, to be received with thanksgiving and to be used with all wisdom to glorify God. To this we are called in love. Learn to walk in the Spirit. Trust in God with all your heart and stop leaning on natural things. Refuse to doubt and God will make you strong in body, soul, and spirit.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Kings 21; Hebrews 3

Hosea 14; Psalm 139

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

Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that I may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; 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 November 7

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Blessed Are these People

11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:
12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:
13 That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:
14 That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.
15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord. Psalm 144:11-16 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Make wise use of all the available remedies God provides, but let your faith be in God alone. The good fight of faith is NOT won by tempting God. We tempt God whenever we insist that God perform a miracle on our behalf when by the standards of ordinary prudence a miracle is unnecessary. We tempt God when we refuse an ounce of prevention and then beg God to provide ten pounds of cure. We tempt God when we won’t take the aspirin in our hand and them demand that God get rid of our headache. We tempt God when we pray for a blessing that He has promised in His word and then entertain doubts as to whether He will do it. These are but a few examples of the way the enemy seeks to kill, steal, and destroy us with deceptive enticements to under believe and under trust our God. This is one of the oldest wiles of the devil. It is the go to tactic of the serpent at least as old as the Garden of Eden. The good fight of faith is NOT won by struggling with doubt. For that is like a man beating against the wind. Instead, the victory over doubt and circumstances is won by choosing to practice trusting in God—turning from doubt to beholding the Light from which all darkness must flee. Doubt must be rejected and faith chosen. Especially when all that is seen and felt seems to stand against faith, hope, and love. This is how our elders gained a good report and pleased God. Focus on thoughts that affirm your faith in God. Don’t allow your mind to entertain doubt or your own thoughts will drag you toward the cliff of unbelief. Shun forever the snake of deception that would have you make God a liar by not trusting His faithfulness to do what He has promised to do. God, who cannot lie, is forever faithful and we only need to trust Him to prove it. God can and is willing to care for all His children. Our part is simply to trust Him to do it.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Kings 20; Hebrews 2

Hosea 13; Psalm 137-138

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

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, I may purify myself as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, I may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

faith

Devotional for November 6

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

All Shall Be Blessed in Him

14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.
15 And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.
16 There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.
17 His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. Psalm 72:14-17 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Physical beauty is a delight to the eyes, and God did create the earth and mankind with an abundance of natural beauty. The beauty of the Lord is of a much higher quality though, and it is a sheer delight to the soul. We must be nourished by the Word of God and live by faith in order to behold the beauty of the Lord. God is love and light. God is also a consuming fire. Such knowledge is so high it is difficult for our finite mind, so deep we cannot reach it all, and so wide we cannot cross over it all. It is in the glory of His holiness that His beauty is beyond compare. It is altogether too wonderful for us to fully comprehend the infinite majesty of God. Pray for the grace needed to just accept the fact. A fact is that which is real or true regardless of whether or not it is believed to be real or true. The fall from the Garden of Eden separated mankind from God. We lost the anchor of our soul, which resulted in the necessity for truth be to revealed to us. Having been separated by sin, we are all born into this world drifting about subject to the strong currents created by our bodily sensations and tossed about by the constantly changing winds of our emotions. Without the knowledge of God, we are left only with what our mind can understand and what our heart can feel to determine what is true. This is the root cause of our greatest problems, which are our understandings based off incomplete knowledge, our emotional decisions based off our physical sensations, and our hearts so easily deceived when left to themselves. Together these amount to lying vanities when they stand contrary to the revealed Word of God. Therefore, to determine reality only by what one thinks and feels is to build on shifting sand. The Bible is a book of facts that can be trusted yesterday, today, and forever. To believe and trust in God is to recapture the anchor of our soul and build on solid rock. Blessed is the one with faith properly placed in God. Life has no higher bliss than having the beauty of the living God dwelling within us. Bless the Lord and praise Him for His precious gift of the Word of God.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Kings 19; Hebrews 1

Hosea 12; Psalm 135-136

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

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, I may purify myself as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, I may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

faith

Devotional for November 5

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Works of the Lord

2 The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
3 His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.
5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. Psalm 111:2-9 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

There is great value in learning. However, in all learning there is no wisdom in denying and ignoring God. Our modern educational system void of the knowledge of God ends up only teaching us to be unruly children in bondage to the lusts of this present material world. Self-reliance, self-will, self-confidence, self-esteem, self-pity, self-righteousness, self-sufficiency, self-loathing, and nearly any other self-word you can think of, are symptoms of this world’s teaching to exalt self above God. The Bible teaches us to put off the old man defiled with all manner of such hyphenated self-sins, and put on the new man created in Christ Jesus by believing and holding fast the knowledge of the God. Jesus Christ came to redeem us and bring us back into the righteousness of the divine order. Seek first those things which are above. Trust our God with your whole heart and a with willing mind. His name is Faithful and True. Cry out to Him for the blessing of the knowing Him, and Christ will give you light. Holiness beautifies the house of the Lord, and godliness is the garment of praise that adorns His saints. Dive in.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Kings 18; Philemon 1

Hosea 11; Psalm 132-134

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

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, I may purify myself as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, I may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.