Month: May 2024

faith

Devotional for May 3

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Bless the Lord, O My Soul

15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
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 103:15-22 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

It usually takes years of unhealthy living to make us fat and sick. The process can be just as slow in reverse. A flash of lightening with a clap of thunder comes quick, goes quick, and doesn’t happen very often. While the rising sun dawns and gets brighter and brighter until it reaches high noon most every day. It is much slower, lasts much longer, and happens all the time. The purpose of many of the commands of God written in the Holy Bible are to keep us moving toward spiritual maturity and away from disease. How much time it takes to get there is not nearly as important as consistently moving in the right direction. Our part is to fix our eyes on Jesus and guard the heart. God’s part is everything, because apart from God we can do nothing. Complete understanding is not necessary. Belief is enough to keep us moving toward good health. We get there when we get there. (Ecclesiastes 10:1; Proverbs 19:1-2; Proverbs 4:10-27; Hebrews 10:26-29; Isaiah 56:9-12; 1 Timothy 6:11; John 6:27; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; Psalm 73:1-20; 3 John 1:2; Proverbs 3:5-8; Hebrews 12:1-2; John 15:5; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 Timothy 6:12-16)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 10; Psalms 46-47

Song of Solomon 8; Hebrews 8

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

I thank you, heavenly Father, that you have delivered me from the dominion of sin and death and brought me into the kingdom of your Son; and I pray that, as by his death he has recalled me to life, so by his love he may raise me to eternal joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for May 2

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

God is All Knowing, All Powerful, and All Good

139 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:1-10 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

When the cares of this life are pressing you down, use the saints’ favorite home remedy for relief. Force yourself to count your blessings. When gratitude turns into thanksgiving and praise to the Lord, the rain will have ceased and the clouds will part. We may sometimes lack comfort and ease, but the one who has the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit already has the highest possible good there ever has been, is now, and ever will be. (Isaiah 51:12-13, 41:9-10; 2 Peter 1:3; Ecclesiastes 8:4; Psalm 42:5-6; Romans 8:32-39; Hebrews 13:15-16; Psalm 100:4, 147:1; Ephesians 6:10-18; Psalm 136:1-3; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 9; Psalms 45

Song of Solomon 7; Hebrews 7

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

I thank you, heavenly Father, that you have delivered me from the dominion of sin and death and brought me into the kingdom of your Son; and I pray that, as by his death he has recalled me to life, so by his love he may raise me to eternal joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for May 1

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Yearning For God

1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 42:1-3, 9-11 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Invisible chains are the hardest chains of all to break. True freedom is the ability to say “no” to what is wrong and to say “yes” to what is right. Something is right or wrong depending on its relationship to the truth. Regardless of what some would have us believe, we are not capable of determining truth without some unchangeable standard. Thank God for His word. The Holy Bible is the unchanging truth of God consisting of three pillars: facts to be believed, commands to be obeyed, and promises to be enjoyed. It took nothing less than the death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross to free us to do these three things. Fee at last, free at last, receive the gospel and be free at last! (Romans 1:16-32; Isaiah 50:10-11; Matthew 12:38-45; John 10:8-10; John 8:31-32; Matthew 16:24-25; Romans 6:9-23; Galatians 6:14; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; 1 Timothy 6:3-21)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 8; Psalms 44

Song of Solomon 6; Hebrews 6

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

I thank you, heavenly Father, that you have delivered me from the dominion of sin and death and brought me into the kingdom of your Son; and I pray that, as by his death he has recalled me to life, so by his love he may raise me to eternal joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer