Month: June 2024

faith

Devotional for June 22

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Blessed Are Those Who Know

9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
10 He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law;
13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
14 For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
15 But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it. Psalm 94:9-15 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Blessed are all who come to know that God is their everlasting strength and shield. Blind are those who cannot see the hand of God Almighty. They go through life leaning on an arm of flesh (be it the natural strength of self or someone else, some miracle drug, some magic potion, chance, luck, coincidence, or something else), rather than relying on the Most High God. God is the Alpha and Omega. He is the source of all good things and all grace needs to return back to Him with glory. We impede grace when we steal glory due to God by keeping it for ourselves. Those who are not willing to crown Jesus Christ as Lord in their heart and life, only frustrate the flow of the power of God through unbelief and selfishness. A spiritual conductor of grace on the other hand, will find that the flow of grace increases as they boomerang the grace of God back to him with glory to His name. (Psalm 63:1-4; Genesis 28:16; Romans 1:18-22; Jeremiah 2: 12-13; 2 Chronicles 16:12-13, 32:8; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 13:14-16; John 3:27; Isaiah 26:4; John 7:38; Isaiah 12:3; Psalm 66:16-20; Proverbs 16:33; Philippians 1:19; 1 Chronicles 29:10-13; Psalm 28:7, 103:19-22; Romans 8:32; Revelation 1:8; Ephesians 2:1-10; James 1:17-25; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Philippians 4:4-8; Revelations 22:21)

faith

Devotional for June 21

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Excuses are manufactured in the mind and always make provision for taking the easy way out."

Praise God for Your Salvation

65 Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
3 Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
5 By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:
6 Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:
7 Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
8 They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice. Psalm 65:8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Don’t go grocery shopping when you are hungry and you will be less likely to fill your cart with all the sugar filled no-good-for-you-goodies on every aisle. Start every scheduled workout. Sometimes just making it through the gym door is enough to knock the laziness off your butt. Excuses are manufactured in the mind and always make provision for taking the easy way out. Sometimes it will be a struggle just to finish your warm-up. Remember fitness is a long game whenever that happens. Don’t be afraid to stop and save it for another day if the juices aren’t flowing by the end of your warm-up. There is a big difference between skipping a workout and recognizing when you need to rest. Wisdom is profitable to direct. (Matthew 10:16; Ecclesiastes 10:10; 2 Corinthians 8:21; Galatians 5:13-16; Romans 13:13-14; 1 Corinthians 6:12; Ephesians 4:17-32; Job 17:9; Psalm 32; 1 John 1:9; Psalm 92:1-2; Psalm 1; Matthew 7:13-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

faith

Devotional for June 20

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Jesus Christ is our Rock that can never be shaken."

Set Your Hope in God

78 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

We carry the concerns of life etched on our faces and clinging to our waist, hips, and thighs. Many of us carry as much as 20, 30, 40 or more pounds of excess weigh that a healthy body was never meant to carry. Health is more than the absence of disease. Good health also requires peace in the soul. The pursuit of fitness strengthens the body, and by pursuit of God we come to know peace in the soul. The body should by strengthen by diet/exercise to extend youthfulness, and there is no reason to fear getting older when your heart is strengthen by the grace of Jesus Christ. Love the Lord with your whole heart and be blessed whether young or old, whether full or empty, come rain or shine. Jesus Christ is our Rock that can never be shaken. (1 Samuel 12:16-25; Matthew 11:28-30; Romans 12:1-2, 13:14; Corinthians 5:17-21; Galatians 6:16; Romans 8:1-8; Psalm 90:17; Matthew 5:3-9; 1 Timothy 4:8; Romans 1:17, 8:28; Psalm 103:1-5; John 11:33-44; Hebrews 13:8; John 14:27; Revelation 22:21)

faith

Devotional for June 19

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Planted in the House of the Lord

92 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:
2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,
3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.
4 For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.
12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
15 To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Even the tiniest small thing is more than enough for multitudes with God, and a mega overabundance of all things cannot satisfy even a few without God. All things work with God, and nothing works without God. Things are just tools in the hand of God. To whom do you think should be given the glory? The tool or the hand that wields it? A banana is a poor choice to drive a nail. Pray for a proper tool, expect God to provide it, and start looking for a hammer. He who has promised is faithful. Therefore, you can thank and praise God for the tool even before He puts it in your hand. This is how our elders earned a good report. (Hebrews 11:1-2; John 6:3 -13; Acts 14:8-18; Habakkuk 1:5-16; Psalm 17:13; Psalm 10:4; Isaiah 10:15; Ecclesiastes 7:13-14; Psalm 75:6-7; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2; Psalm 144:12-15; Nehemiah 9:4-21; Palm 92:1-2; Psalm 104:10-15; James 1:5-8; Philippians 4:19-20)

faith

Devotional for June 18

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "God has promised to lead us if we will just stop grabbing at the wheel and keep our right hand in His."

Trust the Lord, O My Soul

34 Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
40 And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. Psalm 37:34-42 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Who’s in charge of your life? The default belief on this side of the garden of Eden is that self is in charge. Amazing when you consider that most people can’t even bring themselves to make their bed when they get out of it each morning after have made the decision to do so. “That’s because I changed my mind,” they will say. And the river of denial flows on and on. One thing you learn pretty early on in the military is that two people cannot be in charge at the same time. They end up stepping on each other and pulling the team apart. The same is true for each of us individually. The Holy Spirit and self can’t both be in charge of your life. Since we are limited in both knowledge and ability, doesn’t it make more sense to choose the leadership of Almighty God? God has promised to lead us if we will just stop grabbing at the wheel and keep our right hand in His. (Isaiah 41:10, 13; Psalm 32:8-11; Matthew 11:28-30; Matthew 6:24; Mark 3:25; Psalm 81:10-12; Amos 2:11-12; Matthew 16:24-25; Romans 12:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; Jude 1:19-25)

faith

Devotional for June 17

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God

16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.
17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.
18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
22 Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. Psalm 33:16-31 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Words without wisdom are worthless, thoughts without faith are deceitful, and actions without love are vain. Sooner or later every believer will reach a point where he or she must take a leap of faith. God will bring you to a point where the only choice is to either shrink back in unbelief, or push ahead and stretch past the present limits of your tiny belief muscles. Do not think this strange. Do not think you are unique. Even our Lord Jesus Christ was tested in the wilderness. Let our mutual faith be an encouragement to each other. Practice the faith as you have been taught and let go of fear. Rely on the love God has for us. God is faithful. He will not allow us to be tested beyond our ability to endure. (Proverbs 14:7; James 3:13-18; Proverbs 2:6-9; Matthew 4:1-11; 1 Peter 4:12-13; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Romans 1:11-12; Luke 8:4-15; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 John 4:16-19; 1 Peter 5:7-11)

faith

Devotional for June 16

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Omnipotence and Omniscience of the Lord Comforts Me

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Psalm 23:1-6 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Balance is easy to take for granted when young. Better to create the habit of training to maintain balance from youth rather than waiting to start training to regain it once it has been lost. The untrained aged among us are constantly in fear of falling down and breaking a hip. The secret of balance is avoiding the extremes. If you are at an extreme, and you get pushed further in that direction, you will surely fall. If you are somewhere in the middle however, you can get pushed in either direction and still maintain your balance. Balance is ease throughout the range of motion between extremes. Temperance is mental balance. Overindulgence in pleasure, food, comfort and ease is so common these days that any citizen of Sodom and Gomorrah would feel right at home in the world today. To keep the body and its fleshly desires under control, the Lord has commanded us to deny self. Denying self means to practice stopping short of being completely full. One slice of pizza tastes good, but it unwise for anyone to eat half the pie at one sitting. Stop while you still want more. Denying self is a safe guard allowing us to partake of what is good without losing our balance and falling into the ditch of overindulgence. (Jude 1:17-19; Psalm 69:22; Jude 1:20-21; Matthew 16:24; Titus 2:11-12; Philippians 4:4-13; Romans 13:14; 2 Timothy 1:7; Galatians 5:16; 1 Corinthians 9:23-27; Revelation 22:21)

faith

Devotional for June 15

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: Nothing is greater than God.

The Fear of the Lord Is Pure and Enduring Forever

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Psalm 19:7-11 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

God is great. God is good. Praise Him morning, noon, and night. Don’t worry about today, nor be afraid of what may come tomorrow. Nothing is greater than God. Stop trying to dictate to the Lord the terms and the form of the blessings you receive. Remember the Lord your God is perfect, and that He loves you so much that He sent His son to die for you. He knows what you need before you ask. The moral government of God requires that we have the freedom to choose what is right and reject what is wrong. Both good and bad choices have consequences, therefore not everything that happens is good. Sometimes bad things happen to good people because of the bad choices of other people. God is all powerful though, and He has promised that all things will work together for the good of those who love Him. Know for certain that every good gift is from above, and that God will nullify every snake bite and poison pill that would harm those who are called according to His purpose. Trust God with your whole heart and the Scriptures say that He will show Himself strong on your behalf. He will keep you in perfect peace. Dare to believe the gospel until the revelation of Christ reigns supreme in your heart. (Psalm 147:1, 92:1-2, 18:1-3, 23:4, 78:5-11, 78:41; Jeremiah 45:5; Galatians 3:13-14, 5:19-26; Proverbs 23:4; Galatians 6:7; Romans 8:28; James 1:17; Matthew 6:25-34; Numbers 21:5-9; John 3:14-21; Acts 17:22-31; Matthew 13:17; Acts 26:27; 2 Peter 1:19; Ephesians 3:14-21)

faith

Devotional for June 14

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Incline My Heart to Your Testimonies, O Lord

33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.
40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness. Psalm 119:33-40 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Remember God when your physical appearance improves as you consistently workout and eat better. Prosperity presents hidden dangers that we must guard the heart against. The natural inclinations of having plenty to eat, an abundance of luxuries, and lots of ease is to be overcome with slothfulness and puffed up with pride. Never forget that it is God who has enabled you to eat well, given you the desire work hard, and He alone is the source of all growth. From God come the gains. Hold fast to the Word of life. Cast down every imagination that is contrary to faith in God. This is the way to fight for your trust in God. Let His staff and His rod comfort you. Hold on until you know that God is guiding you with His eye. Hold on until you know His voice. Hold on until God renews your youth like the eagle. The abundant life comes to us only by the grace of God. It is through Jesus Christ that we have the sure mercies of David to the praise of His holy name. Worship God, and know for certain that all power and all glory belongs to God (Luke 12:16-21; Proverbs 6:16-19; Psalm 75:4-7; Proverbs 27:21; Psalm 10:4; Isaiah 55:3; Revelation 3:13-22; Galatians 4:19; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Hebrews 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Psalm 23:4; Proverbs 3:5-8; Romans 12:1-2; 1 John 2:15-16; James 4:4-10; 1 Peter 5:7-10; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

faith

Devotional for June 13

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Thy Testimonies Are Very Sure

93 The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.
3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
4 The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.
5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever. Psalm 93 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

We may not all be born with the same advantages, but what does that have to do with being the best you that you can be? Being born beautiful, smart, and rich is less important than what you do with your gifts, talents, and financial resources. The word of God is truth. Faith and trust grow together. The word of God is the only reliable anchor of the soul. Faith comes by hearing the word. Faith grows as trust and commitment increase. We are saved by grace through faith, not by works. When self-righteousness takes root in the heart, sin will be crouching at the door ready to lay waste. Thank God Almighty that He has made the gate straight and the way narrow. We are not left orphans having to figure things out and find our own way. Love the truth and the truth shall set you free. Trust the Lord with all your heart. Deny self and abide in the Heavenly Vine. Pick up your cross and take His yoke upon you. Follow the Lord Jesus Christ our Redeemer.  Do all the will of God as you know it until kingdom come. (Luke 16:19-31; Isaiah 53:1; John 17:17; John 8:31-34; Genesis 4:6-10; 1 John 3:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Jeremiah 17:7-8; John 15:16; Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 9:23-25; Philippians 3:7-10; Matthew 11:28-30; Galatians 3:11; John 14:18-27; Philippians 2:13; Hebrews 11:32-40; Psalm 40:8; Philippians 4:8-13; Ephesians 3:14-21)