The Lord Has Commanded the Blessing

1 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord:
20 This gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter.
21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.
27 God is the Lord, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
29 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 118:19-29 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Sugar loaded junk food is the normal man’s kryptonite. Superman may be just a cartoon character, but there really are superfoods. And it takes super, not junk, to spell superior nutrition. Good food for the body is important, but guarding against feeding the mind with junk food disguised as entertainment is of even greater importance. You must watch yourself while you are watching any popular form of entertainment these days. Watch yourself and evaluate the fruit. The fruit are the thoughts and feelings aroused by what you are watching. By the fruit you will be able to know the wholesome and recognize the junk. The more you saturate your mind with the Word of God, the easier this will become for you to do. Saturating the mind with the Word of God causes the affections of the heart to grow toward godliness while the current of the mainstream world only pushes one steadily in the opposite direction. If we walk in the Spirit, we shall bear much fruit to the glory of God. This is a glorious promise of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Only one way to walk in the Spirit, and that is by the grace of God received by faith. He beckons us to draw near. May all things praise Him now and forevermore.

Today’s Bible Reading

Colossians 4

Psalm 103

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

Lord, I pray that your grace may always precede and follow me, that I may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Steadfast Love of the Lord Endures Forever

1 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord:
20 This gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter.
21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.
27 God is the Lord, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
29 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 118:19-29 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Imagine how much better your life would be if you prayed more and believed better. Do not fool yourself, we all act in accordance with what we really believe to be true. Saying you believe God means nothing if you don’t step out with the faith to act accordingly. Hold fast the first principle of the law of liberty, which is according to your faith will it be done unto you. Money, worldly wisdom, scientific knowledge, and technological marvels are all useful and good when they are kept in their proper place as servants. However, when they are exalted and relied upon more than the living God, they become idols. Modern idolatry has no graven image as in ages long past. Today idolatry is hardly recognized as it is cloaked and often hidden under the appearance of wisdom. Let us rather fear God, and all ungodly fears will cease. Then will His peace rein in your heart. Trust God and the perfect peace which surpasses understanding will sustain you in the way come what may.

Today’s Bible Reading

Colossians 3

Psalm 102

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

Lord, I pray that your grace may always precede and follow me, that I may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Steadfast Love Through Fire and Water

8 O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:
9 Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
11 Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. Psalm 66:8-12 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

We are all born to be what we can become. What we become is determined by the choices we make minute-by-minute, day-by-day. God has ordained the law of sowing and reaping, which means each choice has a consequence that shapes an individual’s destiny. Every choice is a seed. The better the choices you make, the better the destiny you reap. Pray and work, because the slothful will surely get nowhere close to the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. We don’t work to earn our salvation. On the contrary, we do good works because we have been saved. That’s important to remember along with guarding your heart against the unbelief that causes the sitting around mummering because of the difficulties of your current circumstances. When the way ahead is unclear, and visibility drops to zero, it is faith that must turn on the headlights provided by the Scriptures. Depend on God. Choose the fear of the Lord and always intend to do what is pleasing in His sight because you love Him. The greatest commandment to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind is a choice. The power to answer this great call to love God comes after we have made the choice to obey the command. Believe it, choose it, pray for it, and the needed grace of God to do it will follow. This is how the doer of a God given best destiny gets it done.

Today’s Bible Reading

Colossians 2

Psalm 99-101

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

Lord, I pray that your grace may always precede and follow me, that I may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Throne of the Lord Endures Forever

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. Psalm 45:1-8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Success in the gym comes with a new danger. Gym success is defined as feeling better, performing better, and looking better. However, the more we like what we see in the mirror, the more we must guard our hearts against pride. Pride is an affront to God and a deadly enemy of our soul. Pride ascribes undue credit to self while denying the glory due to God. Pride is being pleased in one’s own sight rather than seeking to be pleasing in the sight of God. Pride is a bitter root of all kinds of sin and must never be allowed to grow in a believers heart. Any pride allowed to spring up in the heart will hinder the flow of God’s grace. The Latin phrase “ora et labora” of our fathers means pray and work. It is an excellent reminder of our twin responsibilities in everything, which are to pray and work. The answer to prayer and the results of our work will be according to our faith and the grace of God. God not only provides the increase, but even our faith, praying, and working are also depended upon the grace of God. Blessed is the one with this understanding. To know the Lord is to love the Lord, and to love the Lord is want to know Him better. Do not settle for just knowing about Him. Press on in the way made possible by the grace of Jesus Christ into the presence of Almighty God. Everyone who seeks, finds. To everyone who knocks the door will be opened. The light of the King of Glory will surely come if you will ask for it. Wonderful are the works of the Lord and His timing is perfect! So, pray, work, and expect an abundant harvest from the Lord.

Today’s Bible Reading

Colossians 1

Psalm 97-98

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

Lord, I pray that your grace may always precede and follow me, that I may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

God Alone Is Our Rock and Salvation

5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work. Psalm 62:5-12 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

We are conformed or transformed by the messages we choose to keep in our heart. The more time and attention you give to the messages of this world, the more you will be conformed to them. What you choose to watch and hear has a compounding interest like effect on what you think. You will find it difficult to let go of the way the world thinks unless you develop a habit of frequently unplugging from the high-tech devices designed to steal our limited time and attention. Or do you believe they spend millions of dollars developing video games to keep a gamer playing, and millions more on advertising for so called entertainment purposes because they don’t influence people? God commands us not to be conformed to this world for our own good. Unfortunately, being conformed to this world requires about as much effort as a dead fish floating down a stream. Being transformed by the word of life however, requires  being a live fish willing to swim against the current of this sinful world. Downstream or upstream, conformed or transformed, both will depend in which direction we spend more of our time and attention. Being born again is only the beginning. The abundant life is not something we are supposed to have in the sweet by-and-by only. Saturate your mind with the word of God and it will be renewed. This is one of the glorious promises of the Gospel and you choose it or refuse it every day.

Today’s Bible Reading

Philippians 4

Psalm 95-96

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

Lord, I pray that your grace may always precede and follow me, that I may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Wait Upon the Lord

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

Simplification is the beginning of happiness created by genius. Simplification isn’t so much the combining of many things, as much as it is the ruthless elimination of all things that are NOT essential. Be holy. Strive to be less scientific and seek to become a more perfect worshiper of God. That will sound silly to the earthbound mind. Granted, to be “less scientific” seems absurd, and to be “more perfect” is a flat out contradiction in terms. How can perfect become more perfect? The legalist would be quick to point out that for something to become more perfect, it could not have been perfect in the first place. Such will always be a stumbling block for those who can only see with their eyes. We are NOT talking about the Adamic perfection of flawlessness, rather we speak of Christian perfection. Christian perfection consists of doing the will of God, not a little here and a little there, but it is the doing of the will of God at all times purely from an obedient heart out of love for God. Deep is the well of the living God, and for those who have tasted those waters, the mere thought of becoming a more perfect worshiper of God sets the heart ablaze with joy!  

Today’s Bible Reading

Philippians 3

Psalm 94

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

Lord, I pray that your grace may always precede and follow me, that I may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

I was going about my morning routine today, when the dryness of my eyes started to bother me. “I will just go get my small bottle of saline eye drops,” I said in my thoughts. It was in the bedroom, but my wife was still sleeping. This was at about 3:30am, so I didn’t want to wake her by turning on the lights. No problem. I knew the small bottle was in the first pouch of my M5 bag. I sure I could find it even without being able to see it. I carefully made my way to the bag, unzipped the pouch, and began looking for the the bottle of eye drops. First I found a small hand mirror, so I keep looking. Then I found my fingernail clippers, so I keep on looking. Finally, I felt the bottle and happily walked out with it. My eyes were refreshed as soon as I used a couple of the drops. Then the lesson began.

Why did you look for the bottle even though you couldn’t see it? “Because I knew it was there,” was my reply. How did you know it was there. “Because I put it there,” I replied. Why did you continue looking until you found it? “I kept looking for it because I knew it was there because I had put it there,” was my confident reply. In other words, you kept looking because you believed it was there even though you couldn’t see it. “Yes, that’s right,” I thought. In a like manner, faith in God makes it easy to keep believing even though you can’t see. Not because of what you have done, but because of what God has done. What God has done and what God has said are one and the same. What God will do and what God says are also one and the same. God never changes. The end of faith becomes sure when able to accept this truth. (Hebrews 13:8, Mark 11:22-24; James 1:17; Hebrews 11:6; Matthew 7:7-8; James 4:1-4, 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-9; 2 Corinthians 5:7)

His Work is Full of Majesty

111 Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
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.
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 111:1-4, 7-9 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The Word of God is the seed. The good soil planted and watered will say, “the seed works mightily in me.” Even though nothing can be seen to be happening above the ground, wait on the Lord. Trust His perfect timing. First appears the blade, then the ear, and then the full corn in the ear. Let the redeemed say, “the Lord works mightily in me.” Continue to water, de-weed, and sharpen the sickle in eager expectation of the bountiful harvest to come. The unbelieving scientist looks in every direction to examine, dissect, explain, and manipulate. The rich man, without the full light of the New Testament, is snared by the belief that money is the answer for everything. The beautiful, born with every advantage in life, lives with the favor and admiration of people everywhere. They may be the prettiest of flowers, yet cut from the roots by pride they are already dead. Every flower cut from the source is destined to wilt away quickly, slowly, or sometime in between. The carnal mind of the smart, the rich, and the beautiful makes it impossible for them to rise above the natural. They are confined by the limitations of human understanding and the natural principles of this world. Like the people who laughed at Noah, the foolishness of the worldly wise causes them to refuse the knowledge of the Lord. Judgement day will find them unprepared for eternal life. Pride does not allow them to choose the fear of the Lord and seek safety in Christ Jesus from the wrath of God to come. These are the last days. Blessed are all who believe the gospel. God will raise up His exceeding vast army and the feeble among us shall be as David. Blessed is the worshiper of God who sees with more than just the physical eyes. Blessed is the child of God, who without seeing Jesus with the eyes or touching Him with the hands, can exclaim with reverent wonder, my Lord and my God!

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Kings 11

Philippians 2

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

Lord, I pray that your grace may always precede and follow me, that I may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

All Things Provided in Christ

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 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Why, when, where, what, and how? Sometimes you just can’t see it, but that’s okay. God has everything perfectly under control. Humble yourself and submit to God. Fall down under whatever burden is vexing you and admit that in self you have no power to control, change, or improve anything. Take it to the living God with prayer and supplication. God alone can do more than can be asked, thought, or imagined. Pour out you heart to God and ask for the grace you need. Choose the fear of the Lord and make it your intention to completely be conformed to our Lord Jesus Christ. The way is narrow and sometimes difficult that leads to eternal life. It is also a very short trek when compared to eternity. Trust God. Be confident in His completed work of your salvation.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Kings 10

Philippians 1

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

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon your church the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Firmly Planted By Streams of Water

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalm 1 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Life can be tough in this fallen world, yet still the goodness of God abounds toward us all. It has been said that when you reach the end of the rope, that you should tie a knot and hang on. And when that becomes manageable, start swinging. When that is accomplished, let go and fly. And when you fall, take the pain and get up again. Learning to fly can sometimes be painful, but we are born to it. God has promised to bear us up like an eaglet on the mother eagle’s wings. The one who refuses to learn to fly, will only suffer more in the end. The baby eagle that refuses to leave the comfort of the nest is destined to become someone’s chicken dinner. So get flapping! Live the gospel. Let the Word of God dwell richly in you, in your thoughts, in your mouth, and in your every action. Let everything you do be done in love.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Kings 9

Ephesians 6

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

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon your church the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.