Sing to the Lord a New Song

98 O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
2 The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
5 Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.
7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together
9 Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. Psalm 98 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Morning Inspiration

Calling yourself fat after having prayed for fat loss tempts God and negates your faith. The one who petitions God without trusting Him to grant the request, is like a feather blown about and tossed by the wind. Rather look at your present condition without discouragement and say, “by faith I am healthy, lean, and strong. My God has said first the blade, then the ear, and then the full corn in the ear. I know my God will perfect all that concerns me.” Pray for the grace you need and consider it done before the mirror or scale reflects the change. Now go to work for it. Believe in the faithfulness of God, and be willing to consistently put in the work. It is wrong to ask God for a miracle to compensate for not following the natural and spiritual laws God has ordained. Turn from all foolishness and hold firmly to the simplicity that is in Christ. According to your faith, so will it be done unto you. Why should anyone think it strange that God Almighty heals with equal ease by miracle as He does by a pill? Believe the gospel. For the Lord has said nothing shall be impossible for us. Trust Him and He will make your Amen strong. Rejoice and let the redeemed of the Lord say, “Amen!” 

Today’s Question to Consider

What in your formal education has been the biggest hinderance to your faith?

Let All Creation Praise the Name of the Lord

148 Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights.
2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created.
6 He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:
8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
9 Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:
10 Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:
11 Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
12 Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
14 He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 148 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that I, who have been born again and made your child by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through my Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Inspiration

Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, so says the holy Scriptures. Everyday life is full of choices. We can do this or that. We can go here or there. Remembering that all that we do is seen by God, our love for God compels us to want to do only what pleases Him. This is in contrast to the fear of bees in a person who is allergic to bee stings. Such fear in them is motivated by self-preservation, because if they are stung they could die. However, the fear of the Lord is different in that it is not so much for avoiding punishment as it is for being in love. The fear of the Lord functions like a guard rail on the narrow way to keep us in the love of God. This is wisdom indeed. To all those who are finding the way difficult, bear with it for as long as it takes for the switch to flip. When things get as hard as they can possibly get, realize from that point on they can only get easier. Be strong and courageous. Hold on, trusting in God Almighty. Put all your hope in God alone. Give thanks for His unchangeable goodness toward us. Rejoice and praise the Lord regardless of current circumstances, which are only temporary even though they sometimes linger with no end in sight. O Lord, let the words of our mouths and the mediation of our hearts be pleasing to You. And let our prayers always be in accordance with Thy will. Let the Fear of the Lord always be before our eyes so that we do Thy will and turn not to the left nor to the right. Let all that is within us praise Thy Holy Name!

Today’s Question to Consider

Last day of the year. Is there anything that remains you need to praise God for before we head into the new year?

Holiness Adorns His House Forever

1 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 Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that I, who have been born again and made your child by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through my Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Inspiration

The Bible tells us that when the world was young, mankind’s thoughts were only of evil. All would have perished had Noah not found favor in the eyes of God. The hour of God’s judgement came and Noah was 75 years in preparing the ark as God commanded. It had one door. God closed the door sealing Noah, his family, and the animals inside. After which, the flood came suddenly wiping the earth clean. Only those in the ark lived. Now we have come full circle. The earth is once again filled to the brim with those who only think of evil constantly. God, in His mercy, has provided another ark to save those who know that judgement is coming. This latter day ark of God given to save all those who will believe is Jesus Christ. Just as non-believers were sweep away suddenly by the flood, so too will the non-believers perish when the last trumpet sounds. The judgement day of the Lord draws near, and only those who are in Christ Jesus will be saved. Jesus is the only door and the only way. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life have the boarding pass for eternal life. Let us press on then to make our calling and election sure by receiving the true freedom that comes from an inward obedience to the word of God in Christ Jesus.

Today’s Question to Consider

Having been saved by faith alone, what are some of the practical ways we make our calling and election sure?

I Love You, O Lord

1 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
31 For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God?
32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. Psalm 18:1-2, 31-32 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that I, who have been born again and made your child by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through my Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Inspiration

A life of too much comfort and ease will tarnish the golden years with weakness. Watch yourself as you watch popular entertainment. Beware of the influence of social media. By accident or design, they tend to conform us to ungodly ways of thinking and kindle ungodly desires within us. The popular culture of our day is a tool of the thief that comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. The man-made light coming from big and small screens conditions the mind little by little unless it is diligently guarded against. Anything that dishonors God, or contradicts the word of God as written in the Holy Bible, is to be rejected. Do not be deceived. The pursuit of happiness for its own sake is as vain as a dog chasing its own tail. Life is more than having a good time. A good life is more than what we eat, more than what we do, more than what we wear, more than what we have, more than where we go, and more than where we live. The good life is made possible only by allowing the manifold grace of God to shine forth in our life. Without knowing Jesus Christ, life is just a bubble waiting to burst. Seek to know Him better, because the single most important thing in this life is a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is alive and we can know Him. Thus are we commanded: “Be still and know that I am God.”

Today’s Question to Consider

How do we protect ourselves from the worldliness all around us that would have us forget God?

Our Eyes Look to the Lord Our God

123 Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
3 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.
4 Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud. Psalm 123 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that I, who have been born again and made your child by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through my Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Inspiration

A bookworm can be made by reading alone, but disciples are best made by following the example of their teacher. Strive to have your life show by every thought and every deed that you are a true disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is not the one who knows the most that will be saved, but he who has enough faith to do all the truth he knows that will enter the kingdom of heaven. Let us not grow weary of doing good. We may sow with tears, but we are promised to reap with joy. Look around and know that even though it is sometimes delayed, everyone reaps what they have sowed. This is one of the first principles of the kingdom of God.

Today’s Question to Consider

Why is the Bible important for teachers, students, leaders, and followers?

It is Good to Tell of His Lovingkindness in the Morning

92 In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. Psalm 31:1-5 (KJV)

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that I, who have been born again and made your child by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through my Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer

The Morning Inspiration

Life in Babylon of the last days is hard. Just watch the world news for five minutes and see. Sniffing glue makes stupid; cookie dough makes fat; and the less one moves, the less one will be able to move. We may be in this world, yet by faith we can live in Christ. Christ in us and we in Christ. In the world, but not of the world. From one end of the earth to the other, publish the good news that in Christ there is healing for the brokenhearted, freedom for the captive, recovery of sight for the blind, liberty for the oppressed, and that the favor of the Lord is today available to all. Not because we deserve it. Grace is poured upon us from above only because of the lovingkindness of the Lord. Call on the name of the Lord, and ask for what you need. Why does anyone think it strange that the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth does the impossible? All power and might belongs to God and nothing is too hard for Him. Remember the Lord did no mighty work in Nazareth because their unbelief unplugged them from the power of God. When thinking of God, think big. Think BIGGER! Still, our God is infinitely bigger than the biggest we can think or imagine. 

Today’s Question to Consider

What are some of the ways we can strengthen our belief in God?