faith

Devotional for July 7

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Much pain and suffering can be avoided by simply ordering our life according to the Holy Book."

Sweet to the Soul

9 We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.
10 According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.
11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.
13 Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. Psalm 48:9-14 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

There is a divine logic to growing old gracefully. Wisdom and skill more than compensate for any age-related decline in sheer physicality. The young heal faster because they are prone to do foolish things, and the fully grown are supposed to be wise enough to avoid harmful things. Wisdom doesn’t come automatically with age though. The younger we are when we learn to turn from the foolishness of youth the better. Our childhood inclinations often lead into what is vain and stupid. We do well if we survive our youth with only a few scars and a little emotional baggage. Turn to the Lord for healing and relief. Much pain and suffering can be avoided by simply ordering our life according to the Holy Book. (Proverbs 18:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:33; Proverbs 14:7-9; Romans 10:12-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Corinthians 13:11; Psalm 119:9-16; Proverbs 27:11-12, 20:11, 22:15, 16:16; Ecclesiastes 9:14-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Ephesians 4:13-32; 1 Peter 1:13-25; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

faith

Devotional for July 6

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Continuous victory doesn’t necessarily come from always winning"

My Help and My Deliverer

40 I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.
4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Psalm 40:1-4 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

There is nothing quite like getting beat up to motivate you to work harder to prepare for the next fight. Continuous victory doesn’t necessarily come from always winning though. Seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and victory will be added to you even from failure and defeat. Endurance develops patience, and patience develops our trust in the faithfulness of God. (John 1:1-17; John 4:5-26; Romans 7:1-7; Galatians 3:19; Galatians 3:24-26; Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:6; Isaiah 55:6-13; Psalm 119:9; Proverbs 3:5-8; John 17:17; Romans 1:16-17; Galatians 5:16-26; James 3:14-18; Revelation 22:17-21)

faith

Devotional for July 5

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Better a little sadness with those who patiently wait to be rewarded, than much gladness with those who act as if they will never be punished."

Key to Happiness

5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:
6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners:
8 The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous:
9 The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
10 The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 146:5-10 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

It has been said that the best things in life are free, but that doesn’t mean they are without cost. Better a little sadness with those who patiently wait to be rewarded, than much gladness with those who act as if they will never be punished. It is foolish to mock God and short-sighted to use His name in vain. Without such knowledge we perish like the beasts, but joy comes with a good understanding of the truth as revealed in the Word of God. Listen and hear the call of wisdom to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. (Exodus 20:7; Ecclesiastes 8:11-13; Psalm 49:20; Galatians 6:7-9; Matthew 13:24-30; Psalm 1:1-5; Matthew 24:37-39; Psalm 50:14-23; Proverbs 29:18; Proverbs 3:7-8; Psalm 27:14; Romans 13:11-14; Ecclesiastes 7:2-6; Proverbs 1:10-19; Matthew 10:41-42: 2 Corinthians 5:10; Jude 1:16-25)

faith

Devotional for July 4

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Make excellence and hard work every day habits."

Remember the Lord Always

26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations.
29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this. Psalm 22:26-31 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Make excellence and hard work every day habits. It’s too late to cook up bullets when you’re in the trenches with enemy paratroopers dropping out of the sky all around you. Just as it will be difficult to do well and work hard on that really important thing that comes along if you are unaccustomed to always doing your best and working hard. (Ecclesiastes 9:10; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-13; Colossians 3:22-24; 2 Timothy 2:15; Proverbs 22:1; Ecclesiastes 7:1; Proverbs 31:10-31; Revelation 3:7-13; Galatians 6:9-18)

faith

Devotional for July 3

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "To walk in the Spirit, trust God for what will be by keeping your right hand in His."

Rest From the Days of Adversity

3 Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
5 They break in pieces thy people, O Lord, and afflict thine heritage.
6 They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.
7 Yet they say, The Lord shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?
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. Psalm 94:3-13 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The value of a great idea doesn’t come from its conception. The thinker must willingly suffer the labor pains required to bring it to life. Full maturity brings forth the sweetest of fruit only after being nourished by love, shaped by discipline, and seasoned with time. To walk in the Spirit, trust God for what will be by keeping your right hand in His. (Isaiah 41:13; John 14:15-27; Galatians 5:16-23; Romans 8:6-18; John 14:31; 1 Corinthians 15:45-58; John 16:21; Philippians 2:13; Ephesians 3:14-21)

faith

Devotional for July 2

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Every overnight success comes out of obscurity after years of sweat and toil."

Lift Up Your Heads

1 The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. Psalm 24 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Every overnight success comes out of obscurity after years of sweat and toil. Great achievements take years of hard work, often while being ignored, rejected, and unappreciated. Better to expect a reward tomorrow from doing much work today, than it it to expect a reward today after having done only the bare minimum yesterday. (Proverbs 9:1; 1 Peter 2:1-3; 1 Corinthians 3:1-11; James 1:21; Isaiah 28:9-10; Galatians 6:7-9; Zechariah 4:10; Habakkuk 2:1-3, 2:4; Luke 8:11; Psalm 126:6; James 5:7;  Psalm 27:14; 1 Chronicles 29:10-13; Psalm 30:11-12, 103:1, 89:52)

faith

Devotional for July 1

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Get out there and fight the good fight."

God the Rock of My Salvation

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

The horse trapped in the starting gate will never win the race no matter how fast it can run. Without actually running the race, there is no possibility of wining. Get out there and fight the good fight. Cut the cords, remove the blocks, turn loose the brakes, and run the course set before you with joy! (Proverbs 20:4, 22:13, 30:20; 2 Corinthians 6:17; Joshua 1:8-9; Hebrews 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:7; James 3:3; Psalm 32:9-11, 1:1-2; Ephesians 4:22-30, 6:10-18; Hebrews 10:35-39; James 4:7; Romans 8:28-39; Ephesians 3:14-21)

faith

Devotional for June 30

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: 'Excellence is being all that God created you to be, and this requires faith."

Remember the Benefits of the Lord

103 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. Psalm 103:1-5, 10-14 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

True excellence isn’t about being better than anyone else. True excellence is about being the best version of you. Excellence is being all that God created you to be, and this requires faith. Faith must be mixed with the Word to bring forth the bricks to build the body, which is the temple of the living God. Let us not do this with the vain desire to have others look at us with admiration. Such desires create a soft spot for the enemy’s flaming darts seeking to set the heart ablaze with pride. Rather, let us labor to be strong in body and soul as good stewards of that which by the blood of Jesus Christ has set apart to be holy. We are blessed so that God may bless others through us. Begin with prayer and go to work. The will must bridle the body to keep it from all that would defile it, and this we can do by the grace of Jesus Christ. Shun forever all the ungodly ways of this perishing world. Jesus is coming again soon. Let us be well prepared for it. We are closer today than we were yesterday. Let nothing keep you from your everlasting crown. (Proverbs 6:16-19; Psalm 62:10-12; 1 Corinthians 4:7, 5:6-8; John 4:23-24; Galatians 6:7; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 25:31-46; Mark 4:9; Colossians 3:1-17; Hebrews 4:15-16; 2 Timothy 2:15; Romans 12:1-3; Revelation 22:17-21)

faith

Devotional for June 29

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Love will call you to it."

Saved in This Life for the Next

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. Psalm 91:1-10 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Looking and feeling good is great, but holy thoughts and righteous deeds are essential. Learn to enjoy what it takes. Make the accomplishment of the daily work your goal, and the abiding presence of the Lord your reward. Do this and motivation will never be a problem for you. Jesus said we are to stop worrying about tomorrow. This doesn’t mean don’t plan. Planning ahead is smart and we are to use all the wisdom God has given us. It’s just enough to deal with the today’s happenings without the additional burden of being overly concerned with the possible problems of the future. God has commanded us to be strong and courageous. Have faith in God to be strong, and trust in the Word to be courageous. Love will call you to it. (Psalm 49:20; Genesis 4:7; Galatians 5:9; Revelation 21:7-8; Genesis 15:9-11; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 2 Corinthians 10:4-6; Romans 6:3-11; Galatians 2:20; Hebrews 3:8-19, 10:35-36; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14;Romans 15:13; 1 Peter 5:6-10; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Daily Writing Prompt

Up Early

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Daily writing prompt
What are your daily habits?
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Up early in morning long before the sun. Win the morning and it becomes much easier to win the day. Front loading Bible reading, prayer, and then exercise has become my habitual way of preparing for today and tomorrow. It’s not something I have to decide to do each day, it has become as natural as breathing. Not so in the beginning. Stick to it though, and it will become that way in due time. (Mark 1:35-42)