faith

Devotional for May 31

May 31, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Quote by Bruce Coleman: remember this: don't quit just because things are hard.

My Heart Rejoices in the Lord

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 33:16-22 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Get after all the good that God has placed in your heart to do. Don’t quit just because things are hard. The foundation for all success is a willingness to suffer awkwardness in the beginning, and endure hardship to the very end. Keep moving forward in faith. When things become overwhelming, take a knee and lift your heart up to God. Unload your burden on the Lord and He will restore your soul. Be still and abide in the Vine. He has said we ARE branches. Only believe the gospel. May God open our eyes to see, understand, and know the truth of His word. Be bold. Stand firm in faith to claim the victory. (Ecclesiastes 7:8; Psalm 78:5-9,37,41; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 8:26-32; Proverbs 28:1; 2 Timothy 1:7; Mark 11:22-24, 4:26-29; Proverbs 16:3; Psalm 23:3; Isaiah 26:3; Matthew 11:25-30; John 15:1-11; Psalm 46:10; Mark 13:31-37; 1 Peter 5:6-11)

Ponder this:

What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?

faith

Devotional for May 30

May 30, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Quote and picture of Bruce Coleman: Physical strength is good, godliness is better, and best of all is the daily exercise of both body and convictions.

Delightful Are the Commands of the Lord

30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31 This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
32 The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.
Psalm 69:30-32 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Physical exercise in this modern world is the key to maintaining our strength as we age, and godliness is profitable for life in both this world and the next. Physical strength is good, godliness is better, and best of all is the daily exercise of both body and convictions. (Proverbs 14:7; Ecclesiastes 7:12; Job 28:12-28; Mark 12:18-34; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 1 Timothy 4:7-8; John 6:63; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Corinthians 6:13; Luke 19:29-31; 1 Corinthians 6:19-22; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Matthew 6:24; 1 Timothy 6:6-16)

faith

Devotional for May 29

May 29, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Quote by Bruce Coleman: Prayer is the watering of faith needed to grow strong.

God is Our Strength and Shield

2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.
4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.
5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.
7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.
9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.
10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. Psalm 84:2-12 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Physical training alone is not enough to become a mighty man or woman of God. It takes more than physical development to be like Samson or one of David’s mighty men. It takes faith. Therefore, let not the goal of physical training be to develop bodily strength alone, but let the purpose of all training be to strenghen our faith in God. Growing up in our salvation means to hold “God is” as an unchangable fact. Prayer is the watering of faith needed to grow strong. Prayer to God is the highest privilege of the child of God. Show me who you pray for, and I will show you who you love. Tell me who prays for you, and I will tell you who loves you. How fortunate it is to have people praying for you. Gold and silver are nice, but prayer is of far greater value. Therefore, pray, pray, pray. (Exodus 3:13-15; 1 Timothy 4:1-10; Hebrews 11:1-6; Philippians 2:12-13; Judges 13:24-25; Mark 11:22-25; 1 John 5:14-15; Psalm 44:6-8; Romans 10:17; 1 Chronicles 29:10-13; James 5:13-18; Ephesians 3:14-21)

A Prayer Request

Please offer a prayer in the comments.

faith

Devotional for May 28

May 28, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Delight in The Lord

33 I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord. Psalm 104:31-35 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The beneficial effects of fitness are the fruit of a fit lifestyle. Understand that fitness is a direction, not a destination. To be sure, the fit look different and perform better than the unfit. These things are effects, not causes. Lifestyle is the root from which all the effects of fitness grow. When you consistently walk like the fit and talk like the fit, you will be fit. It’s the picking up of your cross daily that provides the conditions that make you so. Learn to depend on the grace of God. It is always a struggle to change in our own strength. Ask God for His promised grace for the desire and the power to do. It will be done according to His will and your faith. (3 John 1:2; Galatians 6:6-9; Galatians 5:16-25; 1 Peter 3:3-4; Luke 9:23-25; Matthew 11:28-30; Hebrews 4:1-6; Proverbs 4:23; Hebrews 10:38; Hebrews 4:9-13; Matthew 9:27-29; 1 John 5:14-15; Ephesians 2:10; Hebrews 4:16; Revelation 22:21)

What do you think?

Can one go too far in the Christian life?

Daily Writing Prompt

Born Analog

May 27, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Daily writing prompt

Do you remember life before the internet?

View all responses

Oh yeah! I remember you had to go to the library or the bookstore to tap into vast treasure stores of knowledge. I remember my first computer with Internet access was a state-of-art Tandy by Radio Shack. It had a whopping 486 megabytes of RAM or something ridiculously small like that. Coffee machines probably have more RAM these days, but in those days the Internet was young. I remember being in a chat room on AOL writing how one day we would tell our children that we used to have to dial into the Internet, that it would sometimes take 35 minutes or more for a page to load, and that they wouldn’t believe us. (Ecclesiastes 3:1;Isaiah 53:1; Psalm 1; Psalm 23)

faith

Devotional for May 27

May 27, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Rejoice in His Works!

31 The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.
32 He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
33 I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.
35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 104:31-35 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Expect to be tested. Remember what you have been taught. Choose faith over feelings every time. Put your hope in the Lord. He will never leave nor forsake you. Lean not on your own understanding. Trust your God. Fix your gaze on the Lord and He will guide you. Remember all that you have been taught and rejoice. Victory is ours! We are more than conquerors, and this fact is clearly stated in the Scriptures in the present tense. Regardless of our current temporary circumstances and feelings, the love and faithfulness of God never changes. (Matthew 4:1-11; John 15:20; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 8:21; Proverbs 3:5-6; Hebrews 12:1-2; Proverbs 1:7; Isaiah 50:10; Psalm 32:9, 42:5-8; Jonah 2:8; Proverbs 3:7-8; Isaiah 30:21; Romans 1:16-17; 1 Peter 4:12; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 Peter 5:8-10; James 1:2-4; Hebrews 13:5-6; Romans 8:31-39; Hebrews 13:8; 1 Peter 5:11)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 36; Psalms 80

Isaiah 28; 2 John 1

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty and merciful God, in your goodness keep me, I pray, from all things that may hurt me, that I, being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with a free heart those things which belong to your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

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Devotional for May 26

May 26, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

No Evil Will Conquer

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.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Psalm 91:8-13 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Make mind and muscle the best of training partners. When the mind becomes preoccupied with worrying about the desired results of training, or a seemingly lack of progress, put the horse back in front of the cart by focusing on the proper execution of the work in the present moment. Always remember that feelings aren’t facts, that physical sensations are subjective, and that the devil is a liar. Know the word of God, reckon it to be true, think and act according. (1 Corinthians 2:12; Ecclesiastes 2:24-26; Matthew 6:25-34; Psalm 46:10; Isaiah 50:10-11; Proverbs 3:5-8; Isaiah 26:3; Psalm 42:5; Jonah 2; Psalm 94:19; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Psalm 1; John 8:44; Hebrews 10:38-39; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Romans 8:28-32; Revelation 22:10-15; Hebrews 10:36; James 1:4; Revelation 22:16-21)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 35; Psalms 79

Isaiah 27; 1 John 5

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for May 25

May 25, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Faith is Now

8 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.
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Psalm 19:8-13 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

What does the heart have to do with fitness? Love big muscles more than God, and your muscles will never be big enough. Love physical beauty more than God and you will never be satisfied with how good you look. Blind are those who cannot see that life is more than what meets the eye. The only thing more important than doing the right thing is having the right motive behind the action. There is no reward from God for doing the right thing if the motives are selfish. To live for God our hearts must be changed. This too is accomplished only by the grace of God. For the human heart in Adam is beyond repair. It is not by refurbishing our corrupted hearts that we are saved. Rather, God gives us a new heart in Christ Jesus. The old heart, with it’s desperately sick affections, is crucified with Christ. And the new heart, created in the image of the divine, is alive with Christ. This is only the beginning of the gospel. (Psalm 94:1-11; Matthew 22:35-40, 6:24, 16:26; Ecclesiastes 5:10; James 4:1-4; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 Peter 3:1-14; Proverbs 24:12; Matthew 16:24-25; 1Tiimothy 6:9-16; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Jeremiah 17:7-8; Romans 6:6-12; Galatians 2:20; 1 Timothy 6:12-16)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 34; Psalms 78:38-72

Isaiah 26; 1 John 4

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for May 24

May 24, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Teach Me Discernment

65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord, according unto thy word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.
70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. Psalm 119:65-72 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The comfort zone is a sedative for the soul that rocks one to sleep with a false expectation of victory at some unidentified point in the future. You may not always get what you deserve, but never expect to get more than what you have earned in this temporal world. Don’t expect to start at the top, don’t expect to move up by only doing the bare minimum, and don’t expect to get something extra for doing only what is required. Thank God Almighty that through the redemptive work of Christ Jesus, we escape what we truly deserve. Now the children of God need to hunger and thirst for righteousness with the whole heart in full assurance that He who promised that they will be filled is faithful. Wait for the Lord. We are sons and daughters of the God of all comfort, and from Him all blessing flow. (Proverbs 26:14; Ecclesiastes 4:5; Isaiah 51:17; Proverbs 23:29-35; Malachi 4:2; Ephesians 5:14; ; Isaiah 60:1; 1 John 2:15-17; Psalm 75:6-9; 1 Chronicles 29:9-13; Matthew 5:6; Isaiah 23:15-18; 2 Timothy 2:19-22; Romans 8:28; 1 Peter 5:6; Psalm 27:14; Proverbs 16:3; Psalm 94:19; 1 Timothy 6:17-21)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 33; Psalms 78:1-37

Isaiah 25; 1 John 3

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for May 23

May 23, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Unfailing Love of the Lord is With Us

31 In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city. Psalm 31:1, 4, 18-21 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Physical beauty, strong muscles, and a wallet fat with money are not bad things until we set our desire for them ahead of our desire for the things of the Spirit. Seek first to know God and then you will be less susceptible to the deceitfulness of all such riches. Make your chief aim to know the living God and He has promised to add to you everything else you may need. (Matthew 6:27-33; Mark 4:2-20; Matthew 23:25-28; Matthew 5:27-28; Isaiah 29:13; John 4:23; Proverbs 6:20-26; 1 Timothy 6:3-11; Romans 6:21; Matthew 11:28-30; Luke 9:23; Matthew 10:39; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; Matthew 24:45-51; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Romans 12:1-2; 1 John 5:14-15; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Colossians 3:2; Proverbs 23:4-8; 2 Peter 3:17-18)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 32; Psalms 77

Isaiah 24; 1 John 2