faith

Devotional for March 3

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Sing Praises

59 Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.
15 Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.
16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy. Psalm 59:1-2, 15-17 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Why envy those who only prosper in this world? It’s not the pretty, nor the smart, nor the rich, but the cleansed vessels that are of great worth to God. God looks at the heart. God is not merely handing out jobs, He is enlarging His family. You don’t need a polished resume for the Lord, just come as you are and give Him your whole heart. Listen and you will hear the Lord say, “My son, give me your heart.” Blessed is the one who replies, “My heart, O Lord, do I give.” Trust the Lord. It is His will that we be holy, and if we choose it, He will make it so. We are made holy by earnest prayer and by faith in the blood of the Lamb. Be still and know that He is God. Praise His holy Name. All power belongs to God. Give God the glory and you will see the salvation of our Lord. Happy is the soul that walks in the Spirit. (1 Peter 3:3-4; 1 Samuel 16:6-7; Psalm 51:10; Proverbs 23:26; Matthew 11:29-30; Galatians 5:16; Revelation 12:10-12; John 3:16-17; Psalm 103:2-5, 20-22)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 15; Luke 18

Job 33; 2 Corinthians 3

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant that I, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear my cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for March 2

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Walk in the Light

1 The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.
6 Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
9 Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call. Psalm 20 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

John the Baptist did no miracles. Not even one. His face did not shine like Moses, he was not super strong like Samson, he didn’t call down fire from heaven like Elijah, he didn’t heal anyone like Paul, nor did he raise the dead like Peter. Still, Jesus readily acknowledged that John the Baptist was the greatest prophet the world has ever seen. Why? The only thing in the biblical record that made John unique was that he was filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb. We too are promised the indwelling Holy Spirit, but we must believe He is granted to us as soon as we ask. Don’t wait until you see or feel it before you believe it. It is a faithless generation that requires a sign and it is just as certain that none shall be given to them. Get the iron of your expectation red hot with prayers of thanksgiving and praise. Don’t depend on feelings before you will believe that you have the Spirit. Depend on the truth of the word of God and refuse to doubt it. Get busy extinguishing all the fiery darts of the wicked one with the shield of faith. Believe first, and stand firm in faith. God has promised to confirm, settle, and establish you. First believe, sometime after you will surely know it. (Luke 1:13-17; Luke 7:24-28; Acts 2:37-40; Hebrews 11:6; Matthew 16:4; 1 Corinthians 1:22-24; John 14:15-18; Revelation 22:20)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 13; Luke 16

Job 31; 2 Corinthians 1

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant that I, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear my cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for March 1

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Lord Strengthen

1 The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.
6 Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
9 Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call. Psalm 20 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

It is so easy these days to spend hours glued to the tube, thrilled at the cinema, or gaming until the cows come home. Our money flows towards satisfying our desires stimulated by what captivates our attention most often. There is no profit in giving up our money for things we don’t need, nor wasting our time doing things that amount to bubbles gone with the wind. Worst of all though, is being conformed to the likes, dislikes, and standards of this fallen world. You avoid most junk food, and that is good. Be even more careful about what you feed your mind. You are free to choose whatever entertainment the world offers, but know there are some things that leave you worst off for having seen and heard them. Watch yourself while you are watching TV, listening to music, or scrolling through social media. All so called entertainments that draw the soul away from God are better to be scrapped off into the garbage rather than given free rein in the mind.  It takes a conscious choice and diligence if the mind is to properly guard the heart. Let only what is of faith, hope, and love remain. Against such things there is no law. Pray in the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, and live in the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10, 12:31; Proverbs 4:23, 3:3-4; 1 Corinthians 13:13; Ephesians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 112:22-51; Luke 15

Job 30; 1 Corinthians 16

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant that I, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear my cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for February 29

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Blessed Ones

1 Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
5 A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies. Psalm 112:1-8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Leap year is a great reminder of the mutability of time. When undergoing a surgery, the anesthesiologist can transport a patient hours into the future without the patient ever having a sense of the passage of even a single minute. This is a common everyday thing for mere mortals in our present day. How much easier do you suppose it to be for Almighty God, in whom time began and will end, to take us in an instant from the moment of our death to kneeing in front of the judgment seat of Christ? Just as in the day that God secured Noah in the ark, whichever comes first our death or the second coming of Christ, both represent the closing of the door of salvation. The Holy Bible urges us to flee from the wrath of God to come. 

The Word of the Lord is like pure gold refined in the fire. Consider the greatness of the promise of fellowship with the Maker of all creation! By faith we hear His voice and open the door. We would think it rude to invite a guess into our home and once inside to ignore him or her. Most would also consider it to be unacceptable to invite a holy man to dinner and then to speak only of vanities and profanities when seated at the table. Because these things be so, may we be more attentive to the presence of the Spirit of Christ within us. Store up His word in your heart and you will learn to recognize His voice the same way you recognize the voice of any other person familiar to you: by the tone, content, and character of what is spoken. In the same way, the Holy Spirit teaches us to have ears to hear the voice of God. Speak Lord in accordance to your Word, for your servant is listening. (2 Corinthians 5:20, 5:10; Matthew 24:37-39; Exodus 5:2; John 14:23; John 10:27-28; Revelation 3:20; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Today’s Bible Reading

Repeat yesterday’s:

Exodus 11-12:21; Luke 14

Job 29; 1 Corinthians 15

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing; Send your Holy Spirit and pour into my heart your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

Daily Writing Prompt

The Danger of Lingering

Bruce Coleman1 Comment
Daily writing prompt
Describe a phase in life that was difficult to say goodbye to.
View all responses

Childhood was a most difficult thing for me to leave behind. Puberty marks the beginning, but it wasn’t until I was over 40 that I was able to leave childish things and thinking behind. I suppose it took so long because from the very beginning I already considered myself fully grown. It is hard to know you are in the dark until you see the light. (Ecclesiastes 3:1; Exodus 16:20; Genesis 19:14-16; 1 Peter 2:1-3; 1 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 3:13-14; Romans 6:20-23)

faith

Devotional for February 28

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Whosoever Does These Things Will Never Be Shaken

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

There is little to fear from knowing too much, but there are many strips stored up for practicing too little of what is known. The worldly persuasion of our day is full of godless communications from education, news, entertainment, social media, and daily conversations. The counsel of worldly wisdom is to trust only what can be seen with its pillars being science, money, and self. To rely on any of these things rather than on the living God is to trust in an arm of flesh. With strong muscles and a brand new brain, it’s easy for the young to trust the popular messages of the world. Blessed are the ones who wake up and turn from the bait of vanities offered by this world. We are taken captive like fish on a hook without the knowledge of God. The older we get the more happiness eludes us when we are without God. It is vain to look for answers on how to live this present life anywhere else. All power belongs to God. God never fails, but we limit God by the little trust we place in Him. A little trust and we get a little salvation. Trust God completely and we are saved to the uttermost. If we want to enter by the straight gate that leads to enteral life, we must learn to live out the motto written on all US currency…IN GOD WE TRUST. (Proverbs 3:5-8; Matthew 7:13-14; Psalm 50:16-23; Hebrews 13:8, 7:25; 1 Timothy 6:15-21)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 11-12:21; Luke 14

Job 29; 1 Corinthians 15

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing; Send your Holy Spirit and pour into my heart your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for February 27

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Holding on to Truth Makes Strong

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

Know for certain that once you choose to make faith in God the rule for your life, every persuasive thought to doubt does NOT come from the one who has called you. Don’t think this strange. Both physical and spiritual strength are developed by training with resistance. Even the highly favored and extremely talented among us must be willing to suffer the discomfort of time under tension if they are to become fully developed. We have been given the gift of eternal life and freedom from the bondage of sin by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. Having been translated into the Kingdom of God by Christ, we no longer have to slavishly obey the evil desires of the flesh. We are now free to choose to obey God. Free to choose to keep in step with the Holy Spirit. Dearly beloved of the Father, know that you are among the elect of God. The devil causes only the elect to doubt the truth of their calling. Resist him by standing firm in faith. There is a sure victory awaiting all who are willing to fight the good fight of faith. This too is by grace, to the glory of God, whose mercy endures forever.

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 10; Luke 13

Job 28; 1 Corinthians 14

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing; Send your Holy Spirit and pour into my heart your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for February 26

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

My Help Comes From the Lord

121 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. Psalm 121 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Spontaneous thoughts may be spiritual. The human spirit can be influenced by both good and evil. A flaming arrow shot from the shadows is a predictable tactic of the enemy of our soul. By suggesting one wrong thought, feelings are ignited that cause a cascade of similar thoughts that lead the mind away from God. The enemy knows that as long as he remains hidden he will not be resisted. Be on guard and watch over your inner dialog. Do not cast away your confidence in God, for He will never fail you. Rather cast away the faithless thoughts the enemy slings your way. Submit to God and live victorious. (Luke 9:53-55; Proverbs 20:27; 2 Corinthians 10:4-6; Ephesians 616; James 4:7; Hebrews 13:5; 1 Peter 5:6-11)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 9; Luke 12

Job 27; 1 Corinthians 13

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing; Send your Holy Spirit and pour into my heart your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for February 25

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

God Listens to My Prayer

16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.
17 I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
19 But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me. Psalm 66:16-20  (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Thinking right is always the next step along the beach of righteousness. Vain thoughts are often the cause of stumbling. Ignoring the aliment is the same as refusing the treatment. Consider a mature faith to be like a sea-washed lighthouse, anchored on the Rock, firmly withstanding the ebb and flow of life. The tides of life change from high to low, going in and going out. This will sometimes cause training, diet, wellbeing, and even the best laid plans to be fractured. This is common to all, but refuse to allow what you can’t do right now to stop you from doing what you can. Remember that even a few loaves and a couple of small fish are enough to feed a multitude with God. The grace of God is more than sufficient for all things, but be sure you are not just seeking to do your own will and asking God to supply His power just to help you get your own thing done. Deny self, pick up your cross daily, and follow Jesus. Pray to the Lord of the harvest to conform your will to His, and then go to work with gusto to glorify our God.  

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 8; Luke 11

Job 25-26; 1 Corinthians 12

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing; Send your Holy Spirit and pour into my heart your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for February 24

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Joyful Are the People Whose Strength Is in You

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. Psalm 84:4-10 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Knowing is like a glass of water. It only cures thirst if you drink it. The best diet and exercise knowledge that is NOT practiced may be able to produce smart talk, but it will never make you fit and healthy unless you actually walk the talk. Knowledge is power only when coupled with action in the things of earth as well as the things of the spirit. (James 2:14-26, 1:21-25)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 7; Luke 10

Job 24; 1 Corinthians 11

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing; Send your Holy Spirit and pour into my heart your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer