Still Under Construction

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

To my faithful subscribers: I thank you and want to give you more. I feel the need to first get more from God. This blog, the labor of love that it is, has been steadily taking more and more of my time each morning. So much time now, that what’s left over for prayer and exercise has become far too little. For these reasons, I’m going to take a sabbatical from posting my daily devotions for a while. I go to seek the fullness of God in Christ Jesus. When I have it, my devotional postings will return. Until then, remember the love of God. (John 3:16-17, 1:1-18; Isaiah 53:1-5; Luke 11:5-13; John 11:40; Acts 3:6-16; John 3:11; Acts 2:37-41; Psalm 51:6-15; Hebrews 11:1-6; Ephesians 3:14-21).

Remember the Goodness 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.
19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul. Psalm 103:1-5, 19-22 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Change for the better is possible! Not so much from the 10 Commandments of the Law, but rather from the thousands of promises which are all “yes” and “so be it” in Christ Jesus. Life can get better in one year with God than we can make it in 50 years without God. God is holy. Being with God requires our willingness to be made holy. For us holiness is life and ever increasing strength, while sin is only increasing weakness and death. Humbly come to our Lord Jesus and He will cast that log out of your eye, then you will be able to see the beauty of a changed heart, a transformed mind, and holy hands that do what is pleasing to God. (Hebrews 8:7-12; John 3:16-17; Matthew 7:3-4, 11:25-30; 2 Corinthians 3:4-6; Romans 6:1-14; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Romans 7:4-7; Acts 2:37-39; Philippians 2:13; 1 Peter 2:2; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Job 28:28; 2 Peter 1:9; 1 Timothy 2:8; 1 Peter 5:5-11)

Recount the Praiseworthy Deeds of the Lord

1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
9 The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
10 They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;
11 And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them. Psalm 78:1-11 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Steak is good for building muscle, but the bread of life is good for the spirit, soul, and body. Are you ready? Ready for what? To stop licking up the crumbs with dirt from the floor, and instead be seated at the table to eat an abundance of bread enriched with divine life. Jesus Christ is the bread of life. Question the value of anything without even a crumb of life in it. At best it is a non-nutritious vanity, at worse it is a straight up sugar coated poison. Choose life. (Psalm 118:24; Deuteronomy 30:19-20; John 6:32-35; Matthew 15:21-28; Ephesians 3:1-6; Romans 8:15-18; 2 Peter 1:2-3; 1 Peter 1:2-9; Jonah 2:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:4-11; Ephesians 3:14-21)

Before the Eyes

2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.
6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord:
7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. Psalm 26:2-8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

There is always a next-level in Christ, because there is no top, no bottom, nor left or right limit in God. It is a wonderful place to live where it is known that no matter how good, or how bad things get, the best is yet to come. This is the glorious hope of the Gospel. To get there, all that is in the world, the flesh, and our natural human strength all must be submitted to the mighty power of God inwardly, so that we can manifest the resurrection power of Christ outwardly. Be willing to press on to this high calling. It can only be reached by those who will not be denied it. (2 Corinthians 4:1-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Galatians 6:14; 2 Corinthians 4:6-10; Philippians 3:1-16; Romans 15:13; 1 Peter 1:7; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; Hebrews 10:36; Galatians 6:9; Luke 11:5-13; Revelation 3:11; Revelation 22:20-21)

To have it…

1 Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
4 For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.
5 This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.
6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.
7 Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.
8 Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;
9 There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.
10 I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. Psalm 81:1-10 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Spiritual conditions provide the foundation for natural law. A bad spiritual condition will drain good physical health, and a good spiritual condition will support good physical health. The formula is a simple one: fulfill the conditions and God will fulfill the promise. Conditions and promises are always connected by the words “shall” or “will.” Every “shall/will” belongs to all in Christ Jesus. Sow the conditions with prayer and action, and know the promised blessings will follow. God has said it, therefore it cannot be otherwise. (Psalm 37:1-6; Matthew 5:6; John 7:37-39, 4:14, 4:24-26; Acts 2:37-39; Hebrews 4:16; Matthew 7:7-8; 2 Corinthians 3:18; James 1:22-25; Proverbs 3:5-8; Galatians 6:7-9; Philippians 4:4-9; 3 John 2; Revelation 22:21)

The Earth Is the Lord’s

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. Psalm 24:1-6 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The end of genuine faith is always rejoicing. The testing of faith is always a short-term pain for a long-term gain. Remember God, and God will keep you in perfect peace. (James 1:2-4; Luke 9:23; Job 23:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Philippians 4:4-7; Isaiah 26:3; Psalm 46:10; Proverbs 16:3; 1 Peter 1:6-7; Romans 8:28; Ephesians 2:10, 5:26-27; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14; Matthew 6:9-13)

God is Faithful and True

1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Psalm 100 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

We cannot give what we do not have. We cannot be epistles of Christ read by all unless the Word of God is written in our hearts and Christ is followed consistently. It is by the constant focus on our testimony of Jesus, and the faithful execution of our present duties in life, that God fits us for more. We may have only been chosen to wait tables. Still, the strength of our testimony will equal the measure of our free time we devote to God. God must do all is only one end of a profound truth. The other end is that we must ask, seek, and knock consistently while God does what only God can. Not a little found this morning only to be lost and forgotten by evening. This wearisome to the soul. Let the default setting of the heart, head, and hands be dedicated to the testimony of truth and there is no limit to the heights to which God can exalt us in Christ Jesus. (Acts 3:2-8; Jeremiah 45:5; Acts 6:1-10; 2 Corinthians 3:1-6; Revelation 12:7-12, 19:5-10; 2 Timothy 2:20-21; Psalm 27:8; Matthew 7:7-8; Luke 18:1-8; 1 Peter 4:3-5; 2 Corinthians 6:16-18; 1 Peter 5:6-11)

Freedom in Christ

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. Psalm 51:10-15 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Anything outside of the will of God only hinders the new creation. The new creation begins when we are born again and should  be constantly increasing day by day into the infinite fullness of God. This is the yearning of every human heart whether we come to realize it or not. All who are called to Jesus Christ are called to nothing less. Let us arise and move toward it. (Numbers 11:27-29; Jeremiah 10:1; Ezekiel 36:24-28; John 3:1-21; Luke 1:33; 2 Corinthians 4:7; Philippians 3:4-15; Romans 6:1-12; Hebrews 12:1-3; Romans 12:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Nehemiah 2:18; John 14:31; Ephesians 4:11-24, 3:14-21)

Hear, O My People 

1 The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
16 But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
17 Seeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee.
18 When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
19 Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
20 Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.
21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
22 Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God. Psalm 50:1,14-23 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

A strong horse is a useful thing. A stubborn horse is fit only for the fire of the glue factory. The one who says “Lord, Lord” without doing what the Word of God says to do, is like the stubborn horse. How can we be led by the Spirit if we are continually trying to take the reins and go our own way? Stubbornness must go before grace can have its way, and grace unhindered will always be manifested in victory. You did not choose Him, but He chose you. He chose you, He will perfect you, and He will keep you for eternity. It is all grace. Wisdom is to yield to what should be yielded and to resist what should be resisted. Go to the Word of God to know which is which, and pray for the grace to believe it. (Proverbs 29:15, 9:8-11, 23:12-35; Psalm 32:10-11, 32:6-9; Luke 6:46; Mark 9:24; Isaiah 50:10-11; Luke 4:15-21; Hebrews 5:8-9; Revelation 19:13; John 10:8-9, 15:16; Hebrews 4:16; Psalm 138:8; Romans 8:32; 1 John 4:10; Romans 8:35-39; Jonah 2:8; Proverbs 3:3-8; 1 Peter 5:1-11)

Teach Me Your Paths, O Lord 

1 Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
4 Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.
5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
6 Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O Lord.
8 Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. Psalm 25:1-9 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Rest is just as necessary as work. Without rest, its only a matter of time before work ceases. Proper work-rest balance is seen in sleeping 8 of every 24 hours, not eating 16 of every 24 hours, and in not working one day out of every seven. The first two are general guidelines and the third is a law. Strike the perfect balance, and both rest and work will improve. (Proverbs 4:10-17; Psalm 49:11, 69:22, 127:1-2; Matthew 6:7-21; Luke 12:16-21; Matthew 6:24-34, 11:28-30; 2 Corinthians 11:2-3; Hebrews 4:1-7; Psalm 23; John 14:27; 2 Corinthians 13:14)