faith

Devotional for October 7

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

All Things Provided in Christ

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

Why, when, where, what, and how? Sometimes you just can’t see it, but that’s okay. God has everything perfectly under control. Humble yourself and submit to God. Fall down under whatever burden is vexing you and admit that in self you have no power to control, change, or improve anything. Take it to the living God with prayer and supplication. God alone can do more than can be asked, thought, or imagined. Pour out you heart to God and ask for the grace you need. Choose the fear of the Lord and make it your intention to completely be conformed to our Lord Jesus Christ. The way is narrow and sometimes difficult that leads to eternal life. It is also a very short trek when compared to eternity. Trust God. Be confident in His completed work of your salvation.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Kings 10

Philippians 1

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon your church the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Daily Writing Prompt

Growing Up

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Daily writing prompt
Tell us about a time when you felt out of place.
View all responses

Many of the places I used to go when I was younger now cause me to feel out of place. Many of the things I used to do in the pursuit of fun and happiness only ended up causing me and others pain and suffering. Conscience doesn’t allow me to go to such places, or do such things, now that I have finally learned to be mindful of keeping my conscience clear.

Woe to those who conscience is incapable of discerning what is wrong. Alcohol was one of my former vices that sedates the conscience and thereby facilitates all kinds of regrettable actions. Blessed are all those whose conscience functions as a guard to keep them from harming self and others. (Hebrews 5:12-14; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; Jude 1:8-13; 2 Corinthians 6:17; Psalm 119:9, 1:1-2)

faith

Devotional for October 6

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Firmly Planted By Streams of Water

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

Life can be tough in this fallen world, yet still the goodness of God abounds toward us all. It has been said that when you reach the end of the rope, that you should tie a knot and hang on. And when that becomes manageable, start swinging. When that is accomplished, let go and fly. And when you fall, take the pain and get up again. Learning to fly can sometimes be painful, but we are born to it. God has promised to bear us up like an eaglet on the mother eagle’s wings. The one who refuses to learn to fly, will only suffer more in the end. The baby eagle that refuses to leave the comfort of the nest is destined to become someone’s chicken dinner. So get flapping! Live the gospel. Let the Word of God dwell richly in you, in your thoughts, in your mouth, and in your every action. Let everything you do be done in love.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Kings 9

Ephesians 6

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon your church the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for October 5

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Righteousness Made Clear

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.  Psalm 51:10-13 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Don’t waste your time anxiously searching for the 1% that you don’t have, all the while paying little attention to the 99% that you do have in your hand right now. Most everyone knows what they need to do, but only a few people actually get it done. Why is it so? One reason is the lack of a total commitment. It is hard to understand the power of a total commitment if you have never made one. A total commitment removes the possibly of retreat or turning back. You either swim or you sink. You either do it or you die still trying to get it done. All manner of great things have blossomed from such commitments. When all things are considered as they should be in the light of eternity, a total commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ is a no-brainer. One thing needed is a singleness of heart that pursues the living God and refuses to settle for anything less. Let it not be His gifts that move us to seek His face. Rather, let the desire to know Him mold our thoughts and actions. God has promised that we will find Him when we search for Him with all our heart. The mercy of God has provided the way. We only need to make the total commitment to Jesus Christ, and God meets us with the needed grace to make it happen.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Kings 8

Ephesians 5

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon your church the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for October 4

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

A Meditation Pleasing to the Heart 

6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.
7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.
8 I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.
9 I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
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. Psalm 50:6-17 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Never let what you can’t do stop you from doing what you can. Don’t just sit around whining and complaining. It doesn’t help, and it certainly doesn’t please God. Just get busy making the most out of whatever opportunity you do have, and leave the lingering on lack to the unhappy and the depressed. Trust God, and waste no time complaining about your best-laid plans as they lie broken upon the jagged rocks of life. Refuse to allow discouraging feelings to carry your thoughts away captive. Rather, set your hope firmly upon your full salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. Pray for the needed grace based on what God has promised. Take the promise as being immediately answered by faith based on the incorruptible truth of the Word, and not on evidence based upon our corruptible physical senses and unstable emotions. Wait on the Lord in faith, which means to keep the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart pleasing to God. Rest in the knowledge of the faithfulness of God. Wait for the blessing with joyful expectation. When peace, thanksgiving, and praise to God reign in your heart, regardless of temporary circumstances, all will be well.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Kings 7

Ephesians 4

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon your church the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for October 3

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

A Hymn of the Messiah

110 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
2 The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
4 The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.  Psalm 110:1-4 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Lasting change that is good comes from above, and it proceeds from the inside-out. It is a great mystery how we are 100% dependent on God for everything, while at the same time being 100% responsible for our choices. They are not contradictory opposites, but rather complementary truths. The state of your health 20 years from now can best be predicted by how you live and what you do today. Just as your current body condition is a result of your past thoughts, habits, and lifestyle choices. Don’t expect much change from your exercise and diet efforts if you are still going to think the same, do the same things, go to the same places, and live the same way that created the need for change in the first place. The call of the gospel is to come as you are, not stay as you are. The mind set on gratifying the flesh is not capable of making lasting changes for the better, but the mind set on the things of the Spirit is renewed from the inside-out. Lasting change happens first in the inner man’s heart and affections, which are the source of every choice to do or to not do. God will change the heart as you consistently seek to renew the mind with the Word of Life. Accept the divine order: first the blade, then the ear, and then the full corn in the ear. Transformation is certain because God is faithful to perform His unchangeable word whenever we meet the conditions. Only believe. O Lord, I believe! Say it aloud and keep saying it until your “Amen” is made strong by the Spirit.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Kings 6

Ephesians 3

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon your church the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for October 2

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Hear and Understand

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 81:8-10 KJV

The Morning Exhortation

All the promises of God are “yes, yes” in Christ Jesus for those whose hearts are set on being doers of the word with prayer and faith. Exercise the gift of whatever faith that you have right now until God grants you the grace of the full assurance of faith. Then will you no longer be tossed about like a wave of sea troubled by the rapidly changing winds of doubt. You must believe your heart has been cleansed and renewed, and your body made strong and healthy even before seeing any evidence of the granted grace. Find another believer that you can emulate. Blaze your own trail if you have to, but it is more efficient to follow the path of someone else who has already obtained steadfastness in the faith. However, in your pursuit of everything that is good, never lose sight of the one most important thing. And that is this: he who has a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, already has everything he could possibly need. 

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Kings 4-5

Ephesians 2

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon your church the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for October 1

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Like a Weened Child 

131 Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.
2 Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.
3 Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and for ever. (Psalm 131)

The Morning Exhortation

All good things come from God above. Self-help is no help at all. No matter how great the self-help guru or program, the underlying problem of our sinful nature will still remain. All change is merely cosmetic without Jesus Christ. You can dye your hair, but you are only deceiving yourself. The truth is always found at the roots. It is not dye we need, but the grace to allow the Word of God to dwell richly in our heart. By faith are we created anew with a clean heart in Christ Jesus. We are spiritually born again by the grace of God. Accept this spiritual transformation through believing in the Son of God as fact, without demanding a miraculous experience as proof. First believe, after which all things will become new.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Kings 3

Ephesians 1

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant me the fullness of your grace, that I, running to obtain your promises, may become a partaker of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for September 30

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

In the Beginning, O Lord

24  I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.
25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee. Psalm 102:24-28 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The hardest exercises in the gym often yield the greatest benefits. It’s the difficult things inside and outside the gym that result in the biggest pay offs. One of the hardest things to do outside the gym are to quit bad habits. It is always easier and faster to fill the tub with water when the drain has first been properly plugged. We all know what habits and behaviors we have that are counterproductive. Choose your worst, take it to the Cross and ask the Lord to crucify you to it and it in you. Now by faith in God, consider yourself to be free, and it to be dead. Whether to live according to what we see, or to trust in the truth of God as revealed in the Word. Each of us must choose to live by one or the other. The testing of that choice will certainly come. The feelings caused by circumstances that collaborate what can be seen are often a part of the testing of faith. Faith is NOT a feeling. Faith is a spiritual fact that we choose to accept. All the elders in Bible that had a good report considered contrary physical evidence as lying vanities. Faith is the bridge between spiritual and physical realities. Ask the Lord for His needed grace, then accept it as a fact. Like a sea washed lighthouse, He will enable you to stand firm. Forsake not the mercy of the Lord and He will turn every contrary tide.

Today’s Bible Reading

1 Kings 2

Galatians 6

The Prayer Appointed for This Week from the Book of Common Prayer

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant me the fullness of your grace, that I, running to obtain your promises, may become a partaker of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.