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faith

Devotional for August 13

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Take no backward step before reaching the tipping point were living some in self gives way to living more in Christ."

Proclaim with Me the Greatness of the Lord

34 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Psalm 34:1-8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Our shortcomings can be ignored, rationalized, or acknowledged. Only one of these leads to victory. Examples of shortcomings are eating something we know we should not have eaten, saying something we know we should not have said, or doing something we know we should not have done. Such shortcomings are like the head, torso, and limbs of what the Bible calls “the body of this death.” Life in self is the problem and Christ is the only answer that leads to certain victory. To cover our shortcomings by ignoring or rationalizing, is to live in total bondage to the desires of self and to be cut off completely from Christ. To acknowledge our shortcomings, is to move in the direction of the victory that comes from being dead to self and alive in Christ. Take no backward step before reaching the tipping point were living some in self gives way to living more in Christ. First comes the blade, then the ear, and then the full corn in the ear. (Proverbs 28:13-14, 27:12; Psalm 34:14-16; Romans 14:22-23, 7:11-25; Psalm 32:5; 1 John 1:9; Mark 4:26-29; Luke 9:62, 17:32; Hebrews 10:36; 2 Peter 1:19; Colossians 2:6-15; Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6:6-14, 8:36-39; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Ephesians 2:6-7; Revelation 3:21; John 15:16; 1 Peter 5:6-11)

faith

Devotional for August 12

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Weight training is to body what prayer is to the spirit."

Arise

24 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

Weight training is to body what prayer is to the spirit. Age doesn’t necessary make one weak, but a lack of weight training and prayer certainly will. Lift up your heart to the Lord by acknowledging Him in all your ways. Beware of being stuck in the mud with those who are great in their own eyes. Live in meekness, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (Proverbs 3:5-8; 1 Peter 3:3-4; Psalm 92:12-15, 18:1-3; Isaiah 46:4-5; 1 Chronicles 29:10-12; Psalm 10:4; Proverbs 11:22; James 4:4-6; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, 10:12; Numbers 12:3; Exodus 34:29-30; Deuteronomy 34:7; Psalm 90:12; Acts 26:8; Psalm 18:25-36; 2 Corinthians 10:4-6; Proverbs 16:3; 2 Corinthians 6:3-7; Philippians 4:5-9; 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18; 1 Chronicles 29:13; 2 Corinthians 13:11-14)

faith

Devotional for August 11

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Character first, only then can we be trusted with great strength."

Joy in the Presence of the Lord

5 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
7 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
8 I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:5-11 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Start with the end. Before striving for what you think you should be doing, cultivate the character of being that is able achieve such an end. What we should be doing is our calling, but to chase after our calling without first being what it takes to get there, leads only to vexation of spirit. Character first, only then can we be trusted with great strength. The wheat is easily separated from the chaff once “what we are” has been fully realized. The wheat is any activity that produces the desired harvest, while the chaff is anything that distracts, diverts, or derails from the hope of the envisioned end. Be then do. Amen. (Revelation 21:1-8; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Hebrews 2:10-15; Luke 4:16-21; Colossians 3:2; Ecclesiastes 1:14; 1 John 2:16-17; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:17-25; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Acts 17:28; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Matthew 6:33; Revelation 22:11-21)

faith

Devotional for February 6

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Exercise in Peace

1 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 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Learn to roll with the punches and keep moving into the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Unhappy is the ungrateful heart that cries for more, gets it, and then only wants more still (Proverbs 30:15-16). You can be happier in the next five minutes if you will just look around and thank God for some of what He has already given you. The unhappy never learn that contentment with godliness is great gain. The fear of the Lord is so little to be found among unhappy people, so they busy themselves chasing after shiny things that only perish. Why worry and fret over lying vanities that only last a moment? Remember our eternal destination and hold firmly to the narrow way (Matthew 7:13-14). 

Today’s Bible Reading

Genesis 39; Mark 9

Job 5; Romans 9

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  The Book of Common Prayer