faith

Devotional for May 2

May 2, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

God is All Knowing, All Powerful, and All Good

139 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. Psalm 139:1-10 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

When the cares of this life are pressing you down, use the saints’ favorite home remedy for relief. Force yourself to count your blessings. When gratitude turns into thanksgiving and praise to the Lord, the rain will have ceased and the clouds will part. We may sometimes lack comfort and ease, but the one who has the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit already has the highest possible good there ever has been, is now, and ever will be. (Isaiah 51:12-13, 41:9-10; 2 Peter 1:3; Ecclesiastes 8:4; Psalm 42:5-6; Romans 8:32-39; Hebrews 13:15-16; Psalm 100:4, 147:1; Ephesians 6:10-18; Psalm 136:1-3; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 9; Psalms 45

Song of Solomon 7; Hebrews 7

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

I thank you, heavenly Father, that you have delivered me from the dominion of sin and death and brought me into the kingdom of your Son; and I pray that, as by his death he has recalled me to life, so by his love he may raise me to eternal joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for April 30

April 30, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Safety of the Abiding Presence of the Lord

91 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
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.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. Psalm 91 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Truth will set you free while falsehood only enslaves, kills, steals, and destroys. Truth with a capital “T” cannot be determined by how we feel or what we see. We come to know Truth by believing the revealed Word of God. Feelings and circumstances are pleasant when they support Truth, but they are as unreliable as shifting sand when they are contrary to Truth. To be in Christ, is to be in Truth. All persuasion to doubt the veracity of the Word of God doesn’t come from God. The Truth of God never changes. Therefore, it can be trusted come rain or shine, morning or night, now and forever. Do what is right according to the Truth and you never have to fear the consequences that come from doing wrong. Punishment for doing wrong is quite natural. Even still, rejoice if you suffer for doing good. Great is the reward for all who commit the keeping of their soul to the Lord. (Psalm 119:9; Romans 3:3-9; John 17:17; John 8:30-34; Psalm 34:12; John 15:1-8; Ecclesiastes 8:11-12; 1 Peter 4:12-16; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:19-20; 1 Peter 3:13-14; Psalm 50:7-23; Proverbs 16:1-5; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Proverbs 29:25; 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 4:18; 1 Peter 4:17-19; Romans 8:28; Psalm 41:11-13)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 7; Psalms 42-43

Song of Solomon 5; Hebrews 5

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for April 29

April 29, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Lord Almighty Is With Us

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Psalm 46:1-7 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

There are two sides to the faith and fitness coin: things to do and things to stop doing. Both are generally well known having been written about, taught, and preached in churches and gyms for many years now. Having come to Christ and turned from our former sinful ways, the call is to go on to Christian perfection. The ministry of the Holy Spirit has one ultimate purpose for every believer, and that is to make us like Jesus. This requires our wholehearted corporation. To bear the fruit of the Spirit we must get rid of the small foxes that ruin the grapes. These small foxes are the little things that impede our progress toward the mark of our high calling in Christ Jesus. Listen to any professional athlete and you will hear and see the importance of tending to the little things that must be done as well as those little things that should not done. Our heavenly prize certainly deserves more dedication than any earthly award that is here today and gone tomorrow. (Ecclesiastes 11:9-10; Mark 4:19; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Proverbs 23:1-3; Psalm 69:22; Song of Solomon 2:15; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Galatians 4:9; Philippians 3:7-15; Hebrews 5:11-14; Hebrews 6:1-3; 1 Peter 5:6-11)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 6; Psalms 40-41

Song of Solomon 4; Hebrews 4

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for April 26

April 26, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

His Mercy Endures Forever

136 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 136:1-9, 25-26 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Getting started is usually not fun. The shortest cut to attaining anything is to accept the fact that everything requires effort and will seem hard in the beginning. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Tough times come and go. Endure the purifying process on the straight path through the narrow gate, and God shall bring forth your righteousness brighter and brighter until the full light of the noon day. Make the will of God your delight, wait on the Lord, and let the joy of the Lord be your strength. Nothing is able to take away your joy if you only believe. Trust the Lord. The power that spread out the stars like a curtain, the power that brought forth Jesus Christ up from the grave, that same power is at work in each of us who are born again in Christ. Believe the gospel! (Ecclesiastes 7:8, 11:4; Psalm 37:16-20; Matthew 6:19-34; Psalm 32:8-11; Matthew 5:6; Proverbs 16:3; Psalm 94:19, 37:1-13; Proverbs 4:18; Matthew 7:13-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; John 14:21-26; 2 Corinthians 5:17; James 5:7; Mark 4:26-29; 1 John 5:5-15; Ephesians 2:10; John 14:27; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 3; Psalms 37

Song of Solomon 1; Hebrews 1

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that I, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ my Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for April 25

April 25, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Trust Anchors the Soul

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 33:18-22 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Change doesn’t come from remaining the same. To improve behavior, thoughts must be improved. To improve body composition, diet must be improved. To improve performance, training must be improved. Improvement by its very nature requires positive change. For all who want a better way to live, the good news of Jesus Christ has remained unchanged for over 2,000 years. Come as you are, but don’t try to stay as you are. (Hebrews 13:8; Luke 4:16-21; Matthew 11:28-30; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Luke 9:23-24; 2 Timothy 3:13; Matthew 12:43-45; Romans 6; Matthew 22:2-14; Revelation 3:14-22; Ephesians 4:22-30; Psalm 32:9; Proverbs 3:5-8; Matthew 7:7-13; Jude 24-25)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 2; Psalms 36

Ecclesiastes 12; Philemon 1

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for April 24

April 24, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Blessings for All

115 Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.
2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?
3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
9 O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.
10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.
11 Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.
12 The Lord hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.
13 He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great. Psalm 115:1-13 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Keep working out and don’t be overly concerned about when you will see the results. Sometimes physical changes seems to happen gradually like a dawning day, and other times a personal best is surpassed suddenly like a clap of thunder out of a clear blue sky. Recognize the importance of the physical body to the spiritual life. The body is meant to be an instrument of righteousness rather than a stumbling block. Once the journey on the narrow path has begun, let go and never look back with desire for the old unhealthy ways. It’s not given to us to know all that today or tomorrow will bring. Time and chance happens to everyone, and these are completely out of our control. Still, there is reason for hope for those who love the Lord. Time and chance are both completely under the dominion of God. There really is no need to worry about anything if you will only believe the gospel. The will of God is our highest good. It will happen when all is ready, when the proper season has come, when the time is right, and when the dues have been paid in full. (Proverbs 27:1; Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 9:10-11; Psalm 147:5-11; Hebrews 6:19-20; Romans 8:28; Matthew 6:25-34; Proverbs 4:18; Acts 1:7; Psalm 27:14; James 5:7-11; Mark 11:22-25; Galatians 6:9; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Hebrews 6:1-3; Philippians 2:13; 1 Peter 5:11)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 1; Psalms 35

Ecclesiastes 11; Titus 3

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for April 23

April 23, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Whole World is His

93 The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.
3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
4 The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.
5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever. Psalm 93 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Understand how the multitudes were fed. We miss the abundant life promised by Christ when we allow ourselves to be convinced that we need God and ________ . It doesn’t matter what you fill in the blank with, it will be like a ball and chain that keeps you from the fullness of God in Christ Jesus. God alone is our exceeding sufficient provision and reward. Better to endure hardness as good soldier of Jesus Christ than it is to feast, drink, and chase after all that is shiny and best in this life. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. All else is vanity says the preacher, and all is counted as dung compared to knowing Jesus Christ says the apostle. God says, “I am.” We are to say, “God is.” The understanding heart will know that this is the answer and response to every difficult question in life. (Habakkuk 1:5; Mark 6:34-52; 1 Corinthians 12:1; Ephesians 1:3-23; Philippians 4:8-13; Ecclesiastes 7:2-6; Philippians 3:7-15; 2 Timothy 2:3-4; 1 Peter 4:12-19; Romans 8:13-19; Exodus 3:13-15; John 1:1-12; Hebrews 11:1-6; Colossians 1:23-29; Ephesians 3:14-21)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 27; Psalms 34

Ecclesiastes 10; Titus 2

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for April 22

April 22, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

114 When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;
2 Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.
3 The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.
5 What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?
6 Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?
7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;
8 Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters. Psalm 114 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Wisdom is better than money, money is better than strong muscles, and each of these are far better together than they are alone. It takes wisdom to understand that getting more of the good things in life without developing good character only leads to more problems, more sorrows, and more broken relationships. Character is molded by what we behold as most important. We conform to what we love. Unredeemed we are like dead fish living for the lust of the eyes, which is the default setting from childhood in this fallen world. Only a live fish can swim upstream against the evil currents of the world. Therefore, new life is the first requirement for all lasting good. (Psalm 4:2, 58:3; Proverbs 30:20; Psalm 34:21; Ecclesiastes 8:11; James 1:21; 2 Timothy 2:15-16; Proverbs 3:4-9; Ecclesiastes 7:12; John 3:1-17; 1 John 2:16; John 10:8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Peter 1:2-11; Hebrews 12:1-2; Romans 12:1-2; 9; Psalm 30:10-12; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 26; Psalms 33

Ecclesiastes 9; Titus 1

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for April 21

April 21, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Abundance Even in Days of Famine

10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.
18 The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. Psalm 37:10-19 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Everyone is as fit as they really want to be. The proof is in what they do, not what they say. A person will be just as fit as they believe they can become. Belief sets the limit by determining the level of commitment. Commitment and trust develop consistency and perseverance, which in turn develops patience. Patience and due time brings the mature fruit to harvest. This is the way of both fitness and faith alike. We will be just as close to Jesus Christ as we want to be, as we believe is possible, and as long as we are willing to keep our right hand in His. Truth rings true in both the physical and spiritual realms for all who are willing to hear it. Blessed are all who have a love for truth. (Everyone is as fit as they really want to be. The proof is in what they do, not what they say. A person will be just as fit as they believe they can become. Belief sets the limit by determining the level of commitment. Commitment and trust develop consistency and perseverance, which in turn develops patience. Patience and due time brings the mature fruit to harvest. This is the way of both fitness and faith alike. We will be just as close to Jesus Christ as we want to be, as we believe is possible, and as long as we are willing to keep our right hand in His. Truth rings true in both the physical and spiritual realms for all who are willing to hear it. Blessed are all who have a love for truth. (James 1:2-8, Matthew 6:33; John 4:7-14, 14:21-23; Romans 13:24; Philippians 2:5; Psalm 40:8, 30:12; Luke 11L22-13; John 4:19-24; Hebrews 13:5-9; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-17; Galatians 5:16; Philippians 2:15-16; Matthew 28:18-20)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 25; Psalms 32

Ecclesiastes 8; 2 Timothy 4

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty and everlasting God, grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; 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

faith

Devotional for April 19

April 19, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Eyes of the Lord

13 The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.
14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
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 33:13-22 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

According to the 80/20 rule, roughly 80% of the harvest comes from 20% of the seed sown. Diet is the sowing of the 20% that determines the 80% of the body composition harvest, and exercise is the 20% that yields the 80% of physical performance. Eating only what tastes delicious for every meal is counter-productive for all who would be lean. On the other side, those who only workout when they feel like it will lack the consistency necessary to make steady improvement from year to year. Pray for the ability to sow the vital 20% of what you know you need to do, and trust God for the bountiful harvest. Wait on the Lord and take counsel from faith. The wishy-washy take counsel from their feelings, which change like the wind. Diet and exercise are but the means. Body composition and physical performance are the ends. Pray for the means, and trust God for the ends. (Mark 4:3-29; Hosea 10:12; Galatians 6:7; Luke 9:61-62; Psalm 90:12-17; James 1:5-6; Psalm 27:17; Jonah 2:8; Hebrews 4:16; Ephesians 3:20-21)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 23; Psalms 30

Ecclesiastes 6; 2 Timothy 2