faith

Devotional for April 2

April 2, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Forever Faithful is the Lord

1 O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 117 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Distance to the destination may be far. Still, joyfulness is a mode of travel and not to be delayed until reaching the destination. Seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness first, then will the joy of the Lord become your strength every step of the way. Elijah was a man just like us is a remarkable statement in the Scriptures considering how mightily he was used by God. Elijah is a shining testament to wholehearted devotion to God and the effectiveness of prayer. With these two swords there will be boundless joy in good times as well as joy in adversity, joy in suffering, and joy in difficulties. There is always joy in the presence of the Lord. Enter into His courts with praise and thanksgiving. Especially do this when times are tough. So, let us submit our understanding to the truth of God, submit our will to follow His precepts, and submit our affections to be more ready to pursue good rather than to experience sinful pleasures that only hinder His grace working within us. Submit to God and resist the inner temptations to revive the ways of the sinful nature in which we used to walk before we came to know Christ. To be who we are, is to seek to be now who we will be in heaven. (1 Kings 18:21-39; James 5:13-18; Colossians 3:15-17; Romans 8:28; Psalm 100:4, 16:7-11; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Luke 22:38)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 5; Psalms 3-4

Proverbs 20; Colossians 3

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give me this bread, that he may live in me, and I in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for April 1

April 1, 2024 Bruce Coleman2 Comments

The Soul Yearns

1 How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.
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. Psalm 84:1-5 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Some form of resistance training is essential to maintain strength as we get older, and the fountain of youth is a spirit filled with a child-like faith in God. How was it that Daniel was found ten times better than everyone else? It wasn’t his training as we are told in the Scriptures that it was the same as everyone else. It was the water and vegetables, right? The real secret of Daniel being ten times better came from his willingness to deny the flesh and nourish the soul by glorifying God in every thought, word, and deed. This is what it means to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength. We may not be able to be ten times better like Daniel, but we can certainly be blessed like Daniel if we are willing to love God like Daniel. (Matthew 18:1-4; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 John 5:4; Hebrews 11:6; Daniel 6:10-28; Proverbs 16:13-20; Romans 12:1-2; Mark 12:30; Proverbs 3:5-8; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 4; Psalms 1-2

Proverbs 19; Colossians 2

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for March 31

March 31, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Rejoice in Your Salvation

11 Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.
12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
13 Have mercy upon me, O Lord; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:
14 That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation. Psalm 9:11-14 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Pray for the blessing of God to be upon the means, then go to work. Plant and water, but God must grant the increase. Where did Samson get his great strength? It certainly wasn’t from anabolic steroids, or some ancient super hype pre-workout powder. It was the hair, right? Not really. His hair was a symbol of his being right with God. Samson was strengthen by grace. The same amazing grace that is available for us today to enable us to do the will of God. Thanks be to Christ Jesus! His death on the Cross was the payment for our sins, and His resurrection is our guarantee for newness of life. A life lived in accordance to the Word is our equivalent of Samson’s hair. You will know it by its fruit. (Judges 16:16-31; Psalm 62:11; 1 Corinthians 3:6-8; Matthew 16:24-26; , 7:21-23, 22:36-40; John 15:9-11; Romans 8:1-16; 1 Chronicles 29:10-13; 1 Corinthians 1:18-30; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 2-3; John 21

Proverbs 18; Colossians 1

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring us again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

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Devotional for March 30

March 30, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Bring Me to Your Holy Mountain

3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 43:3-5 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Growth requires resistance. It is not the absence of resistance or adversity that brings physical strength and spiritual maturity. On the contrary, without some challenge and testing we sleep and become weaker over time. Endurance through resistance, in the gym as well as in life, is essential for strength and peace. No need to be impressed with those who boast about how they can tear it up when they feel good. Those who can still get it done when they don’t feel like it are by far more impressive. (Proverbs 14:4; Proverbs 10:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:5-9; 1 John 2:24-29; Psalm 33:16-22; Luke 4:16-21; Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 95:8-11; Hebrews 6:9-20)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 1; John 20

Proverbs 17; Philippians 4

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for March 28

March 28, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Trust in the Lord

13 For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
14 But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God.
15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.
19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city. Psalm 31:13-16, 19-21 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Healing balm in the hand is useless as long as the mind is preoccupated with dis-ease producing thoughts. We all have to learn to deal with doubts, worries, fears, negativity, lust, pride, and plenty of other such unprofitable thoughts. This is where all error of the heart begins. Unchecked unprofitable thoughts breed only unwanted emotions and unprofitable behaviors. Stop the downward spiritual by rejecting all such thoughts as soon as you become aware of them. Cast down and reject faithless thoughts and imaginations. Do NOT accept such thoughts by allowing them to run amuck and pull on the heart strings as they please. Such thoughts are NOT inspired by God. Refocus on right things by meditating of the Word of God. If the same unwanted thoughts keep returning and you can no longer continue the fight, admit your helplessness. Awaken the Lord. Pray and ask for the grace to be still. He is merciful and He will quiet the storm for you. (Psalm 10:4; 58:3; Matthew 12:43-45; Hebrews 3:10; Isaiah 55:7; Mark 4:37-41; Isaiah 50:10-11; Psalm 81:10-14, Hebrews 4:12, 11:3; Psalm 1:1-3; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Hebrews 11:6; Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 4:8-9)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 39; John 18

Proverbs 15; Philippians 2

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for March 27

March 27, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Know the Lord

5 Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high,
6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
8 That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 113:5-9 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

What we want and what we need are not always the same things. Trust God and you may not have what you want, but you will always have what you need. Waste no time crying over the luxuries you lack. Doing so only distracts from the very opportunity God provides to help you move forward. Sometimes the providence of God is like the mother eagle deliberately making the nest uncomfortable for the eaglets so that they mature and take to the sky. Pray and go to work. Some things work better than others, but nothing works unless you do. (Deuteronomy 32:9-12; Numbers 14:2-3; Exodus 14:15-16; Hebrews 3:7-19, 4:11-16; Isaiah 40:28-31; Proverbs 26:10-15; Hebrews 6:7-12; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8; Philippians 2:14-16; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 3:20-21)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 38; John 17

Proverbs 14; Philippians 1

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for March 26

March 26, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Sing Praises to God Our King

47 O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
2 For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
3 He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.
4 He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.
5 God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
8 God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
9 The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted. Psalm 47 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Finding motivation to workout is only a struggle before you learn to like it. Once that switch is flipped however, nobody has to struggle to do anything they love. Find a form of exercise that you like. Start easy and stick with it until you come to love it. Don’t expect that to happen overnight. Here is the secret of great endurance: If you hold on when it has gotten as hard as it can possibly get, from that point on it can only get easier. (Malachi 3:1; Proverbs 12:23-28; Luke 7:36-47; Matthew 22:35-40; 2 Timothy 2:1-7; 1 Peter 4:12-16; 1 Peter 3:13-17; Romans 8:28; Hebrews 10:36; James 1:2-4; 1 Corinthians 16:13; Hebrews 12:4; 1 Peter 5:4-11)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 37; John 16

Proverbs 13; Ephesians 6

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for March 24

March 24, 2024March 24, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

It Is Written

6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. Psalm 40:6-8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Strive for true excellence. No one takes that building in a single bound though. It’s enough to be able to climb one step at a time to reach the top. No one need wait to be happy as long as you can be satisfied with accumulating small improvements on the way to the top. Be happy with doing your best today, expect to be a little bit better tomorrow, and don’t get discouraged when it you hit a plateau or stumble backward a bit. Get back on the path and move forward. Growth most often happens in spurts, not a straight line. The reality is that true excellence happens only after consistently working for it over a long period of time. Let happiness come and go as it pleases. Hold to faith and patience from beginning to end. (Proverbs 20:21; Proverbs 13:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; Mark 4:26-29; Luke 8:11-15; John 4:36; Hebrews 10:36; James 5:7-11; Romans 8:31-39; Galatians 6:9; Philippians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 35; John 12

Proverbs 11; Ephesians 4

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for March 23

March 23, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Trust in the Lord

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.
14 The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
15 Ye are blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth.
16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
17 The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.
18 But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord. Psalm 115:9-18 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Accept the fact that the body must be trained with weights, or gravity and time will leave you weak and frail. Train the body under resistance for physical health and train the mind under faith for spiritual health. Pair resistance training with nutrition, and faith with wisdom, for maximum effectiveness. Physical exercise is important for the body, and spiritual training is essential for the mind. The bedrock of spiritual training is being diligent about judging one’s own thoughts. Every wrong thought must be rejected or by default it is accepted. Accepted thoughts are like seeds sown and can only bring forth more of its kind. Conformity to the Word of God is our only reliable standard for judging right and wrong thoughts. The one who doesn’t learn to hold their thoughts captive and examined in this way, will be a slave to their feelings like parent tormented by the undisciplined two year-old that throws a temper tantrum in the grocery store checkout line. (Isaiah 26:3; Proverbs 16:3; Psalm 10:4; Isaiah 50:10-11; Galatians 6:7-9; 1 Peter 4:17; 1 Corinthians 11:31-32; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Matthew 7:16; Hebrews 4:12; Romans 1:17; 1 Timothy 4:8; Hebrews 11:6; Philippians 4:1, 4-9)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 34; John 13

Proverbs 10; Ephesians 3

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for March 22

March 22, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Take Delight in the Lord

1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
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.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. Psalm 37:1-11 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Absolutely wonderful is the hope set before us. Keep it simple. Begin with the end in mind. Each day make any necessary course corrections, then focus on taking little steps in the direction of the desired end. Press on toward the goal for as long as necessary, and your desired destination will become your destiny. (Ephesians 1:3-14; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Matthew 12:33-35; Mark 7:20-22; Matthew 15:11; Proverbs 18:21; Psalm 51:10; John 15:3-8; Exodus 33:14; Romans 8:3-8; Galatians 5:16-25; James 4:5-10; Psalm 18:1-3; Philippians 4:23)

Today’s Bible Reading

Exodus 33; John 12

Proverbs 9; Ephesians 2