Tag: christianity

faith

Devotional for April 22

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

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

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Devotional for April 21

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 18

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Purpose

138 I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
4 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
5 Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.
6 Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
8 The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. Psalm 138 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Late to bed, late to rise, thus the morning routine is sometimes disrupted. Life happens. Getting upset about it won’t help. It’s better to flow around it like water. Adjust, compensate, let go of the “can’t do” created by current events, and get busy with what can be done with the present circumstances. Live by faith, depend on grace, and the peace of God will sustain you. (Isaiah 53:1-5; Luke 4:16-21; Isaiah 43:2, 19-21; John 20:27-31; Hebrews 11:3-6; John 20:22, 14:27; Philippians 4: 1-7; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 22; Psalms 28-29

Ecclesiastes 5; 2 Timothy 1

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 16

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Rest In These Days of Trouble

9  He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
10 He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?
11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law;
13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.
14 For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.
15 But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it. Psalm 94:9-15 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Unload the junk in the trunk that is slowing you down if you want to go faster. The best way to overcome dead weight is to cut it loose and get rid of it. Throw out the old ways that hinder and take hold of eternal life. Don’t delay. If you are waiting for someone to hand you a trophy for sleeping, you are dreaming. Wake up and go to work. Rest when you must, because only the lazy rest without being tired. (Isaiah 50:10-11, 5:18-20; James 4:8; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8; Proverbs 26:14; Ecclesiastes 7:2-6; 1 Peter 3:12; Hebrews 12:1-2; Ephesians 5:1-20; john 13:17)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 20; Psalms 25

Ecclesiastes 3; 1 Timothy 5

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 14

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Abide in the Word

15 Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. Psalm 15 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Life is a journey sometimes filled with clouds of unknowing and storms of doubt. Fear them not, because God is faithful. Pray for the love of the truth and such times of testing will result in the experiential knowledge of the truth, which are necessary to strengthen belief. (John 18:37-38; Luke 13:23-24; 2 Timothy 3:7; John 17:11, 14-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-17; John 16:33; James 1:2-4; Proverbs 3:5-8; 2 Corinthians 10:4-6; Proverbs 17:3, 1:23, :11-12, 16:3; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Jude 1:24-25)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 18; Psalms 22

Ecclesiastes 1; 1 Timothy 3

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread; Open the eyes of my faith, that I may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for April 13

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Blessed Are All Those Who Run to the Lord

6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. Psalm 2:6-12(KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

It is easy for the things of this world to consume too much of our attention. Struggling to keep our heads above water seems like the norm for many of us. We rush around putting out one fire after another, chasing our own tails, and fighting over cheese in a world that is becoming more volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous every day. Who will save us from ourselves? There is but one who can speak to the condition of every weary soul, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Many today only trust in money, but the believer needs to remember the name of the Lord. Jesus Christ is our Ever-Present God. Jesus Christ is our Peace and Well-being. Jesus Christ is our chief Shepherd and Protector. Jesus Christ is our Provider and Source. Jesus Christ is our Unchangeable Absolute, Victor and Triumphant Warrior King. Jesus Christ is our Eternal Righteous Redeemer. Jesus Christ is our Healer, Divine Health and Strength. It is good to praise the Almighty Power of the Lord for our sake. Giving God the glory due his name adds nothing to God, but it sure does provide an anchor for our soul. (Ephesians 1:3-12; Matthew 6:24; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Romans 8:1-5; Hebrews 6:17-19, 13:8; Psalm 21:13, 23:1-6, 20:7-9; 2 Thessalonians 3:16).

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 17; Psalms 20-21

Proverbs 31; 1 Timothy 2

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread; Open the eyes of my faith, that I may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for April 7

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Be Filled With the Joy of the Lord

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.
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 81:3-5, 8-10 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Why do you do what you do? Find meaning or you will get little satisfaction. The things you do to benefit yourself are good, but the things you do to benefit others are worth double. It is not those who know what is right that shall be saved. Only those who know what is right and do it are so blessed. Believe the gospel and pray for the grace needed to live it. (Ecclesiastes 5:15-16; Matthew 11:28-30, 16:21-27; Luke 10:25-37; Proverbs 11:25, 18:24; Revelation 3:20; Mark 9:41; Acts 20:35; 2 Corinthians 3:5; Philippians 2:13-15; Colossians 1:25-29; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Today’s Bible Reading

Leviticus 10; Psalms 11-12

Proverbs 25; 1 Thessalonians 4

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

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

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 March 31

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

faith

Devotional for March 30

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

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