Tag: christianity

faith

Devotional for December 27

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

It is Good to Tell of His Lovingkindness in the Morning

92 In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. Psalm 31:1-5 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Life gets harder unless we keep things simple. Sniffing glue makes stupid; cookie dough makes fat; and the less one moves, the less one will be able to move. We may be in this world, but we don’t have to be of this world. By faith we can be in Christ. Everyone understands what it means to be in the Army. Being in Christ is a total lifestyle change similar to being in the Army, only with different means and ends. In Christ there is healing for the brokenhearted, freedom for the captive, recovery of sight for the blind, liberty for the oppressed, and the favor of the Lord is made available to all who choose to believe. Not because we deserve it. Grace is poured upon us from above only because of the lovingkindness of the Lord. Call on the name of the Lord, and ask for what you need. Why does anyone think it strange that the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth does the impossible? All power and might belongs to God and nothing is too hard for Him. Remember the Lord did no mighty work in Nazareth because their unbelief unplugged them from the power of God. When thinking of God, think big. Think BIGGER! Who can imagine the size of the universe? Still, our God is infinitely bigger than the physical universe. Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 32; Revelation 18

Zechariah 14; John 17

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that I, who have been born again and made your child by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through my Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for December 25

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Shout with Joy to the Lord!

98 O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
2 The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
5 Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.
7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together
9 Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. Psalm 98 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Jesus Christ is beauty without end. He is Lord, Immanuel, King, Savior, God, Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, the Captain of Salvation, Head Over All, Teacher, Friend, Brother, Husband, Bread of Life, Water of Life, Holy One of God, All and All, Word of Life, the Resurrection and Life, the Good Shepherd, the Gate and Way to Salvation, Truth, Light, my Strength, Keeper of my Soul, the True Vine, my Shield and Reward, my Hope, my Salvation, my Rock, my Heart, the Pearl of Great Price, the Bringer of Life, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Faithful and True, the Alpha and the Omega, before Whom every knee shall bow, and every mouth shall confess that JESUS IS LORD!

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 30; Revelation 16

Zechariah 12-13:1; John 15

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

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in me the gifts of faith, hope, and love; and, that I may obtain what you promise, make me love what you command; 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 December 23

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)

Morning Exhortation

If you have ever been unable to stop yourself from crying while watching a movie you knew to be fictional, you’ve had a real experience of what is unreal. Vicarious experiences such as these are the real danger of movies, television, music, and video games. It’s because our brains learn from them just as it learns from all real-life experiences. Even a surface understanding of neuroscience and the plasticity of the brain reveals that the brain is changed through cinematic sinful deeds enacted and watched for entertainment. We become indifferent to the name of the Lord routinely being taken in vain, and the glorification of all sorts of wickedness while manipulating the consequences for climatic effect. God is not mocked. The Hollywood tabloids are filled with scandal after scandal of the actors and singers that reap the effects of the wickedness they continually portray for entertainment. It is a rare entertainer indeed that escapes the reality that comes along with a life of make believe under the bright lights. Even though these people are idolized by millions, they are often just blind pawns miss-leading the masses. It is wise to consider where a star is pointing before choosing to follow.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 27-28; Revelation 14

Zechariah 10; John 13

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

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in me the gifts of faith, hope, and love; and, that I may obtain what you promise, make me love what you command; 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 December 22

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

He Holds Our Souls in Life

8 O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:
9 Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
11 Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
13 I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,
17 I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
19 But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me. Psalm 66:8-13, 17-20 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Hope is the fuel that keeps the candle of the spirit shining bright in the soul. Hope is a firm conviction that future grace and mercy will be. Difficulties and troubles are common in this world, and hope makes it possible to bear and pass through them all. Stand firm then, with faith and love as your body armor, hope as your helmet of salvation, and keep your right hand in the hand of Almighty God. Be strong.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 26; Revelation 13

Zechariah 9; John 12

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

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in me the gifts of faith, hope, and love; and, that I may obtain what you promise, make me love what you command; 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 December 20

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Eye of the Lord is Upon Those Who Fear Him

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)

Morning Exhortation

Exercise is important, but do we perfect the body for personal pride, the adoration of women, and the praise of men? May God forbid. Just as the Lord had need of the donkey, we have need of the body in this life. We are in the world, but we are not of the world. Therefore, we are commanded by God not to be conformed to it. Each of us is to present the body as a living sacrifice set apart as a chosen vessel in the service of the Lord. The Lord is our shepherd. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart. If we believe that He does not speak to us, we call Him a liar. God forbid we do this just because there has always been those who falsely claimed to have heard Him speak. This fact in no way invalidates the Scriptures about the Good Shepherd speaking to His sheep. How can we hear if we don’t believe He speaks? There are many strange voices in the world today to be sure. Some say do this, some say do that, some say live like this, and some say live like that. We all need to decide who we are going to trust. First choose to believe the Word of God. Next hold on by faith through the testing of it, and the assurance of knowing that we know Him who is Faithful and True comes later. This is the divine order. We come to know the voice of people close to us by the character, quality, and tone of his or her voice. We come to know the Lord in just the same way.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 24; Revelation 11

Zechariah 7; John 10

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

Purify my conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in me a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and fore ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for December 19

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Who Can Stand in His Holy Place

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)

Morning Exhortation

Some may be helped by being told how to eat better and how to exercise properly. Many more are likely to be helped by following a living example of how to eat and how to exercise. Talk without action really is cheap. Few will hear unless the talk is also seen in the walk. If this be true with things that are easily seen like diet and exercise, how much more so is it true for the unseen things of God that we profess to believe. We come to know the only true God through the Holy Scriptures, and faith must precede understanding. Truth in the inward parts is meant to be a like a lit candle set on a candlestick for all to see. True light shines through love expressed in deeds. To make love known, it must be made visible through actions. May the love of God in us be seen by all of those around us through all we say and do. In this way, we glorify God through Christ Jesus who loves us and gave Himself for our redemption.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 22-23; Revelation 10

Zechariah 6; John 9

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

Purify my conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in me a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and fore ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for December 18

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

You, O God, Have Heard Me

1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
5 For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. Psalm 61:1-5 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Life in this present world is just preparation for what will last forever. Even if one should live to be 120 years old, this life would still represent just one tiny grain of sand on the endless beach of eternity. Not everyone believes this though. Unbelievers will think it strange when you don’t care for talking about the filth they have been watching, or the rhythm and profanity they continually blast in their cars that can be heard 50 feet away. It has been said that birds of a feather flock together. It is true. Thus, it is necessary to leave the chickens pecking around in the dirt behind, if you would soar with the eagles. Leave all those so-called friends that want you to join them in poisoning the body, polluting the mind, and defiling the spirit. Woe unto those who refuse to believe. If they repent not, only darkness and suffering shall be their portion. The end will suddenly come upon them like a thief in the night, when the last trumpet sounds, the books will be opened, and then everyone will be rewarded accordingly. Woe to them, but blessed are those who have been converted by belief in Jesus Christ kept with a child-like faith. They shall know the truth and the truth shall set them free. This is the promise for this life, and in the next there will be a warm welcome into paradise for all eternity.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 21; Revelation 9

Zechariah 5; John 8

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

Purify my conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in me a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and fore ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for December 15

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Arise, O God

82 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations. Psalm 82 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Focus makes both light a laser and faith a conqueror. Temptations are thoughts and feelings that distract the focus from some truth as revealed by the Word of God. We cannot walk on water if we focus on the wind and waves rather than our Lord Jesus Christ. Distraction keeps faith small by disconnecting the mind from God by scattering attention. In order to fix our eyes on Jesus, the first thing to do is willingly offer Him your whole being, and then you only need to believe that He accepts you. He has commanded us to deny self, pick up your cross, and follow Him. If we willingly choose to do this, we can be sure the offering will be accepted. Chose God’s way to meet His conditions and He will always fulfil His promises. Jesus Christ is faithful and true. He has given us eternal life and His presence enables us to live out His word. Apart from Jesus we can do nothing but sin, and our own highest good is to do His will. Blessed are all who come to know and do this.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 17; Revelation 6

Zechariah 2; John 5

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

Purify my conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in me a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and fore ever. Amen.

faith

Devotional for December 14

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Power Belongs to God

5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
9 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.
10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
11 God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
12 Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work. Psalm 62:5-14 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

The cares of this life can at times be too heavy a burden to bear as everyone of us sooner or later learns. When you reach the end of your strength to endure, stop fighting, fall down, and cry unto the Lord for mercy. Sometimes the fastest way up is down. We enter into the rest of God only when we stop striving in our own strength. The first step to victory is to enter through the strait gate, which is Jesus Christ. Then do the outside work of denying self, picking up your cross, and following Jesus Christ with a whole hearted submission to the will of God as revealed in the Holy Bible. Getting the fields ready is preparing the heart by uprooting every weed of unbelief and nurturing the good seed of the Word with steadfast faith. Outside renewal grows from the inside, just as wheat grows from the seed within the ground. Knowing all the details about how and when the harvest will come isn’t important. It is enough to know that first comes the blade, then the ear, and then the full corn within the ear. In a like manner, better physical circumstances grow from a spiritual center by faith. Behold, now is the field ready for the bountiful harvest. The harvest is the work of God, and to reap we must dare to believe.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 16; Revelation 5

Zechariah 1; John 4

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

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory now and for ever. Amen.