Tag: love

faith

Devotional for June 28

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Quote by Bruce Coleman: "Being ready is by far more important than being concerned about when opportunity will knock."

Rejoice In the Name of the Lord

5 And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.
6 For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord?
7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.
8 O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?
14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.
16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
17 For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. Psalm 89:5-8, 14-17 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

When time and circumstances converge to create an opportune moment, where will you be? When the bell rings, will you still be in a daze on the sofa in front of the TV? When your ship comes in, will you be up early in the morning standing on the dock with your bags packed and boarding pass in hand? The unprepared are always overly concerned about the question of when. Prepare your field, then you will be ready to build your house when the time is right. Being ready is by far more important than being concerned about when opportunity will knock. (Proverbs 24:27, 10:4-5; Acts 1:6-7; Matthew 24:37-39; Romans 2:4; Proverbs 6:6-11; Matthew 3:4-12; Psalm 95:6-11, 19:7-11; Acts 19:11-16; Matthew 7:21-23, 25:1-13; James 4:5-10; Romans 13:11; 1 John 5:20-21)

faith

Devotional for April 28

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Love of the Lord Is Everlasting

13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. Psalm 103:13-18 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Eat well and work hard for fitness while always prioritizing the more important things for faith. Faith, which is the substance of things hoped for, consists of facts to be believed, commands to be obeyed, and privileges to be enjoyed. Remember the love of God and His truth are the great tenderizers of the heart and soul. It is a lack of these two that have filled the world with so much suffering. Without love the heart becomes hardened with selfishness. Without holding to the truth the soul becomes steeped with envy, pretense, and pride. Christ Jesus died on the Cross so we could be free from the bondage and burden of all errors of the heart and soul such as these. Wisdom comes from being in a right relationship with God. Only then can we escape the vanity in the world being driven by lust. Fix your eyes on Jesus by faith working through love, and a sure hope in God will see you all the way home to our eternal dwelling in heaven. Faith, love, and hope filling the heart sets the fear of the Lord as the default setting in the mind. Don’t confuse being “afraid (or having no fear) of God” with “the fear of God.” The former is the state of sinners and the later pertains to saints. The fear of the Lord causes a carefulness to avoid anything that is offensive to God out of a sincere desire to please Him who our soul loves. Keeping the fear of the Lord before our eyes acts as a protective boundary through a fully functional conscience that helps to guard us along the way. And these are the signs of those who love the Lord: they obey His commandments and they bear the fruits of the Spirit. (Proverbs 27:20; Romans 3:13-18; Proverbs 9:12, 12:10, 27:23; Matthew 25:14-30; Isaiah 50:10-11; Hosea 10:12; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Hebrews 11:1-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 4:10-13; 2 Peter 1:2-11; Philippians 4:23)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 5; Psalms 39

Song of Solomon 3; Hebrews 3

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 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

faith

Devotional for January 3

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Tremble, O Earth, at the Presence of the Lord

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

We must be willing to be humble and acknowledge our own weakness before our prayers for strength from God will avail much. Grace is offered to all, but only faith receives it. Daily we must feed on the Word. We spend years in schools learning the ways of the world that don’t profit the soul at all. The scientific worldview has come to dominate all aspects of daily life. We are constantly surrender by advertising and entertainment that draws us to the things of this world. Such worldly influences void of the knowledge of God have both immediate and delayed consequences. Perhaps all of these things are examples of the flood from the serpent’s mouth spoken of in Revelation 12:15. Who will save us from all that is set against us to cause us to be carried away by the ways of this world? Let us humbly turn to God with all our heart and receive the grace of Lord we so desperately need. We can do all things though Christ only because of the love God has for us. By faith, which is setting of our will to refuse all that is contrary to faith in Him, are we saved to the uttermost. We believe the witness of men we deem trustworthy. How much more should we accept the witness of the living God who loves us. The only reason we can love Him is because He has first loved us. Remain in His love, set your mind right, fix your eyes on Jesus, and seek to know Him better. This is His will for us in Christ Jesus. 

Today’s Bible Reading

Genesis 3; Matthew 3

Ezra 3; Acts 3

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for December 24

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Lord of Hosts Is with Us

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 46:4-7 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Some days will be tough. Some days it will be hard to get started. Some days you may not feel like doing anything. Feeling good is like running with a strong tailwind pushing you forward. Fatigue is like a strong headwind that makes every little step difficult. We all sometimes get tired and feel like doing nothing. Let such contrary feelings be your que to take a knee and face inward toward God. Remember that God never changes. Faith doesn’t depend on how we feel. Seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness is the first of all prerequisites. Rejoice and praise Him for His wonderful goodness especially in the mist of circumstances that are less than idea. Less than idea only means less than comfortable for us, because everything is always comfortably under the control of God. He has promised to work out all things for our good. Take the uncomfortable, inconvenient, and the painful while holding on to the faith that knows God will somehow work it out for good. Therefore, take whatever God allows without complaining, whining, or feeling sorry for yourself. Pick up your cross daily and follow Jesus. Such wisdom is what allowed the saints of old to safely pass through any fire, to always stand up after being knocked down, and able to bear unbearable burdens. The peace of the Lord is the very eye of every storm. In the mist of fatigue, worry, and agitation, turn to the Lord and be still. Rest in His peace. Learning to be at peace in the mist of all the stormy circumstances of life prepares us well for every good work.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 29; Revelation 15

Zechariah 11; John 14

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 9

Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

I Will Sing Praise

1 How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
6 I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13 (KJV)

Morning Exhortation

Sometimes you just won’t feel like praising the Lord. That is a sure indication of exactly when you need to praise the Lord the most. It is easy to praise the Lord when you are feeling great and everything is going well, but be quick to realized that when everything seems to be falling apart as an opportune moment to praise God for who He is. The sacrifice of praise can only be offered to God when feelings and circumstances are less than favorable. All of creation groans waiting for the manifestation of the children of God, and our taking hold of the royal priesthood to which we are called. Nothing is accomplished without consistency though. Don’t anchor consistency to feelings or circumstances. These often change like the wind. This is why we are commanded to walk by faith, not by sight. The time will surely come when the wind is contrary. Jesus Christ has won the war for us, and praising God in the mist of the fight is how winning our personal battles gets done.

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 9; Jude 1

Zephaniah 1; Luke 23

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.

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Bruce ColemanLeave a comment
Daily writing prompt
What is one thing you would change about yourself?
View all responses

There are lots of things about me that I would like to improve, but I’m not smart enough to say for sure that if I could change something about me what else would be changed as a result. it would be better or worse. This is the wisdom behind the Chinese proverb about the butterfly effect. I am far from perfect, but I do have a burning desire to be better. This has been a constant source of motivation for me since my teens. Life is lived on the sharp point of contentment without falling off to the left or the right from being distracted, sedated, or seduced by the status quo.

(Isaiah 45:8-10; Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 3:12-14; 1 Peter 5:6-11)