faith

Devotional for May 31

May 31, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Quote by Bruce Coleman: remember this: don't quit just because things are hard.

My Heart Rejoices in the Lord

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 33:16-22 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Get after all the good that God has placed in your heart to do. Don’t quit just because things are hard. The foundation for all success is a willingness to suffer awkwardness in the beginning, and endure hardship to the very end. Keep moving forward in faith. When things become overwhelming, take a knee and lift your heart up to God. Unload your burden on the Lord and He will restore your soul. Be still and abide in the Vine. He has said we ARE branches. Only believe the gospel. May God open our eyes to see, understand, and know the truth of His word. Be bold. Stand firm in faith to claim the victory. (Ecclesiastes 7:8; Psalm 78:5-9,37,41; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 8:26-32; Proverbs 28:1; 2 Timothy 1:7; Mark 11:22-24, 4:26-29; Proverbs 16:3; Psalm 23:3; Isaiah 26:3; Matthew 11:25-30; John 15:1-11; Psalm 46:10; Mark 13:31-37; 1 Peter 5:6-11)

Ponder this:

What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?

faith

Devotional for May 26

May 26, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

No Evil Will Conquer

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. Psalm 91:8-13 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Make mind and muscle the best of training partners. When the mind becomes preoccupied with worrying about the desired results of training, or a seemingly lack of progress, put the horse back in front of the cart by focusing on the proper execution of the work in the present moment. Always remember that feelings aren’t facts, that physical sensations are subjective, and that the devil is a liar. Know the word of God, reckon it to be true, think and act according. (1 Corinthians 2:12; Ecclesiastes 2:24-26; Matthew 6:25-34; Psalm 46:10; Isaiah 50:10-11; Proverbs 3:5-8; Isaiah 26:3; Psalm 42:5; Jonah 2; Psalm 94:19; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Psalm 1; John 8:44; Hebrews 10:38-39; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Romans 8:28-32; Revelation 22:10-15; Hebrews 10:36; James 1:4; Revelation 22:16-21)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 35; Psalms 79

Isaiah 27; 1 John 5

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty and merciful God, in your goodness keep me, I pray, from all things that may hurt me, that I, being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with a free heart those things which belong to your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for May 25

May 25, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Faith is Now

8 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Psalm 19:8-13 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

What does the heart have to do with fitness? Love big muscles more than God, and your muscles will never be big enough. Love physical beauty more than God and you will never be satisfied with how good you look. Blind are those who cannot see that life is more than what meets the eye. The only thing more important than doing the right thing is having the right motive behind the action. There is no reward from God for doing the right thing if the motives are selfish. To live for God our hearts must be changed. This too is accomplished only by the grace of God. For the human heart in Adam is beyond repair. It is not by refurbishing our corrupted hearts that we are saved. Rather, God gives us a new heart in Christ Jesus. The old heart, with it’s desperately sick affections, is crucified with Christ. And the new heart, created in the image of the divine, is alive with Christ. This is only the beginning of the gospel. (Psalm 94:1-11; Matthew 22:35-40, 6:24, 16:26; Ecclesiastes 5:10; James 4:1-4; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 Peter 3:1-14; Proverbs 24:12; Matthew 16:24-25; 1Tiimothy 6:9-16; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Jeremiah 17:7-8; Romans 6:6-12; Galatians 2:20; 1 Timothy 6:12-16)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 34; Psalms 78:38-72

Isaiah 26; 1 John 4

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for May 24

May 24, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Teach Me Discernment

65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord, according unto thy word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.
70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. Psalm 119:65-72 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The comfort zone is a sedative for the soul that rocks one to sleep with a false expectation of victory at some unidentified point in the future. You may not always get what you deserve, but never expect to get more than what you have earned in this temporal world. Don’t expect to start at the top, don’t expect to move up by only doing the bare minimum, and don’t expect to get something extra for doing only what is required. Thank God Almighty that through the redemptive work of Christ Jesus, we escape what we truly deserve. Now the children of God need to hunger and thirst for righteousness with the whole heart in full assurance that He who promised that they will be filled is faithful. Wait for the Lord. We are sons and daughters of the God of all comfort, and from Him all blessing flow. (Proverbs 26:14; Ecclesiastes 4:5; Isaiah 51:17; Proverbs 23:29-35; Malachi 4:2; Ephesians 5:14; ; Isaiah 60:1; 1 John 2:15-17; Psalm 75:6-9; 1 Chronicles 29:9-13; Matthew 5:6; Isaiah 23:15-18; 2 Timothy 2:19-22; Romans 8:28; 1 Peter 5:6; Psalm 27:14; Proverbs 16:3; Psalm 94:19; 1 Timothy 6:17-21)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 33; Psalms 78:1-37

Isaiah 25; 1 John 3

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for May 20

May 20, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Let the Name of the Lord Be Praised

113 Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.
2 Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore.
3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised.
4 The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
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 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Patience is a virtue, and persistence is a must. Together these two are the wonder twins of achievement. No matter where you look, the one who succeeds is the one who keeps working and refuses to quit. And this we can do by the grace of God. Just as the spirit must return to the God who has given it, so too is it proper for the grace of God to be returned to God with our gratitude and praise. Never look back at your former sinful way of life with fondness, least your heart be drawn back to the mud from which Christ has made you clean. Neither look with envy on the ungodly who seem to prosper in their sins, least the tempter use the opportunity as a snare to rob you of your joy and contentment. Consider the sure ends of both the wicked and the righteous. Willingly take Christ’s yoke of love upon you. Be a good branch and rest in the true Vine. Submit all your ways to the will of God and He will lead you. Our only requirement is to do the best we can with what we have and trust the results to God. God has promised to work all things together for good even when all seems lost. So, take comfort in knowing that in the end, He will make everything right. (Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:3-11; Hebrews 3:8-19, 10:35-36, 11:1-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; John 1:17; James 1:2-8, 4:6; 2 Timothy 1:7; John 14:31-15:16; Hebrews 4:16; Isaiah 42:8-10; Psalm 50:23; Revelation 3:20; John 6:63, 4:24; 1 Peter 5:6-11)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 29; Psalms 73

Isaiah 21; 2 Peter 2

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Remember, O Lord, what you have wrought in us and not what we deserve; and, as you have called me to your service, make me worthy of your calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for May 18

May 18, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Pray and Work

31 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.
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.
22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
23 O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:1-3, 19-24 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Unless the Lord builds the body, the bodybuilder works in vain. What does it take to be special? Big arms? Six-pack abs? Gluteus to the maximus? To be pretty like her or rich like him? The truth is that none of these things makes a person special. We are all born into this world from a unique combination of Adam and Eve. We are different from all who came before us and different from all those who will come after us. We are born unique, and being the best possible you makes you a better you than anyone else ever could be. It doesn’t matter if your parents never planned to have you, because our Heavenly Father planned you before He created the world. Not even a sparrow falls to the ground by chance or accident. Since we are born to be the sons and daughters of God, we can be sure that we are worth much more than many sparrows in the eyes of God. So, go ahead and be special. Be all that God has created you to be. (Proverbs 16:33; Isaiah 41:9-10; Jeremiah 1:5; Ephesians 1:4-6; Hebrews 6:19; Matthew 10:29-31; Isaiah 2:22; John 3:27; Proverbs 16:3; 1 Corinthians 4:7; 1 Peter 2:9; Proverbs 3:1-8; 2 Corinthians 10:4-6; Jonah 2:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Psalm 139:13-16; Philippians 2:12-16; Jude 1:17-25)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 27; Psalms 70-71

Isaiah 17-18; 1 Peter 5

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for May 16

May 16, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

The Lord is My Strength

9 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them.
11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
12 They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.
16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. Psalm 118:9-16 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Don’t give up even though the pace seems slow. Feelings are but a feather tossed up and down by the wind. Some days will feel good with things moving along nicely. Other days will feel hard with things seeming to move slower than a turtle still asleep in his shell. Both states are completely normal. Rejoice with thanksgiving when things are going great, and offer the sacrifice of praise while continuing to work when things are tough. Pray and work. Regardless of how we feel, God is forever faithful. Ours is not to worry about how or when. Ours is simply to believe that He who has promised will perform all that He has promised. (Psalm 42:1-3, 55:6, 42:11, 50:23; James 1:5-8; Romans 1:16-17; Hebrews 10:38-39; James 5:13; Hebrews 11:6; Romans 8:32-39; 1 John 4:19; 1 Peter 4:12-19; Ephesians 5:15-20; Hebrews 10:23; Joshua 23:11; Matthew 5:6; Philippians 4:23)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 25; Psalms 68

Isaiah 15; 1 Peter 3

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for May 15

May 15, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

My Rock

3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. Psalm 27:3-8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

It would be awesome to have a state of the art training facility like a professional athlete. It would be great to have the most expensive celebrity personal trainer money can buy. Still, there won’t be any gains if the training facility is not used. There will be little benefit if the trainer’s instructions aren’t followed. You can have a permanent membership to the gym, but you still have to consistently get in there. You can have a personal trainer, but you still must do what he tells you to do. Being in Christ is our permanent membership and we must choose to abide in Him. The Spirit of Christ is our personal trainer and we must be a doer of His word to grow in our salvation. Gains in godliness is profitable for this life and the next. Adding physical exercise to godliness enhances the effect of both. (Psalm 119:9-12; Proverbs 23:15-21; Joshua 1:8-9; 1 Corinthians 9:23-27; 1 Timothy 4:8; James 1:19-25; John 15:7; John 14:15-21; Genesis 45:21-28; Hebrews 12:1-3; Psalm 145:1-9; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 24; Psalms 66-67

Isaiah 14; 1 Peter 2

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

faith

Devotional for May 14

May 14, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Be Glad and Sing for Joy

67 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
3 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
5 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
6 Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him. Psalm 67 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Just because you don’t have what you want right now should in no way cause your faith to wavier. You may not have it when you want it, but God can be depended upon to provide what you need when it is needed. Blessed is the one who is fully persuaded that God is willing and able to do all that He has promised. Blessed is the one who remembers that ultimately God is in control of everything. (Ecclesiastes 8:4; Proverbs 19:21; Isaiah 2:22; Jeremiah 14:22; Matthew 16:5-12; Galatians 3:3-9; Romans 4:16-21; Isaiah 41:17-20; Deuteronomy 8:2-4; Jeremiah 2:4-7; Psalm 50:15; Psalm 139:1-17; Ephesians 3:20; Mark 11:22-24; Matthew 7:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:13-21)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 23; Psalms 64-65

Isaiah 13; 1 Peter 1

The Prayer Appointed for This Week

Almighty Father who gave your only Son to die for our sins and to rise for our justification: Give me grace so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that I may always serve you in pureness of living and truth; through Jesus Christ your Son my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer

faith

Devotional for May 13

May 13, 2024 Bruce ColemanLeave a comment

Sing Praises with Understanding

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 47:5-9 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Right motives will sometimes bring pain, but wrong motives never bring any lasting profit. A talented person can do many things, but apart from Christ we can do nothing. I may be able to sing, but if there is no glorifying of God in the song it is nothing. A strong man rejoices to run his race, but if he has no gratitude in his heart for the great God above by whose grace he is made strong, it is less than nothing. “Vanity of vanities” is the repeating theme of “apart from me ye can do nothing” in the book of Ecclesiastes. The righteous will live by faith in God. Fighting the good fight means rejecting all that is not in accordance with the Word of God. We live by faith and depend on Grace. Our strength, His Grace. Our rule, His Word. Our end, His Glory. (Ecclesiastes 1:1-2; Mark 8:36-38; John 15:1-11; Proverbs 3:5-8; Psalm 19:1-10; Isaiah 5:11-15; James 4:1-8; Hebrews 10:35-39; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Corinthians 10:4-6; 2 Corinthians 1:20; Jonah 2; Habakkuk 3:17-19; Psalm 30:12; Revelation 4:11; Psalm 72:19-20)

Today’s Bible Reading

Numbers 22; Psalms 62-63

Isaiah 11-12; James 5