March 31, 2006
Psa 119:106 KJV I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
Can you remember the day you received the Lord? Can you remember the zealousness of your heart committing to wholesome living? Can you remember working and trying so hard to keep that commitment to consecration? But what happened?
We humans know our own weaknesses; we know that whereas we should live by virtue, we often just respond to instinct. Could this be the reason why this powerful king bound himself by an oath, swore himself to perform the commandment of the Lord? Having in the past fallen (2 Sam 11), he was aware of his own frailties. So he bound himself by his own word, in order to add weight on his commitment to perform God’s righteous Laws.
Jesus Christ advised us not to swear (Mat 5:34-37). But the bonds of our love and thankfulness for Him should provoke this pressure to obedience in an even more powerful, internal, and even instinctive way. These bonds of love should be stronger than the mere commitment coming from words uttered in front of witnesses under the fear of the Law.
When we receive Jesus as our personal Savior, we owe our lives to the One who has braved the fiercest hell has to offer, made the ultimate sacrifice to save us from certain doom. Because of His sacrifice, we never have to feel even the slightest chill from the corridors of death. In all integrity, from that point on, the true spirit of gratitude owes itself to the Savior who saved him from certain death, and this debt is stronger than a sworn oath.
May you always remember the inherent promise you made, to the one who gave His life so you could have one, who received death so you would get none. To the One who forsook the comfort of His own home in Heaven to roam the dusty roads of Palestine, and die as a common criminal; to the Lamb of God of God, who takes away on the cross the sin of the world, even yours, so that someday, you will receive a heavenly mansion with Him in His country, New Jerusalem. (John 14:2; Rev:21 and 22).
1Jo 5:3 KJV For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
'Be strong, be strong and be strengthened!'
Friday, March 31, 2006
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Daily Devotion
March 30, 2006
Psa 119:105 KJV Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Who would venture out on a dark road without a light to guide the way? Who would dare cross the forest by night without knowledge of its pitfalls, marshes and ponds? And what of this world we walk in? Can we say that it is lit? Can we presume to travel this world, venture on its roads, traverse its forests, without light and knowledge, and not fall into pits or ravines? It is a fact that after a little while, our eyes actually get used to darkness, and seem to see. While it may feel safe, may God forbid that my eyes feel comfortable with anything but the purity of the His holy light!
Today, not tomorrow, but today, let me get a hold of His blessed Word! Let it guide me with the true Light of its Divine principles. Let it shine so bright on my path that it will uncover the pits covered with deceiving boughs; that it may show the seemingly innocent marshes, that it exposes the emulations of the false way that leads to perdition.
And yet more, that it may burn the excuses that steal Holy conviction; that it may melt the distractions that delay obedience; that it may deny my heart the comfort of false ignorance.
Whatever you say, hear, see, think, decide, presume, propose, teach, learn, write, erase, counsel, prophecy, sing, pray, bring it close, oh so close, to the light of God’s Word that it may be examined like the Passover Lamb, before knocking the gavel of the final verdict of your soul.
1Co 3:13 KJV Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:105 KJV Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Who would venture out on a dark road without a light to guide the way? Who would dare cross the forest by night without knowledge of its pitfalls, marshes and ponds? And what of this world we walk in? Can we say that it is lit? Can we presume to travel this world, venture on its roads, traverse its forests, without light and knowledge, and not fall into pits or ravines? It is a fact that after a little while, our eyes actually get used to darkness, and seem to see. While it may feel safe, may God forbid that my eyes feel comfortable with anything but the purity of the His holy light!
Today, not tomorrow, but today, let me get a hold of His blessed Word! Let it guide me with the true Light of its Divine principles. Let it shine so bright on my path that it will uncover the pits covered with deceiving boughs; that it may show the seemingly innocent marshes, that it exposes the emulations of the false way that leads to perdition.
And yet more, that it may burn the excuses that steal Holy conviction; that it may melt the distractions that delay obedience; that it may deny my heart the comfort of false ignorance.
Whatever you say, hear, see, think, decide, presume, propose, teach, learn, write, erase, counsel, prophecy, sing, pray, bring it close, oh so close, to the light of God’s Word that it may be examined like the Passover Lamb, before knocking the gavel of the final verdict of your soul.
1Co 3:13 KJV Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Daily Devotion
March 29, 2006
Psa 119:104 KJV Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
When one truly gets understanding of the doctrine of God, there is no compromise for him. He cannot tolerate the compromises that adulterate it nor the emulations that cheapen it. His soul has seen, has been illuminated, by the true Light of God, and no proud pretense will ever be able to claim to take its place in his heart. His soul will forever be at war against those who try to imitate it, and he will have the uncanny ability to find hidden lies, even when hidden under a good coat of truth. You know, rat-poisoning is made up of 99% food, and only 1% poison, and 1% is all it takes to kill the rat. The strong light of God’s truth, that provides one with a holy hatred of falsities, can help us find lies in the myriads of words and pictures that vie for our loyalties in this modern world, even the 1%!.
This makes it so hard for today’s Child of God to stay true to the truth. He has to constantly fight to stay on the track of God’s word, and he incurs other’s wrath when he mentions truth as given in the Word of God.
The Bible tells us that times will not get better, but rather worse. That is why it is vital for us to personally stay in touch with God’s Words, interpreted in our hearts by His Holy Spirit (John 14:16,17,26); it is the only way we have to be able to stay on track of God’s truth, and that will help us identify the “man of sin” (2Thes 2:3) when he comes.
Remember, the apostle Paul warned us and said, “a little leaven (false doctrine) leaveneth the whole lump” . Do you have “hatred of every false way?”
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:104 KJV Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
When one truly gets understanding of the doctrine of God, there is no compromise for him. He cannot tolerate the compromises that adulterate it nor the emulations that cheapen it. His soul has seen, has been illuminated, by the true Light of God, and no proud pretense will ever be able to claim to take its place in his heart. His soul will forever be at war against those who try to imitate it, and he will have the uncanny ability to find hidden lies, even when hidden under a good coat of truth. You know, rat-poisoning is made up of 99% food, and only 1% poison, and 1% is all it takes to kill the rat. The strong light of God’s truth, that provides one with a holy hatred of falsities, can help us find lies in the myriads of words and pictures that vie for our loyalties in this modern world, even the 1%!.
This makes it so hard for today’s Child of God to stay true to the truth. He has to constantly fight to stay on the track of God’s word, and he incurs other’s wrath when he mentions truth as given in the Word of God.
The Bible tells us that times will not get better, but rather worse. That is why it is vital for us to personally stay in touch with God’s Words, interpreted in our hearts by His Holy Spirit (John 14:16,17,26); it is the only way we have to be able to stay on track of God’s truth, and that will help us identify the “man of sin” (2Thes 2:3) when he comes.
Remember, the apostle Paul warned us and said, “a little leaven (false doctrine) leaveneth the whole lump” . Do you have “hatred of every false way?”
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Daily Devotion
March 28, 2006
Psa 119:103 KJV How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
The Word is varied. Some Word consists of promises and encouragement; some consist of corrections and warnings. Some are doctrinal, and yet others are threatening. Are they all sweet?
Certainly the Word of promise and of encouragement is sweet, but what about the Word of warning, threatening and of correction?
I was talking with a young man today to whom I had to point out certain things. He had a hard not taking offense at what I was saying to him, so the words that were supposed to be a blessing and an edification, “sweetness” to him, became a negative experience. I had to tell him that it was his choice, up to his spiritual maturity to take good advice as a blessing, a tool for growth, or to chafe against it, in which case, the same word will become to him more like bitter herbs than sweetness.
May God teach us to receive His Words, all of His Words as sweetness to our soul. The Word of encouragement for growth, the Word of warning for safety, the Word of threatening as the rod of a loving father, and the Word of doctrine as the teachings of a faithful mother. Help us thus to really live in the land of “milk and honey” (Ex 3:8; 1 Pet 2:2).
(Rom 15:4 KJV) For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:103 KJV How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
The Word is varied. Some Word consists of promises and encouragement; some consist of corrections and warnings. Some are doctrinal, and yet others are threatening. Are they all sweet?
Certainly the Word of promise and of encouragement is sweet, but what about the Word of warning, threatening and of correction?
I was talking with a young man today to whom I had to point out certain things. He had a hard not taking offense at what I was saying to him, so the words that were supposed to be a blessing and an edification, “sweetness” to him, became a negative experience. I had to tell him that it was his choice, up to his spiritual maturity to take good advice as a blessing, a tool for growth, or to chafe against it, in which case, the same word will become to him more like bitter herbs than sweetness.
May God teach us to receive His Words, all of His Words as sweetness to our soul. The Word of encouragement for growth, the Word of warning for safety, the Word of threatening as the rod of a loving father, and the Word of doctrine as the teachings of a faithful mother. Help us thus to really live in the land of “milk and honey” (Ex 3:8; 1 Pet 2:2).
(Rom 15:4 KJV) For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Monday, March 27, 2006
Daily Devotion
March 27, 2006
Psa 119:100-102 KJV I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. (101) I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. (102) I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
This is the difference between a philosopher and a believer. The philosopher, from his lofty all-seeing vantage point acknowledges the goodness and even advantages in certain virtues, but the believers humbly get down to the brass-tacks of practicing them. While the philosopher talks, the believer acts.
An important man was asked one day who he felt was the philosopher that influenced his life the most. Wanting to give glory to God for his accomplishments, he said, “Christ, because He changed my life!” I can see virtue in wanting to acknowledge God in his life but was Christ a “philosopher?” No! He was not like one who placed virtue on a pedestal for show and to merely describe it. He was the very essence of the action, of the “verb” (alternate translation for “Word” in John 1), the full action in the being, the “I AM”.
One who keeps His “precepts” doesn’t just study and meditate on them, acknowledging their wisdom and beauty while living a life estranged to them. He honors them as he restrains his feet from the “evil way”, and he departs not from “judgment” as he was taught.
Are you a philosopher or a believer? Do you appreciate the virtues of God’s Word only in show, exteriorly, or are they part of you, dictating your every move?
Jam 2:14-21,26 KJV What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? (15) If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, (16) And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? (17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (18) Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. (19) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (20) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (21)…(26) For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:100-102 KJV I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. (101) I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. (102) I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
This is the difference between a philosopher and a believer. The philosopher, from his lofty all-seeing vantage point acknowledges the goodness and even advantages in certain virtues, but the believers humbly get down to the brass-tacks of practicing them. While the philosopher talks, the believer acts.
An important man was asked one day who he felt was the philosopher that influenced his life the most. Wanting to give glory to God for his accomplishments, he said, “Christ, because He changed my life!” I can see virtue in wanting to acknowledge God in his life but was Christ a “philosopher?” No! He was not like one who placed virtue on a pedestal for show and to merely describe it. He was the very essence of the action, of the “verb” (alternate translation for “Word” in John 1), the full action in the being, the “I AM”.
One who keeps His “precepts” doesn’t just study and meditate on them, acknowledging their wisdom and beauty while living a life estranged to them. He honors them as he restrains his feet from the “evil way”, and he departs not from “judgment” as he was taught.
Are you a philosopher or a believer? Do you appreciate the virtues of God’s Word only in show, exteriorly, or are they part of you, dictating your every move?
Jam 2:14-21,26 KJV What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? (15) If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, (16) And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? (17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (18) Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. (19) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (20) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (21)…(26) For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Daily Devotion
March 24, 2006
Psa 119:97-99 KJV O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. (98) Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. (99) I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
It has come to my attention that we live in a very strange world. Whereas machines are supposed to make our lives slower and easier, we now live at a pace much faster and complicated that God ever intended for us. The irony of it is that even with all this mechanical help, people have less time for the important things of life. They seem to not have time for anything at all anymore, and certainly not for the type of meditation on God’s Word that make a man wise, and the results are evident in all the foolish decisions made by so many at all levels of society.
We live in an “instant-gratification-and-without-cost” society. We want to lose weight without dieting; we want fitness without exercising; we want wealth without working; we want intelligence without learning; we want cleanliness without scrubbing. Worst of all, we want to be humble without getting humbled; we want to be loving without having to be broken; we want patience without experience; and we want to be wise without having to go through the testings of integrity that a life meditating on God’s Word offers.
But this is not the way God made it. It takes time to learn, grow and mature; it takes faithful “day and night” meditation on God’s Word to obtain wisdom for God. Time invested in the faithful meditation of God’s Word will return in dividends of Godly wisdom, but you cannot get them if your time is invested in worldly “stocks”.
How much is gaining wisdom from God worth for you? If you there was a price for it, how much would you be willing to pay? If there were a market for it, how much of your time would you invest to get the dividends of His wisdom? I have heard of people who believed it was worth all that they owned!
Mat 13:44-46 KJV Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. (45) Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: (46) Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Psa 119:97-99 KJV O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. (98) Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. (99) I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
It has come to my attention that we live in a very strange world. Whereas machines are supposed to make our lives slower and easier, we now live at a pace much faster and complicated that God ever intended for us. The irony of it is that even with all this mechanical help, people have less time for the important things of life. They seem to not have time for anything at all anymore, and certainly not for the type of meditation on God’s Word that make a man wise, and the results are evident in all the foolish decisions made by so many at all levels of society.
We live in an “instant-gratification-and-without-cost” society. We want to lose weight without dieting; we want fitness without exercising; we want wealth without working; we want intelligence without learning; we want cleanliness without scrubbing. Worst of all, we want to be humble without getting humbled; we want to be loving without having to be broken; we want patience without experience; and we want to be wise without having to go through the testings of integrity that a life meditating on God’s Word offers.
But this is not the way God made it. It takes time to learn, grow and mature; it takes faithful “day and night” meditation on God’s Word to obtain wisdom for God. Time invested in the faithful meditation of God’s Word will return in dividends of Godly wisdom, but you cannot get them if your time is invested in worldly “stocks”.
How much is gaining wisdom from God worth for you? If you there was a price for it, how much would you be willing to pay? If there were a market for it, how much of your time would you invest to get the dividends of His wisdom? I have heard of people who believed it was worth all that they owned!
Mat 13:44-46 KJV Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. (45) Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: (46) Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Daily Devotion
March 25, 2006
Psa 119:96 KJV I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.
These are the words of a man who has lived a long and rich life. Only the young, the immature, the foolish and the blind of spirit and heart can believe in human perfection of itself. Answer me the question if you can. Where in this can you find the perfect love, the perfect friendship, the perfect peace, the perfect unity, the perfect freedom, the perfect faith, the perfect beauty, the perfect philosophy, the perfect life, the perfect death and the perfect government? Bring each of these to the impartial scrutiny of the eyes of Truth; let each one be interrogated by virtue and integrity; be tested them by the corrupting fires of selfishness and pride; and believe me my friend, like the morning mist of a fall’s morning in the countryside, they vanish and are no more. The smoke screen of their pretentious beauty dries up and leaves, exposing the naked truth of earth’s corruptive state.
And dare you not call me cynical; crude and God-rejecting Voltaire would cringe at the statement. But I believe that the only perfection comes from the God of Lights, the Perfect Father*, Truth in itself, and all these incarnated in the very perfect Son of God, who even though tempted in all things as we are, is “without sin” (Heb 4:15).
Oh weak, imperfect and searching man wherever and whoever you are, will you yield to the Perfect light of the Perfect truth, enjoy the Perfect Beauty of the Perfect Creator; live a Perfect Life in the Perfect Place; die a Perfect Death, for a Perfect resurrection? Have Perfect Trust in the Perfect Word of the Perfect God
Jam 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
*Father: From the latin: pater, from the word “pattern”, as in “the model to follow”
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:96 KJV I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.
These are the words of a man who has lived a long and rich life. Only the young, the immature, the foolish and the blind of spirit and heart can believe in human perfection of itself. Answer me the question if you can. Where in this can you find the perfect love, the perfect friendship, the perfect peace, the perfect unity, the perfect freedom, the perfect faith, the perfect beauty, the perfect philosophy, the perfect life, the perfect death and the perfect government? Bring each of these to the impartial scrutiny of the eyes of Truth; let each one be interrogated by virtue and integrity; be tested them by the corrupting fires of selfishness and pride; and believe me my friend, like the morning mist of a fall’s morning in the countryside, they vanish and are no more. The smoke screen of their pretentious beauty dries up and leaves, exposing the naked truth of earth’s corruptive state.
And dare you not call me cynical; crude and God-rejecting Voltaire would cringe at the statement. But I believe that the only perfection comes from the God of Lights, the Perfect Father*, Truth in itself, and all these incarnated in the very perfect Son of God, who even though tempted in all things as we are, is “without sin” (Heb 4:15).
Oh weak, imperfect and searching man wherever and whoever you are, will you yield to the Perfect light of the Perfect truth, enjoy the Perfect Beauty of the Perfect Creator; live a Perfect Life in the Perfect Place; die a Perfect Death, for a Perfect resurrection? Have Perfect Trust in the Perfect Word of the Perfect God
Jam 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
*Father: From the latin: pater, from the word “pattern”, as in “the model to follow”
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Friday, March 24, 2006
Daily Devotion
March 24, 2006
Psa 119:95 KJV The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
How it must grieve the heart of God when we listen to the intimidating speeches of the enemy. Nehemiah was given leave by the Medo-Persian king Artaxerxes, whose heart was moved by God, to go rebuild Jerusalem. He was given leave with letters from the king concerning his provisions and protection. But when he arrived in Jerusalem those who wished for the failure of this endeavor challenged him and said, “What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?” (Neh 2:19). How arrogant the devil can be! From the beginning in the Garden of Eden he challenges the commandment of the LORD, God’s Word (Gen 3:1).
When the will of the Lord has been established, who is anyone, in heaven or earth to dare challenge that it will come to past? What if, at 86 years old, childless, and married to a barren wife, the Lord promised you a biological posterity as numerous as the stars of the sky and as the sand of the sea; would you believe Him? What if at 100 years old your 99 year old wife delivered a child that you were asked to sacrifice 25 years later, would you still believe that He could fulfill His promise? What if he would ask you to take a whole nation to cross the desert, would you believe that He could supply food and water for the journey? What if you had put all your hopes on the LORD that your eyes have seen, only to see Him crucified and seemingly conquered by the world, would you still believe that it is He who was promised? What if He would ask you to “take away” the stone in front of a dead stinking man who has been in the grave for four days, would you do it believing that He could resurrect him from the dead (John 11:39)?
Whenever we have set ourselves to obey God’s will, to act on His Word of promise, all hell breaks lose as the wicked waits for you to destroy you. But it is then the time to blindly consider HIS testimonies, put feet to your faith even if it seems irrational in the eyes of others. I say, if God shows you to go to the mission field and you don’t have the money, quit your job, pack you suitcase and go wait on the platform at the train station and know that God will meet you there. If God shows you to build a school and you don’t have the means nor the way to do it, advertise and enroll students with the assurance that God can drop a building down from the sky if He has to to meet you by opening day.
Jon 2:8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
Heb 11:1 KJV Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Psa 119:95 KJV The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
How it must grieve the heart of God when we listen to the intimidating speeches of the enemy. Nehemiah was given leave by the Medo-Persian king Artaxerxes, whose heart was moved by God, to go rebuild Jerusalem. He was given leave with letters from the king concerning his provisions and protection. But when he arrived in Jerusalem those who wished for the failure of this endeavor challenged him and said, “What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?” (Neh 2:19). How arrogant the devil can be! From the beginning in the Garden of Eden he challenges the commandment of the LORD, God’s Word (Gen 3:1).
When the will of the Lord has been established, who is anyone, in heaven or earth to dare challenge that it will come to past? What if, at 86 years old, childless, and married to a barren wife, the Lord promised you a biological posterity as numerous as the stars of the sky and as the sand of the sea; would you believe Him? What if at 100 years old your 99 year old wife delivered a child that you were asked to sacrifice 25 years later, would you still believe that He could fulfill His promise? What if he would ask you to take a whole nation to cross the desert, would you believe that He could supply food and water for the journey? What if you had put all your hopes on the LORD that your eyes have seen, only to see Him crucified and seemingly conquered by the world, would you still believe that it is He who was promised? What if He would ask you to “take away” the stone in front of a dead stinking man who has been in the grave for four days, would you do it believing that He could resurrect him from the dead (John 11:39)?
Whenever we have set ourselves to obey God’s will, to act on His Word of promise, all hell breaks lose as the wicked waits for you to destroy you. But it is then the time to blindly consider HIS testimonies, put feet to your faith even if it seems irrational in the eyes of others. I say, if God shows you to go to the mission field and you don’t have the money, quit your job, pack you suitcase and go wait on the platform at the train station and know that God will meet you there. If God shows you to build a school and you don’t have the means nor the way to do it, advertise and enroll students with the assurance that God can drop a building down from the sky if He has to to meet you by opening day.
Jon 2:8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
Heb 11:1 KJV Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Daily Devotion
March 23, 2006
Psa 119:94 KJV I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.
My wife and I are adopting a teenage foster daughter. We want to shower her with our love and attention and treat her just as we have our other children, with no regards of her already late age and different biological descent. Along with being a teenager in the twenty-first century, she has had to bite the raw and bitter end of a difficult life for many years which all contributed in creating an independent, willful, untrusting and cynical person, at times difficult to work with.
Last night we had a discussion about trust and privileges. I asked her how she could expect me to bless her with my trust, when she doesn’t bless me with her trust in my parental guidance concerning certain entertainment activities. I told her that we adopt her as a daughter, but asked if she adopted us as parents?
How much like our relationship with the Lord at times. We indignantly accuse Him of being an unfaithful “parent” when all the while our adoption is one-sided; He gives us all of His heart, has already paid the price of our adoption, and we, in our stubborn human nature, take the blessing of adoption praying “Our Father” while we continue living as if we were orphans.
At one point she said, “You have adopted me in your heart; I am your daughter now, you care for me, and I am going to have to learn to trust this new world where people care for me!” In a case of a parental relationship, the child is expected to trust parents about very personal things--these include free-time activities, friends, clothing, lifestyles, and goals. Can God expect our trust in Him for the same things, and in the same way that we expect our teenagers to trust us? Do we say to God, “I am yours and I’m going to learn to trust your judgment” in the same way that we expect it of our teenagers?
Have you consecrated yourself to Him and Him only so you can in earnest full confidence claim His protection? Next time you are desperate and you need His help, ask yourself if you can sincerely tell the Lord, “I am thine, save me?”
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:94 KJV I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.
My wife and I are adopting a teenage foster daughter. We want to shower her with our love and attention and treat her just as we have our other children, with no regards of her already late age and different biological descent. Along with being a teenager in the twenty-first century, she has had to bite the raw and bitter end of a difficult life for many years which all contributed in creating an independent, willful, untrusting and cynical person, at times difficult to work with.
Last night we had a discussion about trust and privileges. I asked her how she could expect me to bless her with my trust, when she doesn’t bless me with her trust in my parental guidance concerning certain entertainment activities. I told her that we adopt her as a daughter, but asked if she adopted us as parents?
How much like our relationship with the Lord at times. We indignantly accuse Him of being an unfaithful “parent” when all the while our adoption is one-sided; He gives us all of His heart, has already paid the price of our adoption, and we, in our stubborn human nature, take the blessing of adoption praying “Our Father” while we continue living as if we were orphans.
At one point she said, “You have adopted me in your heart; I am your daughter now, you care for me, and I am going to have to learn to trust this new world where people care for me!” In a case of a parental relationship, the child is expected to trust parents about very personal things--these include free-time activities, friends, clothing, lifestyles, and goals. Can God expect our trust in Him for the same things, and in the same way that we expect our teenagers to trust us? Do we say to God, “I am yours and I’m going to learn to trust your judgment” in the same way that we expect it of our teenagers?
Have you consecrated yourself to Him and Him only so you can in earnest full confidence claim His protection? Next time you are desperate and you need His help, ask yourself if you can sincerely tell the Lord, “I am thine, save me?”
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Daily Devotion
March 22, 2006
Psa 119:93 KJV I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.
In any trade apprenticeship, we can learn the lessons, memorize the facts, repeat the elements of the theory; all without having the concepts completely sink in. The final needed element for these to become an unforgettable part of our consciousness is the one of practical experience.
The Words and precepts of the Lord can be read, memorized, studied, theorized, but they can eventually be forgotten if they are not written in our hearts with the golden pen of experience, engraved on our memory with the stylus of God’s intolerable compliments in the forms of His personal deliverance from bitter and difficult situations.
What a blessing it is to have been dead, and hear the LORD say, “Come forth” (John 11:43) or “Khumi” (Mark 5:41). These are experiences, witnesses of the grace and love of God for us will never go away, whatever man may try to do or say.
Except for John and Judas, each one of the disciples of Jesus died a martyr’s death. But up until the time of the resurrection, they were weak. They had fled from the garden of Gethsemane and Peter had even denied knowing Jesus three times (Mat 26:25). What changed them after the resurrection? What gave them the conviction to all of a sudden be able to live and die for their message? They had experienced the resurrection of Jesus. Not only had they seen him, seen the holes in His hands and feet, seen the gash in his side, but also He talked with them, and personally taught them His Words from the Old Testament. This caused the Old Words to become alive in their hearts, an experience that could never be forgotten, much less denied.
May the Word became a unforgettable experience in our hearts that will cause us to tell of them in a life-giving way, in the first person as a first-hand witness, to the benefit and edification of hearers.
1Jo 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Daily Devotion Psalms 119;92
March 21, 2006
Psa 119:92 KJV Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
How much better to give the glory to God! He has established the principles of life in the heavens as a reminder to us of His great love and care. Why worry? It would be easy to drown in the sea of cares that are our given-lot on this earth.
A burden so heavy, threatens to bury me.
An affliction so terrible, it blinds me from amazing grace.
An oppression so dark, and without seeming end.
All I need is look up, and bathe in His gentle face.
They will all go, they will all flee.
The demonic oppressor cannot stand a chance.
As soon as I see my King
I am back in the heavenly dance.
Oh my friend,Turn your head from the problems,
The troublesome reality.
Look to His Word, it is heavenly
Find peace, joy and life, it’s all free.
And perish not with those who would rather pay the fee.
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:92 KJV Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
How much better to give the glory to God! He has established the principles of life in the heavens as a reminder to us of His great love and care. Why worry? It would be easy to drown in the sea of cares that are our given-lot on this earth.
A burden so heavy, threatens to bury me.
An affliction so terrible, it blinds me from amazing grace.
An oppression so dark, and without seeming end.
All I need is look up, and bathe in His gentle face.
They will all go, they will all flee.
The demonic oppressor cannot stand a chance.
As soon as I see my King
I am back in the heavenly dance.
Oh my friend,Turn your head from the problems,
The troublesome reality.
Look to His Word, it is heavenly
Find peace, joy and life, it’s all free.
And perish not with those who would rather pay the fee.
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Daily devotion Psa 119:89
March 18, 2006
Psa 119:89 KJV Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
The words of man come and go--unestablished. The wisdom of man fails to provide him with the needs of his soul. How foolish it is for man, whose breath is in nostrils, (Is 2:22) to try to lead his own way into the righteousness of God. He is like a dog who, denying his master’s guidance into unfamiliar territory, holds his own leash in his mouth.
The way to God has been established forever in the Heavenlies. It has been established in a way that none can change it. They can temper with the written Word; they can comment on it to take away its “salt”; but they can never, oh no never, temper with the Word that is written in the Heavenlies.
Moses gave his message according to what he saw in a Heavenly vision (Ex 25:9,40). Daniel was taken to the Heavenlies in visions and dreams to be shown the established future of the world (Dan 7:1;8:1;10:5), and so were Abraham, Isaiah, Jeremiah, John the Revelator, and many others.
From the beginning, God wrote the story of the world in the heavenly scrolls of the stars so that man would know that his redemption was nigh, coming from Him(Gen 1:14; Is 46:10; Psa 19:1-6), and none can temper with that.
When you feel your feet in this world on the muddy quicksand of the uncertainty of humanity, jut look up! Yes, look up and see the unmovable, the unchangeable, the unshakable. The realm where man has never been, but which is the sole habitation of God. Look up and remember that His Words and promises to you are as untamperable as what you see in the sky. They can tamper with the meanings and of His Words, but never with the Word Itself, and praise God for that.
Isa 55:10-11 KJV For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: (11) So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
NOTE FROM AUTHOR: For a good read on the word established in the heavenlies: The Witness of the Stars, by E.W.Bullinger.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:89 KJV Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
The words of man come and go--unestablished. The wisdom of man fails to provide him with the needs of his soul. How foolish it is for man, whose breath is in nostrils, (Is 2:22) to try to lead his own way into the righteousness of God. He is like a dog who, denying his master’s guidance into unfamiliar territory, holds his own leash in his mouth.
The way to God has been established forever in the Heavenlies. It has been established in a way that none can change it. They can temper with the written Word; they can comment on it to take away its “salt”; but they can never, oh no never, temper with the Word that is written in the Heavenlies.
Moses gave his message according to what he saw in a Heavenly vision (Ex 25:9,40). Daniel was taken to the Heavenlies in visions and dreams to be shown the established future of the world (Dan 7:1;8:1;10:5), and so were Abraham, Isaiah, Jeremiah, John the Revelator, and many others.
From the beginning, God wrote the story of the world in the heavenly scrolls of the stars so that man would know that his redemption was nigh, coming from Him(Gen 1:14; Is 46:10; Psa 19:1-6), and none can temper with that.
When you feel your feet in this world on the muddy quicksand of the uncertainty of humanity, jut look up! Yes, look up and see the unmovable, the unchangeable, the unshakable. The realm where man has never been, but which is the sole habitation of God. Look up and remember that His Words and promises to you are as untamperable as what you see in the sky. They can tamper with the meanings and of His Words, but never with the Word Itself, and praise God for that.
Isa 55:10-11 KJV For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: (11) So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
NOTE FROM AUTHOR: For a good read on the word established in the heavenlies: The Witness of the Stars, by E.W.Bullinger.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Daily Devotion Psa 119:88
March 17, 2006
Psa 119:88 KJV Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
As of verse 81, this prayer follows a litany where the author seems at wit’s end, even dying. To read this as pure poetic language would wrong the intent to describe his condition. The only way for us to be able to withstand and keep the faith to such an extent of suffering without cursing God (Job 2:9), is to claim on His lovingkindness to grant us more life.
Life is hard for many of us. We wish things were different. We wish this sickness, which affects our lives in ways we didn’t plan, would just disappear and go away. We wonder why our finances are not steadier, or even more abundant. We complain that we never have the time we want to devote to a certain hobby or study. We realize that we have made many mistakes with our children and we blame ourselves for the results. We come to mid-life with the feeling that life passed us by, denying us the dreams of our precocious years, that all these things are here to stay, and that there is nothing we can do about it. This leads to bitterness, discontentment and a loss of faith, most dangerously subconsciously, as it eats away our faith when we aren’t even aware.
I have known many who have let the difficulties of life eat away at their faith in spite of God’s absolute love for them. I see this because it happened to me. One morning, 15 years ago, during my regular prayer time, it dawned on me that I had let a 16 year old chronic illness rob me of my belief that God loved me as much as anyone else. I realized that the end of that road was in the statement Job’s wife gave to him, “Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die.” This realization led me to a desperate prayer of repentance.
The only way to keep safe from this cunning device of the enemy is to pray this prayer of the psalmist, asking God in his lovingkindness to give us the life and strength without which we are not even able to keep the commandments of His mouth.
Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:88 KJV Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
As of verse 81, this prayer follows a litany where the author seems at wit’s end, even dying. To read this as pure poetic language would wrong the intent to describe his condition. The only way for us to be able to withstand and keep the faith to such an extent of suffering without cursing God (Job 2:9), is to claim on His lovingkindness to grant us more life.
Life is hard for many of us. We wish things were different. We wish this sickness, which affects our lives in ways we didn’t plan, would just disappear and go away. We wonder why our finances are not steadier, or even more abundant. We complain that we never have the time we want to devote to a certain hobby or study. We realize that we have made many mistakes with our children and we blame ourselves for the results. We come to mid-life with the feeling that life passed us by, denying us the dreams of our precocious years, that all these things are here to stay, and that there is nothing we can do about it. This leads to bitterness, discontentment and a loss of faith, most dangerously subconsciously, as it eats away our faith when we aren’t even aware.
I have known many who have let the difficulties of life eat away at their faith in spite of God’s absolute love for them. I see this because it happened to me. One morning, 15 years ago, during my regular prayer time, it dawned on me that I had let a 16 year old chronic illness rob me of my belief that God loved me as much as anyone else. I realized that the end of that road was in the statement Job’s wife gave to him, “Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die.” This realization led me to a desperate prayer of repentance.
The only way to keep safe from this cunning device of the enemy is to pray this prayer of the psalmist, asking God in his lovingkindness to give us the life and strength without which we are not even able to keep the commandments of His mouth.
Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Friday, March 17, 2006
Daily Devotion Psa 119:87
March 17, 2006
Psa 119:87 KJV They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.
Jesus is better to us than He was to Himself. Even in extreme human suffering, He always makes a way to escape that we may be able to bear it (I Cor 10:13).
Christian martyrs had that supernatural way of “escape”. Under excruciating torture and death, they were smiling and still able to comfort others. But Jesus had to pay the full price in order to fully atone for the sin of mankind. For example, as he was grossly and falsely accused of death deserving blasphemy, and while being gnashed upon and stoned, Stephen was comforted by a vision of His LORD in His glory (Acts 7:55-60). On the contrary, Jesus had to die the lonely God-forsaken death of the sinner, crying and searching for a God that seemed to have forsaken Him (Mat 27:46).
To not “forsake” His precepts when it seems that we are “almost consumed upon earth” is a way of life. If we easily forsake His precepts in the daily small trials and tribulations today, what makes us think that when retaining the precepts of God will incur the curse of the world in the days to come--causing even the denial of our daily necessities— we will be able to resist denying Him and His precepts? The day of review will tell of our practice.
Oh LORD; only your supernatural grace can help me to see YOU when all is dark, hear YOU midst hellish shouts, feel YOU though you seem far, gain YOU though all seems lost.
Heb 11:24-27 KJV By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; (25) Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; (26) Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. (27) By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:87 KJV They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.
Jesus is better to us than He was to Himself. Even in extreme human suffering, He always makes a way to escape that we may be able to bear it (I Cor 10:13).
Christian martyrs had that supernatural way of “escape”. Under excruciating torture and death, they were smiling and still able to comfort others. But Jesus had to pay the full price in order to fully atone for the sin of mankind. For example, as he was grossly and falsely accused of death deserving blasphemy, and while being gnashed upon and stoned, Stephen was comforted by a vision of His LORD in His glory (Acts 7:55-60). On the contrary, Jesus had to die the lonely God-forsaken death of the sinner, crying and searching for a God that seemed to have forsaken Him (Mat 27:46).
To not “forsake” His precepts when it seems that we are “almost consumed upon earth” is a way of life. If we easily forsake His precepts in the daily small trials and tribulations today, what makes us think that when retaining the precepts of God will incur the curse of the world in the days to come--causing even the denial of our daily necessities— we will be able to resist denying Him and His precepts? The day of review will tell of our practice.
Oh LORD; only your supernatural grace can help me to see YOU when all is dark, hear YOU midst hellish shouts, feel YOU though you seem far, gain YOU though all seems lost.
Heb 11:24-27 KJV By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; (25) Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; (26) Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. (27) By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Daily Devotion Psa 119:86
March 16, 2006
Psa 119:86 KJV All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.
Often following God’s will and God’s Word leads to harassments, persecutions, or even just bad blood between relatives. When these things continue for a long time and seem to have no resolve, we are then tempted to wonder if God is really with us, helping us and protecting us as He should. Sad to say, there are even cases when people end up blaming God for the troubles that are caused by man inspired of the devil.
But now I will say:
In spite of the lion’s teeth, you are faithful;
In spite of the calumny, you are faithful;
In spite of the lying tongue, you are faithful;
In spite of the penury, you are faithful.
In spite of the heavy load, you are faithful;
In spite of the injury, you are faithful;
In spite of the poor abode, you are faithful;
In spite of the devil’s glee, you are faithful.
I am so confident of God’s love and purpose for our lives, that I am persuaded that whatever He does and allows to happen to us is for a good purpose, designed for our eventual good, and the fulfilling of His perfect will. May God help us to understand the roads He takes us through and all its bad weather, pot holes, flat tires, dangerous curves, blind bends, and careless drivers with the eyes of His understanding and spirit.
Rom 8:28 KJV And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:86 KJV All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.
Often following God’s will and God’s Word leads to harassments, persecutions, or even just bad blood between relatives. When these things continue for a long time and seem to have no resolve, we are then tempted to wonder if God is really with us, helping us and protecting us as He should. Sad to say, there are even cases when people end up blaming God for the troubles that are caused by man inspired of the devil.
But now I will say:
In spite of the lion’s teeth, you are faithful;
In spite of the calumny, you are faithful;
In spite of the lying tongue, you are faithful;
In spite of the penury, you are faithful.
In spite of the heavy load, you are faithful;
In spite of the injury, you are faithful;
In spite of the poor abode, you are faithful;
In spite of the devil’s glee, you are faithful.
I am so confident of God’s love and purpose for our lives, that I am persuaded that whatever He does and allows to happen to us is for a good purpose, designed for our eventual good, and the fulfilling of His perfect will. May God help us to understand the roads He takes us through and all its bad weather, pot holes, flat tires, dangerous curves, blind bends, and careless drivers with the eyes of His understanding and spirit.
Rom 8:28 KJV And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Daily Devotion Psa 119:85
March 15, 2006
Psa 119:85 KJV The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.
It is a proud man who wishes the demise of another. Just as Cain couldn’t rejoice at God’s blessing upon his brother but had to kill him in an attempt to justify himself to his own conscience, it is a conceited man who cannot rejoice at God’s blessing upon his brother.
The proud thinks that he can make his candle shine brighter by putting out the one of His brother. He also thinks that he elevates himself by making the other fall. It’s pathetic how the devil, whose downfall was pride (Is 14:13-14), can so easily convince mankind to follow his dandy bad example.
The law punished the digging of pits that caused injury or death to either a human or a beast of burden, even if it wasn’t done on purpose. The digging of a pit in order to hurt or injure was against God’ s Law (Ex 21:33-34).
But is digging a physical pit the only way to make a man fall?
If we know of a pit somewhere disguised as a temptation, and because of indifference we do not show concern that a brother or a sister may fall into it, are we not in a sense “digging a pit” for them?
If someone doesn’t know the Lord, and is therefore condemned to the pit of hell and we do not do our best to bring the Gospel to them, aren’t we in a sense “digging a pit” for their souls?
When we claim to be Christians but yet are not watchful of our sample or “conversation” so that others get a negative or wrong impression of the One we represent, aren’t we “digging a pit” where they might fall?
As Christians, we are keepers of the brethren within the fold and of those without the fold. May we not in pride, disobedience and indifference “dig pits” for our brothers and sisters.
Eze 3:17-19 KJV Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. (18) When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. (19) Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
Matthew 18:6 - But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:85 KJV The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.
It is a proud man who wishes the demise of another. Just as Cain couldn’t rejoice at God’s blessing upon his brother but had to kill him in an attempt to justify himself to his own conscience, it is a conceited man who cannot rejoice at God’s blessing upon his brother.
The proud thinks that he can make his candle shine brighter by putting out the one of His brother. He also thinks that he elevates himself by making the other fall. It’s pathetic how the devil, whose downfall was pride (Is 14:13-14), can so easily convince mankind to follow his dandy bad example.
The law punished the digging of pits that caused injury or death to either a human or a beast of burden, even if it wasn’t done on purpose. The digging of a pit in order to hurt or injure was against God’ s Law (Ex 21:33-34).
But is digging a physical pit the only way to make a man fall?
If we know of a pit somewhere disguised as a temptation, and because of indifference we do not show concern that a brother or a sister may fall into it, are we not in a sense “digging a pit” for them?
If someone doesn’t know the Lord, and is therefore condemned to the pit of hell and we do not do our best to bring the Gospel to them, aren’t we in a sense “digging a pit” for their souls?
When we claim to be Christians but yet are not watchful of our sample or “conversation” so that others get a negative or wrong impression of the One we represent, aren’t we “digging a pit” where they might fall?
As Christians, we are keepers of the brethren within the fold and of those without the fold. May we not in pride, disobedience and indifference “dig pits” for our brothers and sisters.
Eze 3:17-19 KJV Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. (18) When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. (19) Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
Matthew 18:6 - But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Daily Devotion
March 14, 2006
Psa 119:84 KJV How many are the days of thy servant? When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
Everyone is “old”. We never know how old we are. Our time may be up tomorrow. When a life has seen its share of troubles, one may wish for a little reprieve before dying. One may pray God for a time of peace before the end. One may also wish to see vengeance on those who viciously persecuted him without a cause.
When John was taken to the dimension of the spirit to be informed about the future of the world, he saw the Christian martyrs who had been persecuted for the name of God. Even they were impatient, and were demanding of the LORD when would the judgment of those who caused them so much hurt and pain come (Rev 4:2; 6:9-11).
We may feel old and poured out, given out and taken from. The virtues of brokenness may pour out freely from our shattered vessel. But as the old song says:
Tempted and tried we're oft made to wonderWhy it should be thus all the day longWhile there are others living about usNever molested though in the wrongFarther along we'll know all about itFarther along we'll understand whyCheer up my brother live in the sunshineWe'll understand it all by and byWhen death has come and taken our loved onesIt leaves our home so lonely and drearAnd then do we wonder why others prosperLiving so wicked year after year
Farther along we'll know all about itFarther along we'll understand whyCheer up my brother live in the sunshineWe'll understand it all by and byWhen we see Jesus coming in gloryWhen he comes down from his home in the skyThen we shall meet him in that bright mansionWe'll understand it all by and by
2Pe 3:9 KJV The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of Daily Devotions go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:84 KJV How many are the days of thy servant? When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
Everyone is “old”. We never know how old we are. Our time may be up tomorrow. When a life has seen its share of troubles, one may wish for a little reprieve before dying. One may pray God for a time of peace before the end. One may also wish to see vengeance on those who viciously persecuted him without a cause.
When John was taken to the dimension of the spirit to be informed about the future of the world, he saw the Christian martyrs who had been persecuted for the name of God. Even they were impatient, and were demanding of the LORD when would the judgment of those who caused them so much hurt and pain come (Rev 4:2; 6:9-11).
We may feel old and poured out, given out and taken from. The virtues of brokenness may pour out freely from our shattered vessel. But as the old song says:
Tempted and tried we're oft made to wonderWhy it should be thus all the day longWhile there are others living about usNever molested though in the wrongFarther along we'll know all about itFarther along we'll understand whyCheer up my brother live in the sunshineWe'll understand it all by and byWhen death has come and taken our loved onesIt leaves our home so lonely and drearAnd then do we wonder why others prosperLiving so wicked year after year
Farther along we'll know all about itFarther along we'll understand whyCheer up my brother live in the sunshineWe'll understand it all by and byWhen we see Jesus coming in gloryWhen he comes down from his home in the skyThen we shall meet him in that bright mansionWe'll understand it all by and by
2Pe 3:9 KJV The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of Daily Devotions go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Monday, March 13, 2006
Daily Devotion
March 13, 2006
Psa 119:83 KJV For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.
Bottles were made of skins. When not in use anymore, they were hung in a tent. Smoke tanned them so that they grew black and sooty. Heat dried the moisture out of them so that it gave them wrinkles and an old worn-out look. The dried wrinkled worn-out face of a man is testimony of his acquaintance with sorrow, suffering, pain, and to his familiarity with emotional turmoil.
A spy caught in enemy territory suffers torture. His enemy will stop at nothing in his attempt to get the man to yield the precious information. Because of this, spies-to-be go through intense training that includes torture, in order to raise their threshold of pain.
In like manner, God allows the Devil to throw his fiery darts in the form of trials and tribulations in order to try and test us. He allows hurt, emotional pain such as deaths, sicknesses, loss and disappointment, to try to make us forget the statutes of the Lord, say “uncle” , and yield up our precious saved soul to rebellion, disobedience and sin. But, all in all, he hangs himself, as turmoil tends to strengthen the Christian as he clings all the closer to his Lord.
How much does it take for you to yield to the one who tests your soul to the limits, to the threshold of pain, of hurt and disappointment, until you reject the statutes of the Lord in disgust? So many, so many martyrs throughout time have suffered in order to preserve the precious name and the precious doctrine; they have suffered until they became like a bottle in the smoke, but they have not forgotten His statutes.
2Ti 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
Patrick Lumbroso
For all past issues of Daily Surrender devotional go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:83 KJV For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.
Bottles were made of skins. When not in use anymore, they were hung in a tent. Smoke tanned them so that they grew black and sooty. Heat dried the moisture out of them so that it gave them wrinkles and an old worn-out look. The dried wrinkled worn-out face of a man is testimony of his acquaintance with sorrow, suffering, pain, and to his familiarity with emotional turmoil.
A spy caught in enemy territory suffers torture. His enemy will stop at nothing in his attempt to get the man to yield the precious information. Because of this, spies-to-be go through intense training that includes torture, in order to raise their threshold of pain.
In like manner, God allows the Devil to throw his fiery darts in the form of trials and tribulations in order to try and test us. He allows hurt, emotional pain such as deaths, sicknesses, loss and disappointment, to try to make us forget the statutes of the Lord, say “uncle” , and yield up our precious saved soul to rebellion, disobedience and sin. But, all in all, he hangs himself, as turmoil tends to strengthen the Christian as he clings all the closer to his Lord.
How much does it take for you to yield to the one who tests your soul to the limits, to the threshold of pain, of hurt and disappointment, until you reject the statutes of the Lord in disgust? So many, so many martyrs throughout time have suffered in order to preserve the precious name and the precious doctrine; they have suffered until they became like a bottle in the smoke, but they have not forgotten His statutes.
2Ti 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
Patrick Lumbroso
For all past issues of Daily Surrender devotional go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Daily Devotion Psa 119.82
March 12, 2006
Psa 119:82 KJV Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?
May our eyes never behold the Holy Word out of religious duty. May we never insult the Holy Ghost by not adding sincere reflection to our reading of the Word. When you read the Word it should fill you, comfort you, change you, mold you, encompass you, bless you, strengthen you, lead you, teach you, enlighten you, make you, recreate you, incarnate you; if it didn’t, you should read again, and not stop reading until you are blessed just like Jacob fought the angel and did not let go of him until he was blessed (Gen 32:24-30)
“One late afternoon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, wanting to be alone, I entered a strange cathedral & sat down amid the silence & semi-darkness. It was a gloomy place at that hour. The stained glass windows were especially forbidding. Presently a caretaker approached me, & thinking he wished me to leave so that he could lock up, I started to go. "Oh no," he whispered, "don't go until the lights come on!" So I waited. The room became darker, the shadows deepened, the windows were ugly & repelling & I wanted so much to leave. Then suddenly the street lights came on in full & the whole scene was changed!
What a transformation! I thought I had never seen such exquisite colouring, such Heavenly suggestiveness as the windows gave forth in their wonderful colouring! Everything was enhanced with unearthly beauty that fed my soul, & I wanted to capture & keep it forever!
Then I thought of the darkness which had shrouded many times my spirit, & how inexplicably it can vanish with the joy of the Lord coming in & His light flooding the soul. "The Lord will lighten my darkness!" I had learned a secret from that old caretaker, yes I had!--Don't go until the lights come on!”—
Francis E. Seaworth
Oh my dear one, how many times have you prayed and not waited for the answer, for the comfort that He would have comforted you with would you have waited? Do not rise from your prayer time “until the lights come on”!
Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Psa 119:82 KJV Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?
May our eyes never behold the Holy Word out of religious duty. May we never insult the Holy Ghost by not adding sincere reflection to our reading of the Word. When you read the Word it should fill you, comfort you, change you, mold you, encompass you, bless you, strengthen you, lead you, teach you, enlighten you, make you, recreate you, incarnate you; if it didn’t, you should read again, and not stop reading until you are blessed just like Jacob fought the angel and did not let go of him until he was blessed (Gen 32:24-30)
“One late afternoon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, wanting to be alone, I entered a strange cathedral & sat down amid the silence & semi-darkness. It was a gloomy place at that hour. The stained glass windows were especially forbidding. Presently a caretaker approached me, & thinking he wished me to leave so that he could lock up, I started to go. "Oh no," he whispered, "don't go until the lights come on!" So I waited. The room became darker, the shadows deepened, the windows were ugly & repelling & I wanted so much to leave. Then suddenly the street lights came on in full & the whole scene was changed!
What a transformation! I thought I had never seen such exquisite colouring, such Heavenly suggestiveness as the windows gave forth in their wonderful colouring! Everything was enhanced with unearthly beauty that fed my soul, & I wanted to capture & keep it forever!
Then I thought of the darkness which had shrouded many times my spirit, & how inexplicably it can vanish with the joy of the Lord coming in & His light flooding the soul. "The Lord will lighten my darkness!" I had learned a secret from that old caretaker, yes I had!--Don't go until the lights come on!”—
Francis E. Seaworth
Oh my dear one, how many times have you prayed and not waited for the answer, for the comfort that He would have comforted you with would you have waited? Do not rise from your prayer time “until the lights come on”!
Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Daily Devotion
March 11, 2006
Psa 119:81 KJV My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.
Even though it had never rained before, Noah obeyed a Divine verbal word telling him to build on dry land a barge that would protect him from a deluvial rain (Gen 2:5-6; 6:13). His belief in this Divine Word eventually became the key to his salvation from the destructive flood.
In his old age, even with his wife barren, Abraham believed a Word telling him that he will be the ancestor of many nations. God counted it to him for righteousness (Gen 15:2-6).
The children of Israel who believed God’s Word given by the first mediator Moses, put the blood of an unblemished lamb on the doorposts of their houses. They were thus spared the judgments of the angel of death that visited Egyptian’s households (Ex 12).
The generation that fearlessly obeyed the Word of God to conquer Canaan in spite of the size of its inhabitants, and received the Promised Land for an inhabitation (Jos 1).
The people of simple faith who received Jesus, the Incarnate Word of God benefited of the miracles and virtues freely given to mankind by the Almighty (The Gospels).
Everyone who believes in, and receives the Word of God, Jesus-Christ, is rescued from the curse of the Law, and saved from the vials of the Wrath of God that are to be poured upon a rebellious generation (Gal 3:10,13; Rev 16)
From the beginning, salvation has always been through simple belief and acceptance in the Word. “Oh Christian, would you accept this simple truth? Would you with sincerity and integrity of heart bequeath and relinquish all controls, and realize that your salvation is solely dependant on your acceptance of the word? That no amount of self-restraint against sin, of adherence to religious rituals, or of self-improvement techniques is of any credit towards your salvation, only belief and acceptance of the word of God saves us from ourselves and from the wrath to come!”
Joh 3:36 KJV He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Note: Believe: In the original Greek, “believe” is “Pisteu” meaning: “to drink in”.
Patrick Lumbroso
For all past issues of the daily devotions go to my blog:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:81 KJV My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.
Even though it had never rained before, Noah obeyed a Divine verbal word telling him to build on dry land a barge that would protect him from a deluvial rain (Gen 2:5-6; 6:13). His belief in this Divine Word eventually became the key to his salvation from the destructive flood.
In his old age, even with his wife barren, Abraham believed a Word telling him that he will be the ancestor of many nations. God counted it to him for righteousness (Gen 15:2-6).
The children of Israel who believed God’s Word given by the first mediator Moses, put the blood of an unblemished lamb on the doorposts of their houses. They were thus spared the judgments of the angel of death that visited Egyptian’s households (Ex 12).
The generation that fearlessly obeyed the Word of God to conquer Canaan in spite of the size of its inhabitants, and received the Promised Land for an inhabitation (Jos 1).
The people of simple faith who received Jesus, the Incarnate Word of God benefited of the miracles and virtues freely given to mankind by the Almighty (The Gospels).
Everyone who believes in, and receives the Word of God, Jesus-Christ, is rescued from the curse of the Law, and saved from the vials of the Wrath of God that are to be poured upon a rebellious generation (Gal 3:10,13; Rev 16)
From the beginning, salvation has always been through simple belief and acceptance in the Word. “Oh Christian, would you accept this simple truth? Would you with sincerity and integrity of heart bequeath and relinquish all controls, and realize that your salvation is solely dependant on your acceptance of the word? That no amount of self-restraint against sin, of adherence to religious rituals, or of self-improvement techniques is of any credit towards your salvation, only belief and acceptance of the word of God saves us from ourselves and from the wrath to come!”
Joh 3:36 KJV He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Note: Believe: In the original Greek, “believe” is “Pisteu” meaning: “to drink in”.
Patrick Lumbroso
For all past issues of the daily devotions go to my blog:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Daily Devotion Psa 119:79
March 9, 2006
Psa 119:79 KJV Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.
When we submit to an ungodly life, we lose the privilege of wholesome friends with whom we used to have sweet fellowship. It leaves us in partnership with the dregs of society, those who know that the end of their road is death, so they live like they are dying. It is then hard to make a full turn around of repentance, as these friends, who are really enemies of your soul, cling onto you like leeches and desire your company in their misery. Your victory in climbing out of their pit would expose all the more their inexcusable defeat.
At such times, one needs God to intervene. One needs to pray that new friends would be brought to him to fill the space in his heart. The former godly friends are now disillusioned and feel they have been betrayed, and their friendship can only be won again by sacrifice after sacrifice of humility. The trust that was once given by faith has now to be regained by works, so to speak.
Friendship is a very sensitive subject; we feel that to choose friends is perhaps one of our exclusive rights, but a good question to ask ourselves is:
Would I let Jesus be in charge of choosing who my friends should be, and most importantly, of who my friends shouldn’t be?
May we desire, all our lives through, the fellowship of those who fear God, of those who know His testimonies, and may we live a life that attracts the right kind of friends. Flies are only attracted to foul odor!
2Co 6:14-18 KJV Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? (16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
For the devotion’s back issues go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:79 KJV Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.
When we submit to an ungodly life, we lose the privilege of wholesome friends with whom we used to have sweet fellowship. It leaves us in partnership with the dregs of society, those who know that the end of their road is death, so they live like they are dying. It is then hard to make a full turn around of repentance, as these friends, who are really enemies of your soul, cling onto you like leeches and desire your company in their misery. Your victory in climbing out of their pit would expose all the more their inexcusable defeat.
At such times, one needs God to intervene. One needs to pray that new friends would be brought to him to fill the space in his heart. The former godly friends are now disillusioned and feel they have been betrayed, and their friendship can only be won again by sacrifice after sacrifice of humility. The trust that was once given by faith has now to be regained by works, so to speak.
Friendship is a very sensitive subject; we feel that to choose friends is perhaps one of our exclusive rights, but a good question to ask ourselves is:
Would I let Jesus be in charge of choosing who my friends should be, and most importantly, of who my friends shouldn’t be?
May we desire, all our lives through, the fellowship of those who fear God, of those who know His testimonies, and may we live a life that attracts the right kind of friends. Flies are only attracted to foul odor!
2Co 6:14-18 KJV Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? (16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
For the devotion’s back issues go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Daily Devotion Psa 119.78
March 8, 2006
Psa 119:78 KJV Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.
How many children of God today are recipients of the wrath of the proud? What is the justification for this wrath, if there is a one?
Is it that these persecuted ones dare to confront the ways of man? Maybe they have challenged the humanistic values of modern society? Could it be that they announced moral absolutes? Or did they have the audacity to present other ways than that of the status quo?
“Pride” in his rebellion does everything he can to obliterate the ways of God and promote the ways of man. Whenever one challenges him, without searching a justifiable cause, he rebels with perverse venom against the bearers of the challenge. In his denial of God’s Word, pride also forgets that he has no future: that it is the meek that will inherit the earth (Mat 5:5) while he will be ruled with a rod of iron (Rev 19:15).
Oh, that God’s righteousness would be given a voice, what would she say? Wouldn’t she say, “Fear not little flock it is my Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom”; (Luke 12:32) that the meek shall delight themselves in an abundance of peace (Psa 37:11)? That if you suffer with Him you shall also reign with Him (2 Tim 2:12) for these tribulations are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us (Rom 8:18)?
Let your children resist the voice of the ungodly, take refuge in the tower of your Words. It is the double-edged sword that comes out of your mouth that will establish your righteousness on earth as the waters cover the sea.
1Pe 3:16-17 KJV Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. (17) For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Psa 119:78 KJV Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.
How many children of God today are recipients of the wrath of the proud? What is the justification for this wrath, if there is a one?
Is it that these persecuted ones dare to confront the ways of man? Maybe they have challenged the humanistic values of modern society? Could it be that they announced moral absolutes? Or did they have the audacity to present other ways than that of the status quo?
“Pride” in his rebellion does everything he can to obliterate the ways of God and promote the ways of man. Whenever one challenges him, without searching a justifiable cause, he rebels with perverse venom against the bearers of the challenge. In his denial of God’s Word, pride also forgets that he has no future: that it is the meek that will inherit the earth (Mat 5:5) while he will be ruled with a rod of iron (Rev 19:15).
Oh, that God’s righteousness would be given a voice, what would she say? Wouldn’t she say, “Fear not little flock it is my Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom”; (Luke 12:32) that the meek shall delight themselves in an abundance of peace (Psa 37:11)? That if you suffer with Him you shall also reign with Him (2 Tim 2:12) for these tribulations are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us (Rom 8:18)?
Let your children resist the voice of the ungodly, take refuge in the tower of your Words. It is the double-edged sword that comes out of your mouth that will establish your righteousness on earth as the waters cover the sea.
1Pe 3:16-17 KJV Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. (17) For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Daily Devotion Psa 119:77
March 7, 2006
Psa 119:77 KJV Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.
“Oh, Lord, my strength is too small. It is not even within me to come to You, for I am a weak and unworthy servant. This is why in Your tender mercies You have come to me; You journeyed to me because You knew that I couldn’t journey to You.”
“You knew I was so near death in my iniquity; You knew my weakness and my fault. Yet I remember that day when unexpectedly You manifested Yourself in my sight. I was on my wondering way, searching for answers where they were no answers, searching for love in pools of indifference. They had closed the book on me and life escaped me. From Your lofty place You saw me, You saw me not as one who was wrong but as one who was lost. At that very moment, in Your tender mercies the decree came out, ‘that he may live’. “As a bridegroom coming out of His chamber, that rejoiceth to run a race” (Psa 19:5)You mounted Your white horse and You came to me in the desert place of my desolation and You desired to take away my shame and make me a bride.”
“You daily nursed me with your Word and brought me back to life; Your tender mercies caressed my heart; You made me feel hope again. The milk and honey from under your tongue (SOS 4:11) dropped in me as nourishment to one who was ready to die. Your very own blood replaced the life that I had lost (Lev 17:11)”
“How could your law not be my delight? How could anything else pretend to bring joy and satisfaction to my rescued heart? Thank You (could these earthly words even dare to express my gratitude?) for coming to me, loving me, taking me into you heart, for making the journey towards me when I couldn’t come to You!”
Eze 16:4-6 KJV And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. (5) None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. (6) And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.
Psa 119:77 KJV Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.
“Oh, Lord, my strength is too small. It is not even within me to come to You, for I am a weak and unworthy servant. This is why in Your tender mercies You have come to me; You journeyed to me because You knew that I couldn’t journey to You.”
“You knew I was so near death in my iniquity; You knew my weakness and my fault. Yet I remember that day when unexpectedly You manifested Yourself in my sight. I was on my wondering way, searching for answers where they were no answers, searching for love in pools of indifference. They had closed the book on me and life escaped me. From Your lofty place You saw me, You saw me not as one who was wrong but as one who was lost. At that very moment, in Your tender mercies the decree came out, ‘that he may live’. “As a bridegroom coming out of His chamber, that rejoiceth to run a race” (Psa 19:5)You mounted Your white horse and You came to me in the desert place of my desolation and You desired to take away my shame and make me a bride.”
“You daily nursed me with your Word and brought me back to life; Your tender mercies caressed my heart; You made me feel hope again. The milk and honey from under your tongue (SOS 4:11) dropped in me as nourishment to one who was ready to die. Your very own blood replaced the life that I had lost (Lev 17:11)”
“How could your law not be my delight? How could anything else pretend to bring joy and satisfaction to my rescued heart? Thank You (could these earthly words even dare to express my gratitude?) for coming to me, loving me, taking me into you heart, for making the journey towards me when I couldn’t come to You!”
Eze 16:4-6 KJV And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. (5) None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. (6) And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.
Monday, March 06, 2006
Daily Devotion Psa 119:76
March 6, 2006
Psa 119:76 KJV Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.
The LORD intended for His Word to be the Good News of the God’s merciful kindness, His letter to tell us that He loves us so much that he has “provided Himself a lamb for the sacrifice”, and made provision for the payment of our debt towards Him. Why is it then that for so many, the Word seems to be an instrument of condemnation? Yes, the Word is an instrument of purge and cleaning, but not in a spirit of anger and condemnation. The Holy Spirit gently convicts us and the Word diligently cleanses us, and it is all done within the parameters of the “merciful kindness”’ of God. Yes, we do not deserve any of this beautiful attention we get from the Father of all things, but yet He takes time for us wretched creatures that we are and treats us as if there was only one of us.
“According to your Word, Lord, treat me in your gentle Spirit.
According to your Word, Lord, be patient with my sinful way
According to your Word, Lord, help me, soft and lowly sheep
According to your Word, Lord, uphold me when I go astray.
According to your Word, Lord, do not condemn me when I fail
According to your Word, Lord, lift me up even from the grime
According to your Word, Lord, the blood of atonement prevail
According to your Word, Lord, yes my soul is forever thine.
Rom 8:38-39 KJV For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Psa 119:76 KJV Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.
The LORD intended for His Word to be the Good News of the God’s merciful kindness, His letter to tell us that He loves us so much that he has “provided Himself a lamb for the sacrifice”, and made provision for the payment of our debt towards Him. Why is it then that for so many, the Word seems to be an instrument of condemnation? Yes, the Word is an instrument of purge and cleaning, but not in a spirit of anger and condemnation. The Holy Spirit gently convicts us and the Word diligently cleanses us, and it is all done within the parameters of the “merciful kindness”’ of God. Yes, we do not deserve any of this beautiful attention we get from the Father of all things, but yet He takes time for us wretched creatures that we are and treats us as if there was only one of us.
“According to your Word, Lord, treat me in your gentle Spirit.
According to your Word, Lord, be patient with my sinful way
According to your Word, Lord, help me, soft and lowly sheep
According to your Word, Lord, uphold me when I go astray.
According to your Word, Lord, do not condemn me when I fail
According to your Word, Lord, lift me up even from the grime
According to your Word, Lord, the blood of atonement prevail
According to your Word, Lord, yes my soul is forever thine.
Rom 8:38-39 KJV For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Daily Devotion Psalms 119:75
March 5, 2006
Psa 119:75 KJV I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
It is true that you can know a man by his friends. It is also true that you can know a man by his enemies.
Our friends are people that we consciously choose to bring closer to our heart. Sadly, for many people, the way to choose friends has much more to do with how people personally affect them, than with a true and honest evaluation of their virtues. They tend to choose friends from the muddy slough of “Sans Scrupules” (without scruples) where the waters are so soiled that it hides their imperfections. The “friends’ from that filthy slough make them feel good, they flatter them, and elevate them in their own eyes. Their dirt does not pose a challenge to their bad habits and settled ways. These people are usually considered progressive, wise, tolerant, and of great discernment and virtue, therefore ending up in a “blind leading the blind” situation, where both shall surely fall into a ditch (Mat 15:14).
How much better it is to choose friends from the clear and true waters of “Lake Faithful”; their clarity will certainly expose the dirt clinging to our souls and thoroughly wash it clean. Its waters may be hard, but there is no mistaking in the faithfulness of their purity.
Oh, how precious is the friend that is not afraid to tell a truth; how valuable to our spiritual maturing it is to have someone dear to our heart who is faithful to tell it to us like it is. When two friends are secure in their affections, there can be such strength between them, a love bound that even the devil cannot separate.
Amidst all our acquaintances, let us make Jesus our best friend. He is not afraid to tell it to us like it is. Let us have such confidence in His love for us that we know that it is in faithfulness that He afflicts us, as a proof of true love for us, just as a good and true friend should do. .
Pro 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Psa 119:75 KJV I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
It is true that you can know a man by his friends. It is also true that you can know a man by his enemies.
Our friends are people that we consciously choose to bring closer to our heart. Sadly, for many people, the way to choose friends has much more to do with how people personally affect them, than with a true and honest evaluation of their virtues. They tend to choose friends from the muddy slough of “Sans Scrupules” (without scruples) where the waters are so soiled that it hides their imperfections. The “friends’ from that filthy slough make them feel good, they flatter them, and elevate them in their own eyes. Their dirt does not pose a challenge to their bad habits and settled ways. These people are usually considered progressive, wise, tolerant, and of great discernment and virtue, therefore ending up in a “blind leading the blind” situation, where both shall surely fall into a ditch (Mat 15:14).
How much better it is to choose friends from the clear and true waters of “Lake Faithful”; their clarity will certainly expose the dirt clinging to our souls and thoroughly wash it clean. Its waters may be hard, but there is no mistaking in the faithfulness of their purity.
Oh, how precious is the friend that is not afraid to tell a truth; how valuable to our spiritual maturing it is to have someone dear to our heart who is faithful to tell it to us like it is. When two friends are secure in their affections, there can be such strength between them, a love bound that even the devil cannot separate.
Amidst all our acquaintances, let us make Jesus our best friend. He is not afraid to tell it to us like it is. Let us have such confidence in His love for us that we know that it is in faithfulness that He afflicts us, as a proof of true love for us, just as a good and true friend should do. .
Pro 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Daily Devotions Psa 119:74
March 4, 2006
Psa 119:74 KJV They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.
The person who fears God rejoices when they see another God-fearing person who has been blessed by God, one who has been able to surmount untold difficulties by the sheer help of the grace of God. It stands to them as a firm reminder that this very same grace is available also for them.
Is your life a living testament of the grace and bounty of God? Can it be used to showcase His abundant mercies so that these that fear (respect) Him will rejoice?
But you say, “If God wants my life to witness His abundant mercies, it is in up to Him to ensure that people can tangibly see and feel them. He needs to answer my prayers by healing me, feeding me and making sure that my children are safe”. Somehow Jesus knows that that just won’t do the trick. He knows that He can feed us with miraculous food, heal our diseases and that of our children, even resurrect the dead, and still, we will not be won to His mercies. Some went as far as even accusing Jesus of blasphemy, saying that God’s care of them was through Baalzubub as in the case of the blind and dumb devil-possessed one (Mat 12:24-34). Even in the Garden of Eden, a place where mankind was miraculously supplied for with not a worry in the world, man did not acknowledge God’s mercy and preferred the fruits of his own ways. The same thing happened with the Children of Israel in the desert between Egypt and Canaan: whereas God fed them with heavenly manna and quenched their thirst with water from a rock, still they doubted and preferred the bread of slavery.
God’s mercy is not that He doesn’t allow trials and tribulations to come unto us, but in that He is ever so present with us when they happen. It is the ungodly who have their eyes on the corrupt temporal elements of the world, who equates God’s mercies with wealth comfort and security. The Godly man who fears (respects) God rejoices as he sees the grace of God give him the strength to trust beyond reason, to believe beyond the possible and to endure beyond measure, all the while projecting an unshakable faith in the omnipotence of the God that lives within the confines of his heart.
May God help us, by our attitude of faith to provoke rejoicing in our spiritual kindred.
1Pe 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Psa 119:74 KJV They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.
The person who fears God rejoices when they see another God-fearing person who has been blessed by God, one who has been able to surmount untold difficulties by the sheer help of the grace of God. It stands to them as a firm reminder that this very same grace is available also for them.
Is your life a living testament of the grace and bounty of God? Can it be used to showcase His abundant mercies so that these that fear (respect) Him will rejoice?
But you say, “If God wants my life to witness His abundant mercies, it is in up to Him to ensure that people can tangibly see and feel them. He needs to answer my prayers by healing me, feeding me and making sure that my children are safe”. Somehow Jesus knows that that just won’t do the trick. He knows that He can feed us with miraculous food, heal our diseases and that of our children, even resurrect the dead, and still, we will not be won to His mercies. Some went as far as even accusing Jesus of blasphemy, saying that God’s care of them was through Baalzubub as in the case of the blind and dumb devil-possessed one (Mat 12:24-34). Even in the Garden of Eden, a place where mankind was miraculously supplied for with not a worry in the world, man did not acknowledge God’s mercy and preferred the fruits of his own ways. The same thing happened with the Children of Israel in the desert between Egypt and Canaan: whereas God fed them with heavenly manna and quenched their thirst with water from a rock, still they doubted and preferred the bread of slavery.
God’s mercy is not that He doesn’t allow trials and tribulations to come unto us, but in that He is ever so present with us when they happen. It is the ungodly who have their eyes on the corrupt temporal elements of the world, who equates God’s mercies with wealth comfort and security. The Godly man who fears (respects) God rejoices as he sees the grace of God give him the strength to trust beyond reason, to believe beyond the possible and to endure beyond measure, all the while projecting an unshakable faith in the omnipotence of the God that lives within the confines of his heart.
May God help us, by our attitude of faith to provoke rejoicing in our spiritual kindred.
1Pe 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Daily Surrender Psalms 119:Teth
PSALMS 119
TETH
February 2, 2006
Psa 119:65 KJV Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.
Here is the verdict of my heart, Oh Lord
For the events that brought me peace, for those that caused me wrath.
For the people that I have known, or never crossed my path.
For the cups that I have drunk, for those that were denied,
For the loves that truly lived, and even for all of those that died.
For the words that I have heard, for when you spared the strife;
For the looks that made me hurt, yes for those that gave me life.
For my mother, for my father, or the siblings I never had.
For the meat, for the wine, for the good, for the bad.
For the refreshing waters, for the desert bleak;
For the songs that I’ve sang when I was strong or weak.
For the prayers that reigned, for those you ignored.
For the lessons that pained, the burden I bore.
For the steps with the multitude, for the times I stood alone,
Against the woe, the injustice that had to be borne.
For the tears, for the rainbow, for the sun for the shadow
For the strength, for the weakness, the once upon a time happiness.
For the life I’ve lived with no regrets,
To the day my soul will fly to rest:
Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.
Psa 119:65 KJV
1Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
February 26, 2006
Psa 119:66 KJV Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
Children (teenagers) nowadays think that they know more than their parents. It is a given fact tha t they probably know more about the communication programs of their computers and about the multiple functions of their mobile phone, than adults ever care to know about. The problem rises when because of their area of expertise, those same teenagers seem to think that they know more than their parents about most things in life and therefore become unteachable. A very dear teacher friend of mine often reminds those pupils of hers who through their immature pride forget the reality of their limited academic condition by asking them “Are you teachable?”
Because of his insecure and immature condition, it is normal for a child to act in that way towards the adults in his life. He feels insecure and he has to compensate by acting sure of himself. Not only it humbles him to realize that he just doesn’t know, but in his pride he doesn’t believe that others know either. It is a weak and immature person; unsure of themselves who feel that they have to act in pride and self-assurance in order to prove themselves to others, and even sometimes to themselves! The problem is when adults continue their lives in that same insecure behavior by exerting a show of self-assurance, not believing either the Words of the LORD. If anything, the more a person spiritually grows and matures, the more they should realize their need for utter dependency on the LORD and His Words.
This reality of the behavior of children and teenagers towards their parents and teachers should serve as a good reflection of our own attitude towards our great heavenly Teacher, King and Father. Don’t we sometimes run with our fingers in our ears saying to the Lord, “let me handle it Lord, I already know!” while the Holy Spirit asks us in our hearts, “are you teachable”?
“If we learn anything in this li fe, Lord, help us to learn, that the more we know, the more we should know that we don’t know. Help us to teach our children the meek spirit of being ‘teachable’ by our own sample and attitude with you, in beliving you Word”
Mat 5:5 KJV Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
February 27, 2006
Psa 119:67 KJV Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
Foolishness in a child has decreed that he will disobey, break yours and God’s Word until maybe someday realizes that his parents were right about certain things, and God was right about all things. This phenomenal metamorphosis in attitude rarely happens without sprained muscles, scratches, losses, broken bones as well as broken hearts. It is pathetic, but sometimes it is not until the crippling death-call of old age that one finally comes, not to his senses, but to Godly sense realizing that things could and should have been different. The only comfort at that time is the abundant mercy of God which proclaims that: “all things work together for good to them that love God.” (Rom 8:28)
How many burns, hurts, breaks, losses and afflictions have to happen before we finally grow, mature and learn to keep His Words? How many times does He have to lay us flat on our backs before we learn to say “Abba, Father” and agree to keep His Words? Having been promised a land under the conditions of obedience (Lev 26), the children of Israel offer before us an excellent sample of what happens when we walk in disobedience outside the tower of His protection: we loose the blessing of the presence of His protection, strength, supply and perfect peace in our hearts when in the midst of the onslaughts of the destroyer.
May God help us today to see the “handwriting on the wall” (Dan 5:5, 27) warning us, telling us that we are “wanting” in obedience and dedication to His word. May He help us to see in our affliction how we have gone astray in either deed or spirit, so that we learn to keep His word. May we learn not only from our affliction, but also, touched with empathy, learn from the afflictions of others.
A wise man learns by his experience, but a wiser man learns by the experiences of others.
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
February 27, 2006
Psa 119:68 KJV Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
Goodness, as is also true in the case of love, has suffered an identity crisis. Today, both of these virtues are understood not according to the parameters of their Creator, but in relations to the feelings of humans.
It is not uncommon to hear confused people ask, “If God is so good and so loving, why did He let thus and thus happen to me?” or even “why does he let such and such happen in the world?” Having changed the meanings of goodness and love was a very clever trick fomented by the enemy of both, in order to get humans to doubt the goodness and love of God.
A child does not understand what benefit there is to his parents’ punishment and deprivation of certain privileges due to his disobedience, but it teaches him an important lesson that may save him in adult life. As we grow into teenage and adulthood, the difficulties that we encounter become more traumatic. They resemble things like the breaking of families, the on start of a chronic sickness, or the loosing of friends and loved ones through sickness, accidents or war. Only when we have matured in faith, in the knowledge and understanding of His Word, and in spiritual experiences can we see, even through these events that God is “good and doest good”.
What is therefore goodness and love?
God, our great Maker, knows that the only thing that can ever keep our hearts, bodies and souls safe, happy, provided and free is to be and remain close to Him. He created us in that way. It is therefore safe to say that whatever He does or allows to happen that brings us close to Him, helps us to remember Him as well as our ultimate dependency on Him is to be considered love and goodness.
May God help us not to judge God by our own standards, thus establishing our own righteousness.
Rom 10:3 KJV For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Luk 18:18-19 KJV And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (19) And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
February 28, 2006
Psa 119:69 KJV The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.
When the enemy of God’s work loses on the battlefield, he resorts to spewing slanderous lies. Like a nail on the road, these cannot stop the work, but they have for purpose to annoy, disrupt and cause delay through a flat tire, or wounding your foot. If he cannot destroy God’s project, he slanders the builder; if he cannot stop the builder, he slanders the God of the builder. He will do all these through lying inventions born out of his own proud reprobate spirit. The proud is the bitterest of all enemies of God and slander is his cheap weapon.
When the king sent Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, the enemy came to Nehemiah in seven different ways to try to get him to give up. Every time, he came with forged lies designed to make the people doubt, despair, and fear in hopes that they would eventually give up the mighty work of God. But Nehemiah said to them when they wanted to counsel a “ceasefire” with him, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? “(Neh 6:3).
When the enemy comes with lies, don’t listen to him;
When he provokes you with slander, pay no attention
When he projects his evil vibes, please ignore them;
When he spread venomous lies, just don’t mind them.
Our God is the God of strength
None can make Him weak; none can make Him fear
Take refuge in His name and find
What courage you need is near.
Joh 8:44 KJV Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
March 01, 2006
Psa 119:70 KJV Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.
The “proud” challenge dependence on the Lord, and so doing, they establish their own means of sustenance and health. Not wanting to keep God in control of their “supply lines”; they prostitute themselves to the world, commit whoredom with Babylon. Babylon is turn is happy to indulge in “liberating” people from the controlling “avaricious” clutches of God, to provide them with everything they need and even want, especially with what God in his great wisdom has restrained. After all, wasn’t it the devil who offered the forbidden fruit? (Gen 3:1-6) And wasn’t it the same devil who offered the glories of the kingdoms of the world to Jesus, but without the price of the crucifixion? (Mat 4:8-9)
The way of God is usually straight and narrow (Mat 7:14), even the land of milk and honey was not obtained without a fight. The Word of God was given on a mountain. To get it, Moses had to climb out of his comfort zone; leave behind the comfort of home. A seventy year old Nepali Sharpah can carry up the Himalayas Mountains a load that would make our valley young people faint, and they do not have health problems due to fat around their heart.
Indulgence and easy life makes the heart grow fat, weak and corrupt. It greases it with excuses, covers it with fatness so that it becomes insensitive to God and to others. It becomes an island isolated from the world, everything and everybody else, and where everything is done out of concern for self-preservation.
May God help me to yield when the way is hard.
May He help me to trust when the bend blinds the way.
My comfort is His Word oh so secure
Who hath promised me rest at the end of the day.
Luk 4:6-7 KJV And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. (7) If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
March 02 2006
Psa 119:71-72 KJV 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.
It is easy to figure what is important for people. All you have to do is look at what they would readily invest their hard-earned cash on. Would they invest it on more refined food, richer personal belongings, more valuable jewelry, a surplus of entertainment? Or maybe it could it be on satisfying the wimps of a girl from whom you desire favors? Or do they invest it on their children’s education, the needs of their of communities, or on whatever would allow them to take a part in the preaching of the Gospel.
Jesus tells us,” Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”(Luke 12:34). It is a strength and a virtue to be able to see greater value in the trials that afflict us and sometimes make us poor just because they make us learn God’s statutes. It shows that for that person, learning God’s law is more important than their own enrichment, pleasure and comfort.
David certainly lived that. In his many conquests, he amassed a great wealth. Also, people willingly gave to him out of thankfulness. But most of this wealth was set aside towards the expenses and enrichment of the Temple that his son would someday build as the Jewish religious center (1 Chron 28:11-19). Also, because Solomon did not value personal wealth and comfort first, but rather his responsibilities as king, God gave him all the other also (2 Chron 1:6-12).
Let us praise an thank God for everything He brings our way that helps us get closer to Him. Let us value the lessons that we learn through affliction more that the greatest treasures of gold and silver the world has to offer.
Phi 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Phi 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
TETH
February 2, 2006
Psa 119:65 KJV Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.
Here is the verdict of my heart, Oh Lord
For the events that brought me peace, for those that caused me wrath.
For the people that I have known, or never crossed my path.
For the cups that I have drunk, for those that were denied,
For the loves that truly lived, and even for all of those that died.
For the words that I have heard, for when you spared the strife;
For the looks that made me hurt, yes for those that gave me life.
For my mother, for my father, or the siblings I never had.
For the meat, for the wine, for the good, for the bad.
For the refreshing waters, for the desert bleak;
For the songs that I’ve sang when I was strong or weak.
For the prayers that reigned, for those you ignored.
For the lessons that pained, the burden I bore.
For the steps with the multitude, for the times I stood alone,
Against the woe, the injustice that had to be borne.
For the tears, for the rainbow, for the sun for the shadow
For the strength, for the weakness, the once upon a time happiness.
For the life I’ve lived with no regrets,
To the day my soul will fly to rest:
Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.
Psa 119:65 KJV
1Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
February 26, 2006
Psa 119:66 KJV Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
Children (teenagers) nowadays think that they know more than their parents. It is a given fact tha t they probably know more about the communication programs of their computers and about the multiple functions of their mobile phone, than adults ever care to know about. The problem rises when because of their area of expertise, those same teenagers seem to think that they know more than their parents about most things in life and therefore become unteachable. A very dear teacher friend of mine often reminds those pupils of hers who through their immature pride forget the reality of their limited academic condition by asking them “Are you teachable?”
Because of his insecure and immature condition, it is normal for a child to act in that way towards the adults in his life. He feels insecure and he has to compensate by acting sure of himself. Not only it humbles him to realize that he just doesn’t know, but in his pride he doesn’t believe that others know either. It is a weak and immature person; unsure of themselves who feel that they have to act in pride and self-assurance in order to prove themselves to others, and even sometimes to themselves! The problem is when adults continue their lives in that same insecure behavior by exerting a show of self-assurance, not believing either the Words of the LORD. If anything, the more a person spiritually grows and matures, the more they should realize their need for utter dependency on the LORD and His Words.
This reality of the behavior of children and teenagers towards their parents and teachers should serve as a good reflection of our own attitude towards our great heavenly Teacher, King and Father. Don’t we sometimes run with our fingers in our ears saying to the Lord, “let me handle it Lord, I already know!” while the Holy Spirit asks us in our hearts, “are you teachable”?
“If we learn anything in this li fe, Lord, help us to learn, that the more we know, the more we should know that we don’t know. Help us to teach our children the meek spirit of being ‘teachable’ by our own sample and attitude with you, in beliving you Word”
Mat 5:5 KJV Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
February 27, 2006
Psa 119:67 KJV Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
Foolishness in a child has decreed that he will disobey, break yours and God’s Word until maybe someday realizes that his parents were right about certain things, and God was right about all things. This phenomenal metamorphosis in attitude rarely happens without sprained muscles, scratches, losses, broken bones as well as broken hearts. It is pathetic, but sometimes it is not until the crippling death-call of old age that one finally comes, not to his senses, but to Godly sense realizing that things could and should have been different. The only comfort at that time is the abundant mercy of God which proclaims that: “all things work together for good to them that love God.” (Rom 8:28)
How many burns, hurts, breaks, losses and afflictions have to happen before we finally grow, mature and learn to keep His Words? How many times does He have to lay us flat on our backs before we learn to say “Abba, Father” and agree to keep His Words? Having been promised a land under the conditions of obedience (Lev 26), the children of Israel offer before us an excellent sample of what happens when we walk in disobedience outside the tower of His protection: we loose the blessing of the presence of His protection, strength, supply and perfect peace in our hearts when in the midst of the onslaughts of the destroyer.
May God help us today to see the “handwriting on the wall” (Dan 5:5, 27) warning us, telling us that we are “wanting” in obedience and dedication to His word. May He help us to see in our affliction how we have gone astray in either deed or spirit, so that we learn to keep His word. May we learn not only from our affliction, but also, touched with empathy, learn from the afflictions of others.
A wise man learns by his experience, but a wiser man learns by the experiences of others.
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
February 27, 2006
Psa 119:68 KJV Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
Goodness, as is also true in the case of love, has suffered an identity crisis. Today, both of these virtues are understood not according to the parameters of their Creator, but in relations to the feelings of humans.
It is not uncommon to hear confused people ask, “If God is so good and so loving, why did He let thus and thus happen to me?” or even “why does he let such and such happen in the world?” Having changed the meanings of goodness and love was a very clever trick fomented by the enemy of both, in order to get humans to doubt the goodness and love of God.
A child does not understand what benefit there is to his parents’ punishment and deprivation of certain privileges due to his disobedience, but it teaches him an important lesson that may save him in adult life. As we grow into teenage and adulthood, the difficulties that we encounter become more traumatic. They resemble things like the breaking of families, the on start of a chronic sickness, or the loosing of friends and loved ones through sickness, accidents or war. Only when we have matured in faith, in the knowledge and understanding of His Word, and in spiritual experiences can we see, even through these events that God is “good and doest good”.
What is therefore goodness and love?
God, our great Maker, knows that the only thing that can ever keep our hearts, bodies and souls safe, happy, provided and free is to be and remain close to Him. He created us in that way. It is therefore safe to say that whatever He does or allows to happen that brings us close to Him, helps us to remember Him as well as our ultimate dependency on Him is to be considered love and goodness.
May God help us not to judge God by our own standards, thus establishing our own righteousness.
Rom 10:3 KJV For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Luk 18:18-19 KJV And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (19) And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
February 28, 2006
Psa 119:69 KJV The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.
When the enemy of God’s work loses on the battlefield, he resorts to spewing slanderous lies. Like a nail on the road, these cannot stop the work, but they have for purpose to annoy, disrupt and cause delay through a flat tire, or wounding your foot. If he cannot destroy God’s project, he slanders the builder; if he cannot stop the builder, he slanders the God of the builder. He will do all these through lying inventions born out of his own proud reprobate spirit. The proud is the bitterest of all enemies of God and slander is his cheap weapon.
When the king sent Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, the enemy came to Nehemiah in seven different ways to try to get him to give up. Every time, he came with forged lies designed to make the people doubt, despair, and fear in hopes that they would eventually give up the mighty work of God. But Nehemiah said to them when they wanted to counsel a “ceasefire” with him, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? “(Neh 6:3).
When the enemy comes with lies, don’t listen to him;
When he provokes you with slander, pay no attention
When he projects his evil vibes, please ignore them;
When he spread venomous lies, just don’t mind them.
Our God is the God of strength
None can make Him weak; none can make Him fear
Take refuge in His name and find
What courage you need is near.
Joh 8:44 KJV Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
March 01, 2006
Psa 119:70 KJV Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.
The “proud” challenge dependence on the Lord, and so doing, they establish their own means of sustenance and health. Not wanting to keep God in control of their “supply lines”; they prostitute themselves to the world, commit whoredom with Babylon. Babylon is turn is happy to indulge in “liberating” people from the controlling “avaricious” clutches of God, to provide them with everything they need and even want, especially with what God in his great wisdom has restrained. After all, wasn’t it the devil who offered the forbidden fruit? (Gen 3:1-6) And wasn’t it the same devil who offered the glories of the kingdoms of the world to Jesus, but without the price of the crucifixion? (Mat 4:8-9)
The way of God is usually straight and narrow (Mat 7:14), even the land of milk and honey was not obtained without a fight. The Word of God was given on a mountain. To get it, Moses had to climb out of his comfort zone; leave behind the comfort of home. A seventy year old Nepali Sharpah can carry up the Himalayas Mountains a load that would make our valley young people faint, and they do not have health problems due to fat around their heart.
Indulgence and easy life makes the heart grow fat, weak and corrupt. It greases it with excuses, covers it with fatness so that it becomes insensitive to God and to others. It becomes an island isolated from the world, everything and everybody else, and where everything is done out of concern for self-preservation.
May God help me to yield when the way is hard.
May He help me to trust when the bend blinds the way.
My comfort is His Word oh so secure
Who hath promised me rest at the end of the day.
Luk 4:6-7 KJV And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. (7) If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
March 02 2006
Psa 119:71-72 KJV 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.
It is easy to figure what is important for people. All you have to do is look at what they would readily invest their hard-earned cash on. Would they invest it on more refined food, richer personal belongings, more valuable jewelry, a surplus of entertainment? Or maybe it could it be on satisfying the wimps of a girl from whom you desire favors? Or do they invest it on their children’s education, the needs of their of communities, or on whatever would allow them to take a part in the preaching of the Gospel.
Jesus tells us,” Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”(Luke 12:34). It is a strength and a virtue to be able to see greater value in the trials that afflict us and sometimes make us poor just because they make us learn God’s statutes. It shows that for that person, learning God’s law is more important than their own enrichment, pleasure and comfort.
David certainly lived that. In his many conquests, he amassed a great wealth. Also, people willingly gave to him out of thankfulness. But most of this wealth was set aside towards the expenses and enrichment of the Temple that his son would someday build as the Jewish religious center (1 Chron 28:11-19). Also, because Solomon did not value personal wealth and comfort first, but rather his responsibilities as king, God gave him all the other also (2 Chron 1:6-12).
Let us praise an thank God for everything He brings our way that helps us get closer to Him. Let us value the lessons that we learn through affliction more that the greatest treasures of gold and silver the world has to offer.
Phi 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Phi 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)