April 30,2006–04–29
Psa 119:138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.
Within the quantum of traditions, beliefs, spiritual applications, personal theological preferences, and biblical speculations that form one’s religion, it is important to make the difference between what is the Word, or “testimony” that God “hast commanded”, and what is the “testimony” “commanded” by “man”, be it of ourselves, or of a religious authority.
In the course of my missionary life, I have met many, who claim to have believed in God, and later became disappointed and left the “faith”. At that point, it is important to clarify, “What did “believing in God” look like to them”, “What did it mean”? Was it the following of an endless and meaningless set of traditions? Was it an experience based on an emotional high? Was it based on loyalty offered to a man/woman or peer-group? Or was religion even approached as many do a support group, for the comfort of personal problems? Any of these attitudes towards faith represent a faulty foundation, and any “house” built upon it will certainly fall. But the Word, or Testimony that the LORD has commanded never fail; they are “righteous and very faithful” one who builds on them is never disappointed. .(Mat 7:24-27).
We have here a situation where one creates his own “religion”, expects God to honor it, and jilts Him if He doesn’t. It is sad when people “jilt” God, as one would an unfaithful and unreliable lover, when their relationship with Him was not based on His “promises”, but rather on their own speculated expectations. This problem of unrealistic personal expectations is witnessed today by many a marriage counselor. People have “Hollywood-ian” expectations in their marriage that have nothing to do with what God intended of marriage, and they wonder why their marriage, just like their religion, ends up in “divorce”!
“Lord, you have given me your Words, as well as the wit and ability to read it. Give me now the discernment to separate the “wheat from the chaff” (Mat 3:12)--Your reliable “very righteous and faithful” Word, from the sinking-sand of the traditions and perversions of man”
Mar 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
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!'
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Daily Devotion
April 29, 2006
Psa 119:137 Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.
Times have changed. In his extreme pride, man has twisted the concepts of right and wrong. He has exchanged morals for humanism, truth for relativism, and absolutes for feelings.
There used to be a time when there was a respectful awe about the Word of God. If one did not understand something, or if he felt that a testimony from the Word was harsh or difficult to swallow; he had a spirit of humility about it, he felt that maybe he was ignorant, that he needed a teacher to explain to him the perspective of the issue at hand. Now, mankind reads the word of God in a spirit of pride and judgment. He judges the Word by his own standards of right and wrong, and since the ways of man are not the ways of God (Is 55:8), since man’s sense of right and wrong is different than that of God, man often ends up criticizing the word. And as time goes on, as the world plunges more and more into darkness, it will be more and more difficult to understand the ways of God, and define them as “righteous” and “upright”.
We have to train ourselves today to look at everything that God allows to come our way as His perfect will. I am not suggesting a spirit of fatalism, but rather an understanding of His will, beyond the limited scope of the vantage point of our carnal mind, which is in fact, in enmity against God (Rom 8:7).
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for cold, heat, drought, flood, life, death, joy, sorrow, health, illness, good, bad, strength, weakness--for all the things you bring my way, they represent your perfect will for me, I thank you for it all.
Rom 8:28 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.
Mar 7:37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
ANECDOTE:
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey...
I asked for health, that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things...
I asked for riches, that I might be happy,
I was given poverty that I might be wise...
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God...
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things...
I got nothing that I asked for--but everything I had hoped for,
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all men most richly blessed.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:137 Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.
Times have changed. In his extreme pride, man has twisted the concepts of right and wrong. He has exchanged morals for humanism, truth for relativism, and absolutes for feelings.
There used to be a time when there was a respectful awe about the Word of God. If one did not understand something, or if he felt that a testimony from the Word was harsh or difficult to swallow; he had a spirit of humility about it, he felt that maybe he was ignorant, that he needed a teacher to explain to him the perspective of the issue at hand. Now, mankind reads the word of God in a spirit of pride and judgment. He judges the Word by his own standards of right and wrong, and since the ways of man are not the ways of God (Is 55:8), since man’s sense of right and wrong is different than that of God, man often ends up criticizing the word. And as time goes on, as the world plunges more and more into darkness, it will be more and more difficult to understand the ways of God, and define them as “righteous” and “upright”.
We have to train ourselves today to look at everything that God allows to come our way as His perfect will. I am not suggesting a spirit of fatalism, but rather an understanding of His will, beyond the limited scope of the vantage point of our carnal mind, which is in fact, in enmity against God (Rom 8:7).
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for cold, heat, drought, flood, life, death, joy, sorrow, health, illness, good, bad, strength, weakness--for all the things you bring my way, they represent your perfect will for me, I thank you for it all.
Rom 8:28 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.
Mar 7:37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
ANECDOTE:
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey...
I asked for health, that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things...
I asked for riches, that I might be happy,
I was given poverty that I might be wise...
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God...
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things...
I got nothing that I asked for--but everything I had hoped for,
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all men most richly blessed.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Friday, April 28, 2006
Daily Devotion
April 289, 2006
Psa 119:136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.
I remember watching a movie with some people who thought it was funny every time someone got blown up or hurt. It felt to me, like it was a spirit seared and numb to pain, a sort of sadistic indifference, coming from an excess of watching TV violence.
Still another time I was watching some sort of comedy where people were making fun of each other, and the audience laughed at someone else’s expense. A good teacher I know always points out to her students that there is a difference between laughing with people, and laughing at people.
When He came to Jerusalem, Jesus saw a city that despised God, they had turned the Temple into a den of thieves, their faith had become a ritualistic religion, and they had forgotten the mercies of God. He cried in sorrow against the city that killed the prophets and those that are sent unto her; He expressed the longing of God to gather His people unto Him, but they wouldn’t be gathered (Mat 23:37).
The Spirit of God does not find it funny when people are hurt or made fun at. The Spirit of God rather cries when He sees His children going the wrong way.
The Spirit of God is not insensitive to pain, heartaches, or woes
The Spirit of God tenderly pleads and cries for the soul to find its way.
When you see evil:
Does your spirit ache pains of sympathy for God, feeling embarrassed at the attitude of His Children?
Does it make you weep like it did Jesus when He saw Jerusalem in sin?
Does it make you wish that you could take the whole world into your arms and protect them form their own evil deeds?
Are you afraid of the pain such empathy would create, so you stay indifferent, or think it a jest?
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.
I remember watching a movie with some people who thought it was funny every time someone got blown up or hurt. It felt to me, like it was a spirit seared and numb to pain, a sort of sadistic indifference, coming from an excess of watching TV violence.
Still another time I was watching some sort of comedy where people were making fun of each other, and the audience laughed at someone else’s expense. A good teacher I know always points out to her students that there is a difference between laughing with people, and laughing at people.
When He came to Jerusalem, Jesus saw a city that despised God, they had turned the Temple into a den of thieves, their faith had become a ritualistic religion, and they had forgotten the mercies of God. He cried in sorrow against the city that killed the prophets and those that are sent unto her; He expressed the longing of God to gather His people unto Him, but they wouldn’t be gathered (Mat 23:37).
The Spirit of God does not find it funny when people are hurt or made fun at. The Spirit of God rather cries when He sees His children going the wrong way.
The Spirit of God is not insensitive to pain, heartaches, or woes
The Spirit of God tenderly pleads and cries for the soul to find its way.
When you see evil:
Does your spirit ache pains of sympathy for God, feeling embarrassed at the attitude of His Children?
Does it make you weep like it did Jesus when He saw Jerusalem in sin?
Does it make you wish that you could take the whole world into your arms and protect them form their own evil deeds?
Are you afraid of the pain such empathy would create, so you stay indifferent, or think it a jest?
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Daily Devotion
April 27, 2006
Psa 119:135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.
Our prayers can be so full of “gimme’s”. “Gimme” this, and “gimme” that, and all for material blessings.
Two men stand before me in the tribunal of the opinions of the world:
One is healthy, the other afflicted by disease.
One is decked with gold; the other is wearing threadbare rags.
One is wealthy, the other begging for his daily food.
One has wit; the other is simple as child.
One’s life is wholesome, the other’s barely above sin’s flow
One’s life is long; the other was dramatic and short
Tell me my friend in the full honesty of your mind; do you equate the shining of God’s face on the “one”, or on the “other”? Do you equate the blessing of God on popularity, abundance, long life, wealth, wit, or on the blessing of being taught God’s statutes?
Oh that we would look at His Words in the way God looks at them!
Oh that we would look at success in the way God looks at it!
Oh that we would look at riches in the way God looks at them!
Oh that we would look at death in the way God looks at it!
Help us to realize that Your face shines upon us as we bathe in the light and clarity of Your Words. That there is no other blessing so dear as the warmth of Your precepts, and no other love so precious as the faithfulness of Your statutes.
Jam 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.
Our prayers can be so full of “gimme’s”. “Gimme” this, and “gimme” that, and all for material blessings.
Two men stand before me in the tribunal of the opinions of the world:
One is healthy, the other afflicted by disease.
One is decked with gold; the other is wearing threadbare rags.
One is wealthy, the other begging for his daily food.
One has wit; the other is simple as child.
One’s life is wholesome, the other’s barely above sin’s flow
One’s life is long; the other was dramatic and short
Tell me my friend in the full honesty of your mind; do you equate the shining of God’s face on the “one”, or on the “other”? Do you equate the blessing of God on popularity, abundance, long life, wealth, wit, or on the blessing of being taught God’s statutes?
Oh that we would look at His Words in the way God looks at them!
Oh that we would look at success in the way God looks at it!
Oh that we would look at riches in the way God looks at them!
Oh that we would look at death in the way God looks at it!
Help us to realize that Your face shines upon us as we bathe in the light and clarity of Your Words. That there is no other blessing so dear as the warmth of Your precepts, and no other love so precious as the faithfulness of Your statutes.
Jam 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Daily Devotion
April 26, 2006
Psa 119:134 Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.
Many understand the keeping of God’s precepts as something they “have” to do; the point is that it is something we “get” to do!
Man’s governments usually work against the keeping of God’s biblically established precepts. Because of man’s sinful nature, governments have to enforce their own laws in order to keep order, and protect their citizens. When these laws are the product of secularism and/or special interest religious groups and denominations, there is an element of oppression for the people of God who are supposed to be led by God only, via the Holy Spirit.
In the Word it is encouraged for God’s children to follow the local governmental laws in order to live in peace with all men an be able to be free to continue preaching the Gospel to every creature (Mk 16:15). But when these laws start to be diametrically opposed to the basic spiritual rules of God’s kingdom, then we are told that it is better to obey God than to obey man (Acts 5:29). Even now, the pure spirit of the people of God yearns to be free (Rom 8:23).
It is only in the millennial era that this prayer from King David will be fully answered. Only then, when the world is fully controlled by Jesus the Christ Himself, will we be completely free from the oppression of man’s governments (Rev 20:4). Not only is it hard to live today in the morals and spiritual realm that we could be, but also the Bible tells us that it will become harder, even to just be a Christian or a God believing person (Rev 13:7).
This is not meant to make us fear, because we know that in the end, Jesus is the victorious conqueror of our souls and of the world.
Rev 20:1-10 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. (2) And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, (3) And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. (4) And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (5) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (6) Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (7) And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, (8) And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. (9) And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. (10) And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:134 Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.
Many understand the keeping of God’s precepts as something they “have” to do; the point is that it is something we “get” to do!
Man’s governments usually work against the keeping of God’s biblically established precepts. Because of man’s sinful nature, governments have to enforce their own laws in order to keep order, and protect their citizens. When these laws are the product of secularism and/or special interest religious groups and denominations, there is an element of oppression for the people of God who are supposed to be led by God only, via the Holy Spirit.
In the Word it is encouraged for God’s children to follow the local governmental laws in order to live in peace with all men an be able to be free to continue preaching the Gospel to every creature (Mk 16:15). But when these laws start to be diametrically opposed to the basic spiritual rules of God’s kingdom, then we are told that it is better to obey God than to obey man (Acts 5:29). Even now, the pure spirit of the people of God yearns to be free (Rom 8:23).
It is only in the millennial era that this prayer from King David will be fully answered. Only then, when the world is fully controlled by Jesus the Christ Himself, will we be completely free from the oppression of man’s governments (Rev 20:4). Not only is it hard to live today in the morals and spiritual realm that we could be, but also the Bible tells us that it will become harder, even to just be a Christian or a God believing person (Rev 13:7).
This is not meant to make us fear, because we know that in the end, Jesus is the victorious conqueror of our souls and of the world.
Rev 20:1-10 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. (2) And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, (3) And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. (4) And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (5) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (6) Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (7) And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, (8) And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. (9) And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. (10) And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Daily Devotion
April 25, 2006
Psa 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
INIQUITY:
As long as we live in this world, iniquity will be present with us; we will not be rid of it. The goal is to not let it have dominion over us. The only way for iniquity to not dominate us is to let God order our steps. We cannot pray, “Lord protect me, but let me go where I want”; “Lord, keep me healthy but don’t try to curb my food habits”; or even better. “Lord, help my spirit to reflect you, but don’t regulate my media diet”. If we do not want iniquity to have dominion over us, we need to also pray, “Lord, order my steps”, and obey his “ordering”.
The sad thing is that iniquity has no power of its own on us, until give it an invitation. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil 1 Jo 3:8) and He led captivity captive (Eph 4:8);we are protected with the seal of God. But as soon as we go the way of the enemy through disobedient action or attitude, a part of him becomes part of us. It becomes like a digital cookie, which creates a bridge to other ones, and eventually, we get the virus that freezes our spiritual machine to a dead stop.
Let us not give over the victory to the enemy by voluntarily putting ourselves in harm’s way. Most temptations are avoided by staying away from temptation media wave channels. Let us rather tune in to God’s channel so He can “order” our “steps” in His Word.
May God help you today, order your paths from iniquity.
May God help you today to obey His good, gentle leading.
May God help you today not invite glittering temptation
May God help you today to have endurance in fighting.
1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
ANECDOTE:
There is a story of a southern man who came to a watchmaker and gave him the hands of a clock, saying: "I want yer to fix up dese hans. Dey jes' doan' keep no mo' kerrec' time for mo' den six monfs." "Where is the clock?" answered the watchmaker. "Out at de house on Injun Creek." "But I must have the clock." "Didn't I tell yer dar's nuffin' de matter wid de clock 'ceptin' de hans? And I done brought 'em to you. You jes' want the clock so you can tinker with it and charge me a big price. Gimme back dem hans." And so saying, he went off to find some reasonable watchmaker. Foolish as he was, his caution is very like that of those who try to regulate their lives without being made right on the inside. And their reason for not putting themselves into the hands of the Lord is very similar to the reason the colored man gave. They are afraid the price will be too great. They say, "We only wish to avoid this or that habit." But the Master Workman says, "I cannot regulate the hands unless I have the heart."
Psa 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
INIQUITY:
As long as we live in this world, iniquity will be present with us; we will not be rid of it. The goal is to not let it have dominion over us. The only way for iniquity to not dominate us is to let God order our steps. We cannot pray, “Lord protect me, but let me go where I want”; “Lord, keep me healthy but don’t try to curb my food habits”; or even better. “Lord, help my spirit to reflect you, but don’t regulate my media diet”. If we do not want iniquity to have dominion over us, we need to also pray, “Lord, order my steps”, and obey his “ordering”.
The sad thing is that iniquity has no power of its own on us, until give it an invitation. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil 1 Jo 3:8) and He led captivity captive (Eph 4:8);we are protected with the seal of God. But as soon as we go the way of the enemy through disobedient action or attitude, a part of him becomes part of us. It becomes like a digital cookie, which creates a bridge to other ones, and eventually, we get the virus that freezes our spiritual machine to a dead stop.
Let us not give over the victory to the enemy by voluntarily putting ourselves in harm’s way. Most temptations are avoided by staying away from temptation media wave channels. Let us rather tune in to God’s channel so He can “order” our “steps” in His Word.
May God help you today, order your paths from iniquity.
May God help you today to obey His good, gentle leading.
May God help you today not invite glittering temptation
May God help you today to have endurance in fighting.
1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
ANECDOTE:
There is a story of a southern man who came to a watchmaker and gave him the hands of a clock, saying: "I want yer to fix up dese hans. Dey jes' doan' keep no mo' kerrec' time for mo' den six monfs." "Where is the clock?" answered the watchmaker. "Out at de house on Injun Creek." "But I must have the clock." "Didn't I tell yer dar's nuffin' de matter wid de clock 'ceptin' de hans? And I done brought 'em to you. You jes' want the clock so you can tinker with it and charge me a big price. Gimme back dem hans." And so saying, he went off to find some reasonable watchmaker. Foolish as he was, his caution is very like that of those who try to regulate their lives without being made right on the inside. And their reason for not putting themselves into the hands of the Lord is very similar to the reason the colored man gave. They are afraid the price will be too great. They say, "We only wish to avoid this or that habit." But the Master Workman says, "I cannot regulate the hands unless I have the heart."
Monday, April 24, 2006
Daily Devotion
April 24, 2006
Psa 119:132 Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.
Paul reminds us that we “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). The soul convicted of sin before its God is like that of the child whom the parents found in disobedience. The child will need training and correction, but as he grows into a teenager he will be personally responsible for his actions, he will then also need mercy to preserve even his life from the penalty of disobedience, which is death (Deut 21:18). The “victim mentality” of this age allows us the indulgence of blaming our disobediences on everything and everyone, dead or alive; but in the sight of God, we are solely responsible for our faults.
There are so many souls today convicted of disobedience who cannot bear even a look from their Heavenly father. They are like the teenager who in his heart knows he has disappointed his parents, so in his pride, instead of trying to change and make amends, he leaves home and spends the rest of his life running. First he runs from home, then from responsibility and in the end he runs from the law. All he had to do from the beginning is look back in his parent’s eyes, who should indulge him with the same mercy they themselves benefit from at the hand of their Heavenly Father.
Will you stop running? Will you stop pretending? Will you stop faking righteousness with your make-up of hypocrisy? Will you turn around, and ask Him to look upon your wretched sinful face with mercy? Oh I know, His mercy means “honey”, His mercy means “bitter”. His mercy means “plenty”, though sometimes looks “poorer”. His mercy means “blue skies” in the eye of the storm; His mercy means “comfort”, in my soul so forlorn. His mercy may deliver from pain; His mercy may sustain the pain. His mercy may free from the cross, His mercy may also bring the cross. But whatever His mercy means, whatever the Father places in its hands, may I look at it as the gift that he chose to help me make amends.
Let us today realize the mercy God pours into our lives, and stop whining at our blessings by using this truer perspective and standard:
“Whatever the Lord allows in our lives is “mercy” compared to what we really deserve.”
Lam 3:22-23 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. (23) They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:132 Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.
Paul reminds us that we “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). The soul convicted of sin before its God is like that of the child whom the parents found in disobedience. The child will need training and correction, but as he grows into a teenager he will be personally responsible for his actions, he will then also need mercy to preserve even his life from the penalty of disobedience, which is death (Deut 21:18). The “victim mentality” of this age allows us the indulgence of blaming our disobediences on everything and everyone, dead or alive; but in the sight of God, we are solely responsible for our faults.
There are so many souls today convicted of disobedience who cannot bear even a look from their Heavenly father. They are like the teenager who in his heart knows he has disappointed his parents, so in his pride, instead of trying to change and make amends, he leaves home and spends the rest of his life running. First he runs from home, then from responsibility and in the end he runs from the law. All he had to do from the beginning is look back in his parent’s eyes, who should indulge him with the same mercy they themselves benefit from at the hand of their Heavenly Father.
Will you stop running? Will you stop pretending? Will you stop faking righteousness with your make-up of hypocrisy? Will you turn around, and ask Him to look upon your wretched sinful face with mercy? Oh I know, His mercy means “honey”, His mercy means “bitter”. His mercy means “plenty”, though sometimes looks “poorer”. His mercy means “blue skies” in the eye of the storm; His mercy means “comfort”, in my soul so forlorn. His mercy may deliver from pain; His mercy may sustain the pain. His mercy may free from the cross, His mercy may also bring the cross. But whatever His mercy means, whatever the Father places in its hands, may I look at it as the gift that he chose to help me make amends.
Let us today realize the mercy God pours into our lives, and stop whining at our blessings by using this truer perspective and standard:
“Whatever the Lord allows in our lives is “mercy” compared to what we really deserve.”
Lam 3:22-23 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. (23) They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Daily Devotion
April 23, 2006
Psa 119:131 I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.
If you have never felt the pangs of intense thirst, I don’t know if you can realize the intensity of “panting”. Panting is a term generally used for animals such as a hart, or even a dog.
From the very beginning, man was to subdue and have dominion over the animals of the earth (Gen 1:28). Just as the animals are dominated by man and are dependant on his mercy and care, so we are dominated by God and are dependant on His mercy and care. Compared to God’s omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence, our limited nature could almost seem like this relationship that the animals have towards man. When it came to his relationship with God, David was conscious of this great majesty of Yehovah, and he was not afraid to humiliate himself in words, by using expressions like “panting” when describing his need for his God, and by his “wild” deeds, in exhibiting a wild worship dance in front of his subjects (2 Sam 6:21,22).
This text is about panting for the Word of God, about longing for His commandments. I think that many people are starving and panting in longing for God’s commandments, but they don’t know it. They interpret it as needing more “amusement”*, a physical enjoyment of some sort. Sometimes this empty feeling comes into us and we think that we need to get into a relationship, watch a movie, smoke a cigarette, take drugs, have sex, call our therapist. The only thing that ever satisfies the human soul is a connection with his God, but man tries to fill it with all kinds of other things, so that now it pants and is starving.
Lord, help me to know when my heart pants for you. Help me to go to the fountains of living waters, and not to look to carnal things in order to fill it. Even though I have waters here that can satisfy me for a moment, help me to desire the waters of eternal life.
*AMUSEMENT. From “muse”: think; with the affix “a”: without.
Amusement literally means “away from thinking”. People search for amusements to get away from having to think about their problems, the direction their lives are headed, and the deeper meaning of life.
Joh 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: (14) But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Psa 119:131 I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.
If you have never felt the pangs of intense thirst, I don’t know if you can realize the intensity of “panting”. Panting is a term generally used for animals such as a hart, or even a dog.
From the very beginning, man was to subdue and have dominion over the animals of the earth (Gen 1:28). Just as the animals are dominated by man and are dependant on his mercy and care, so we are dominated by God and are dependant on His mercy and care. Compared to God’s omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence, our limited nature could almost seem like this relationship that the animals have towards man. When it came to his relationship with God, David was conscious of this great majesty of Yehovah, and he was not afraid to humiliate himself in words, by using expressions like “panting” when describing his need for his God, and by his “wild” deeds, in exhibiting a wild worship dance in front of his subjects (2 Sam 6:21,22).
This text is about panting for the Word of God, about longing for His commandments. I think that many people are starving and panting in longing for God’s commandments, but they don’t know it. They interpret it as needing more “amusement”*, a physical enjoyment of some sort. Sometimes this empty feeling comes into us and we think that we need to get into a relationship, watch a movie, smoke a cigarette, take drugs, have sex, call our therapist. The only thing that ever satisfies the human soul is a connection with his God, but man tries to fill it with all kinds of other things, so that now it pants and is starving.
Lord, help me to know when my heart pants for you. Help me to go to the fountains of living waters, and not to look to carnal things in order to fill it. Even though I have waters here that can satisfy me for a moment, help me to desire the waters of eternal life.
*AMUSEMENT. From “muse”: think; with the affix “a”: without.
Amusement literally means “away from thinking”. People search for amusements to get away from having to think about their problems, the direction their lives are headed, and the deeper meaning of life.
Joh 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: (14) But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Daily Devotion
April 21, 2006
Psa 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
A friend was telling me how confused and stressed she was. I encouraged her to be sure not to neglect her daily Word intake nor her prayer time. She told me that she did spend a daily substantial amount of time feeding herself spiritually, and even had regular fellowship with other Christians. What was the problem then? Why was she still confused? How can someone spend time in the presence of the LORD through His precious Words, and still come out confused and stressed? The only other question I had was, to inquire about the content of her spiritual diet. What was she reading? Was it appropriate for her situation? Was it Bible based material or the teachings of a man? Did she even study the Bible itself or did she rely on the studies of others? Did she apply the Word to herself, or did she absolve herself. The light of the Word finds no entrance in some minds because they are blocked by negative attitudes.
The Word should flood our spirits with light. The Word should bring our hearts an influx of clarity. The Word should fill our minds so that nothing is confused anymore. The Word should strengthen our faith so that we have the confidence that His hand is in our lives, even when everything seems contrary to our expectations.
When we spend time in the presence of the LORD through His Words, by faith, everything should seem clear. But there has got to be an “entrance”. It cannot be the shallow hearing of the ear; it has to be the deep hearing of the heart. In the Greek, the word “believe”, “pisteuo” is synonymous to “drink in”. Therefore the way one has to believe to partake of eternal life, is by the entrance of the Word, as if it were water that enters in, and is distributed to every part of our being.
Oh LORD, I am a simple person. Bring understanding to my heart through the enlightening of my soul. Let not indifference, unbelief, prejudice and self-concept block the entrance of your Words in me. Waters always look and rush for the lowest places; help my heart to be lowly and meek, so that if be filled to overflowing with you waters of Light.
“I would rather lay my soul asoak in half a dozen {Bible} verses all day, than rinse my hand in several chapters.” Charles Spurgeon
Deu 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
A friend was telling me how confused and stressed she was. I encouraged her to be sure not to neglect her daily Word intake nor her prayer time. She told me that she did spend a daily substantial amount of time feeding herself spiritually, and even had regular fellowship with other Christians. What was the problem then? Why was she still confused? How can someone spend time in the presence of the LORD through His precious Words, and still come out confused and stressed? The only other question I had was, to inquire about the content of her spiritual diet. What was she reading? Was it appropriate for her situation? Was it Bible based material or the teachings of a man? Did she even study the Bible itself or did she rely on the studies of others? Did she apply the Word to herself, or did she absolve herself. The light of the Word finds no entrance in some minds because they are blocked by negative attitudes.
The Word should flood our spirits with light. The Word should bring our hearts an influx of clarity. The Word should fill our minds so that nothing is confused anymore. The Word should strengthen our faith so that we have the confidence that His hand is in our lives, even when everything seems contrary to our expectations.
When we spend time in the presence of the LORD through His Words, by faith, everything should seem clear. But there has got to be an “entrance”. It cannot be the shallow hearing of the ear; it has to be the deep hearing of the heart. In the Greek, the word “believe”, “pisteuo” is synonymous to “drink in”. Therefore the way one has to believe to partake of eternal life, is by the entrance of the Word, as if it were water that enters in, and is distributed to every part of our being.
Oh LORD, I am a simple person. Bring understanding to my heart through the enlightening of my soul. Let not indifference, unbelief, prejudice and self-concept block the entrance of your Words in me. Waters always look and rush for the lowest places; help my heart to be lowly and meek, so that if be filled to overflowing with you waters of Light.
“I would rather lay my soul asoak in half a dozen {Bible} verses all day, than rinse my hand in several chapters.” Charles Spurgeon
Deu 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Friday, April 21, 2006
Daily Devotion
April 21, 2006
Psa 119:129 Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
We live in the age of advertisement. A product, a method, a cure, a political party, an opinion, a therapy, a Church, a religion, a philosophy, everyone wants to sell you something, or on something. In their efforts to convince you, they will fill your senses with seemingly irrefutable testimonials and proofs that they are the “best”, the “original”, and the most “viewed”, “heard”, “sold”, “practiced”, “growing trend”, “natural”. But how can each of these, be all these things? This reminds me of the story of how the inmate of an insane asylum came to the director pointing out that another inmate believed with absolute certainty that he was Napoleon. Feeling that the reporting inmate was finally coming to his sanity, the director asked, “And why would you think that he cannot be Napoleon?” “It is simple” replied the first inmate, “How can HE be Napoleon when I am Napoleon!”
Beloved, let it not be so with our views of the Word of God. There are today many teachers and expounders of the Word of God, each with his own convincing interpretation, so much so that an overdose of “objective” listening in this doctrinal “supermarket” where one can pick and choose what he wants to believe, can leave one completely confused and disillusioned. In the early days of the Church at Corinth, some members wanted to free themselves from the responsibility of following some of the “straight and narrow” (Mat 7:14) truths of the Word, so they started “shopping” their doctrinal beliefs from among their religious teachers. Paul, in his wisdom stopped the dispute by bringing them all back to the Word: CHRIST-JESUS (1 Cor 1:11-13; 3:3-7, and also 1 Cor 3:21-23; 4:15-16).
Beloved, the words and teachings of man are an unsound foundation. They have, and will always fail. Look only to the inspired Biblical Word of God, interpreted in your heart by the Holy Spirit which has been ordained to teach us all things (John 14:26). The Word is Wonderful. It is Wonderful in its exactness, balance, accuracy, truth, wisdom, invariableness and consistency; His testimonies are wonderful and your soul can commit itself to the keeping of them with no fear of error or falling.
(Rev 21:2-3; 12-14) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (3) And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: (13) On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. (14) And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:129 Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
We live in the age of advertisement. A product, a method, a cure, a political party, an opinion, a therapy, a Church, a religion, a philosophy, everyone wants to sell you something, or on something. In their efforts to convince you, they will fill your senses with seemingly irrefutable testimonials and proofs that they are the “best”, the “original”, and the most “viewed”, “heard”, “sold”, “practiced”, “growing trend”, “natural”. But how can each of these, be all these things? This reminds me of the story of how the inmate of an insane asylum came to the director pointing out that another inmate believed with absolute certainty that he was Napoleon. Feeling that the reporting inmate was finally coming to his sanity, the director asked, “And why would you think that he cannot be Napoleon?” “It is simple” replied the first inmate, “How can HE be Napoleon when I am Napoleon!”
Beloved, let it not be so with our views of the Word of God. There are today many teachers and expounders of the Word of God, each with his own convincing interpretation, so much so that an overdose of “objective” listening in this doctrinal “supermarket” where one can pick and choose what he wants to believe, can leave one completely confused and disillusioned. In the early days of the Church at Corinth, some members wanted to free themselves from the responsibility of following some of the “straight and narrow” (Mat 7:14) truths of the Word, so they started “shopping” their doctrinal beliefs from among their religious teachers. Paul, in his wisdom stopped the dispute by bringing them all back to the Word: CHRIST-JESUS (1 Cor 1:11-13; 3:3-7, and also 1 Cor 3:21-23; 4:15-16).
Beloved, the words and teachings of man are an unsound foundation. They have, and will always fail. Look only to the inspired Biblical Word of God, interpreted in your heart by the Holy Spirit which has been ordained to teach us all things (John 14:26). The Word is Wonderful. It is Wonderful in its exactness, balance, accuracy, truth, wisdom, invariableness and consistency; His testimonies are wonderful and your soul can commit itself to the keeping of them with no fear of error or falling.
(Rev 21:2-3; 12-14) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (3) And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: (13) On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. (14) And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Daily Devotion
April 20, 2006
Psa 119:126-128 It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law. Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
Two ways man uses to void the Law of God:
1) He attacks the authenticity of the Word so one won’t feel accountable to it.
2) He makes ungodly living fashionable, and gives a bad connotation to wholesome living.
--We live in a time when a man is no more a man, and a woman is no more a woman; when a child wants to play adult games, and adults behave like children.
--We live in a time when feelings have replaced facts; form has replaced faith; when “saying it’ is as good as “being it”, and when appearances are as good as reality.
--We live in a time when if one dares to speak the truth he is a “fanatic”, but falsehoods are only a “matter of one’s personal opinion”.
--We live in a time when children teach their parents the ways of the world, because parents are afraid to teach their children the ways of God.
--We live in a time when “bad” means good, and good means “old-fashioned”.
We live in a time when the people of God see these things, but having been delivered from the Egyptian Pharaoh who kept them in the captivity of their sin (Ex 12), they have now succumbed to the serpents that resulted from their fearful murmuring (Num 21:5-7), and to the fateful price of hiding an “Achan’s wedge” of materialism within their “tent” (Jos 7), and therefore they are weak. Only when they look fully again upon their Savior lifted upon the wood (Numbers 21:9), and clean themselves from the unclean loot, (2 Cor 6:17), will they be re-strengthened.
It is time, yes, now it is time, O Lord to fight for us, to work. Open the eyes of our hearts and of our spirits that we may see and understand the unadulterated truth of Your Word, that we may love Thy commandments above gold, esteem thy precepts concerning all things, and hate every false way.
Joh 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:126-128 It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law. Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
Two ways man uses to void the Law of God:
1) He attacks the authenticity of the Word so one won’t feel accountable to it.
2) He makes ungodly living fashionable, and gives a bad connotation to wholesome living.
--We live in a time when a man is no more a man, and a woman is no more a woman; when a child wants to play adult games, and adults behave like children.
--We live in a time when feelings have replaced facts; form has replaced faith; when “saying it’ is as good as “being it”, and when appearances are as good as reality.
--We live in a time when if one dares to speak the truth he is a “fanatic”, but falsehoods are only a “matter of one’s personal opinion”.
--We live in a time when children teach their parents the ways of the world, because parents are afraid to teach their children the ways of God.
--We live in a time when “bad” means good, and good means “old-fashioned”.
We live in a time when the people of God see these things, but having been delivered from the Egyptian Pharaoh who kept them in the captivity of their sin (Ex 12), they have now succumbed to the serpents that resulted from their fearful murmuring (Num 21:5-7), and to the fateful price of hiding an “Achan’s wedge” of materialism within their “tent” (Jos 7), and therefore they are weak. Only when they look fully again upon their Savior lifted upon the wood (Numbers 21:9), and clean themselves from the unclean loot, (2 Cor 6:17), will they be re-strengthened.
It is time, yes, now it is time, O Lord to fight for us, to work. Open the eyes of our hearts and of our spirits that we may see and understand the unadulterated truth of Your Word, that we may love Thy commandments above gold, esteem thy precepts concerning all things, and hate every false way.
Joh 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Daily Devotion
April 19, 2006
Psa 119:125 KJV I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.
A certain French Marquis was raised to his grand & exalted state from very humble surroundings. He had been a shepherd in his earlier days & so, in his palace, he had one room known as "The Shepherd's Room". In that room were reproductions of hills & valleys & running streams & rocks & sheepfolds. Here were the staff he had carried & the clothes he had worn as a lad when herding his sheep. When asked one day the meaning of this, he replied, "If ever my heart is tempted to haughtiness & pride, I go into that room & remind myself of what I once was." Such humility would have saved Nebuchadnezzar & Belshazzar Daniel 4 and 5).
Yes, we are Children of the Almighty. Yes, we have been adopted at a high price. Yes, none can touch us without the permission of the almighty God. Yes, we will be standing in the courts of the Lord forever as His favored children. We stand in this world as a light shining in the midst of darkness (Eph 5:8), a chosen royal priesthood (1 Pet 2:9). But when we come in front of our Lord, as the twenty-four elders do (Rev 4:10), let us cast down our shiny crowns, and remember our humble station of servants of the living God.
It is impossible to truly be in the presence of God and not be humbled by it. Walking daily in the presence of the Lord in spirit should therefore cause an automatic attitude of humility. If your religion allows you to behave in pride and arrogance, your god is indeed a small one. If you do know the Almighty, and still behave in pride and arrogance, it gives evidence that you are walking closer to worldlings than you are to your God.
Lord Jesus, help me to be a good example of You. Help me to walk close to You in Spirit daily so that I would be humbled and walk more in your Spirit. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. .
Phi 2:6-8 KJV Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:125 KJV I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.
A certain French Marquis was raised to his grand & exalted state from very humble surroundings. He had been a shepherd in his earlier days & so, in his palace, he had one room known as "The Shepherd's Room". In that room were reproductions of hills & valleys & running streams & rocks & sheepfolds. Here were the staff he had carried & the clothes he had worn as a lad when herding his sheep. When asked one day the meaning of this, he replied, "If ever my heart is tempted to haughtiness & pride, I go into that room & remind myself of what I once was." Such humility would have saved Nebuchadnezzar & Belshazzar Daniel 4 and 5).
Yes, we are Children of the Almighty. Yes, we have been adopted at a high price. Yes, none can touch us without the permission of the almighty God. Yes, we will be standing in the courts of the Lord forever as His favored children. We stand in this world as a light shining in the midst of darkness (Eph 5:8), a chosen royal priesthood (1 Pet 2:9). But when we come in front of our Lord, as the twenty-four elders do (Rev 4:10), let us cast down our shiny crowns, and remember our humble station of servants of the living God.
It is impossible to truly be in the presence of God and not be humbled by it. Walking daily in the presence of the Lord in spirit should therefore cause an automatic attitude of humility. If your religion allows you to behave in pride and arrogance, your god is indeed a small one. If you do know the Almighty, and still behave in pride and arrogance, it gives evidence that you are walking closer to worldlings than you are to your God.
Lord Jesus, help me to be a good example of You. Help me to walk close to You in Spirit daily so that I would be humbled and walk more in your Spirit. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. .
Phi 2:6-8 KJV Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Daily Devotion
April 18, 2006
Psa 119:124 KJV Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.
Thank God that God does not rule us by justice; we would all be condemned. Anyone who wants to apply the rigid rule of justice to all, needs to start by applying it to himself. The Bible says that we all have sinned, so technically we are all condemned from the start (Rom 3:23; 6:23).
There is much more peace in our heart in appealing for God’s mercy than for his justice, and if mercy is to be applied, it is to be applied to all. Mercy is a bridge that we cannot deny to others without also denying it to ourselves. What greater example is there than that of the story of Jonah.
Jonah was a Hebrew statesman. God asked Jonah to go to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire who at that time cruelly oppressed the Hebrew nation. God asked him to go on an errand of mercy to these people--these people, who were idol worshippers, unbelievers in the LORD—and give them the message of God so they could avoid His punishing judgments. Put this one in context of world politics today to can get an idea of the situation! No wonder Jonah didn’t want to go! Jonah knew that God was merciful, and that if the Ninevites repented, God would forego His judgments, even on that cruel Assyrian empire, and this is exactly what happened, which made Jonah very upset. Jonah had the “victim mentality” spirit of revenge. He wanted Nineveh to get the justice that came to her. He forgot that God allowed the Assyrians to persecute the ten tribes of Israel because of their disobedience to His Laws, whereas the Lord said of the Ninevites, that they didn’t even know their right from their left. (Jonah 3:10; 4:1,2;4:11). Jesus even justified the Ninevites of Jonah’s day before the Jewish religious leaders of His own day (mat 12:41).
The question is: Do you pray for God to deal with others according to His justice, and to deal with you according to His *mercy?
* Mercy: Undeserved forgiveness
Joh 8:7 KJV So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:124 KJV Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.
Thank God that God does not rule us by justice; we would all be condemned. Anyone who wants to apply the rigid rule of justice to all, needs to start by applying it to himself. The Bible says that we all have sinned, so technically we are all condemned from the start (Rom 3:23; 6:23).
There is much more peace in our heart in appealing for God’s mercy than for his justice, and if mercy is to be applied, it is to be applied to all. Mercy is a bridge that we cannot deny to others without also denying it to ourselves. What greater example is there than that of the story of Jonah.
Jonah was a Hebrew statesman. God asked Jonah to go to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire who at that time cruelly oppressed the Hebrew nation. God asked him to go on an errand of mercy to these people--these people, who were idol worshippers, unbelievers in the LORD—and give them the message of God so they could avoid His punishing judgments. Put this one in context of world politics today to can get an idea of the situation! No wonder Jonah didn’t want to go! Jonah knew that God was merciful, and that if the Ninevites repented, God would forego His judgments, even on that cruel Assyrian empire, and this is exactly what happened, which made Jonah very upset. Jonah had the “victim mentality” spirit of revenge. He wanted Nineveh to get the justice that came to her. He forgot that God allowed the Assyrians to persecute the ten tribes of Israel because of their disobedience to His Laws, whereas the Lord said of the Ninevites, that they didn’t even know their right from their left. (Jonah 3:10; 4:1,2;4:11). Jesus even justified the Ninevites of Jonah’s day before the Jewish religious leaders of His own day (mat 12:41).
The question is: Do you pray for God to deal with others according to His justice, and to deal with you according to His *mercy?
* Mercy: Undeserved forgiveness
Joh 8:7 KJV So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Monday, April 17, 2006
Daily Devotion
April 17, 2006
Psa 119:123 KJV Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.
It is amazing to realize how many times God waits until the very last minute to rescue us. But can you wait? How long does it take until you give up waiting on the Lord to help you? Can you wait until He comes through? Do you have the assurance of faith to wait for “the hour” of the Lord, and not rush to your own rescue? Have you ever waited so long that your eyes failed, filled with tears, in your desperate wait for an answer--a confirmation--while so tempted to leave off trusting and run to your own strength? Have you wrestled with the angel until the break of day though he left his mark of infirmity on you? (Gen 32:24,25).
Sometimes it may seem that God’s timing is a bit off; but isn’t it really ours that is off? He often waits till “the break of day”, (Gen 32:24) for us to come to the end of our rope, the end of our own human resources, in order to show His greatness and help us in a “nick of time”. Maybe He likes suspense! Or maybe, He wants to test our faith to see if we really can wait on Him, or will we resort to our fleshly human efforts?
Some of us are tested with our health, some with our finances, and yet others through our family situations. But before we decide to take this medicine with potentially serious side effects, let us take the time to pray and see if perhaps He may heal. Before spending money on the credit card, or make a potentially long-term loan, pray and see if perhaps He has a plan to supply. And before making rash decisions about your children or your marriage, ask the Lord as He may have some solutions. And when you pray for all these things, have the patience to wrestle with that angel until daybreak, until you eyes “fail” in tears for the Word of His righteousness that will direct and save you.
Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psa 37:34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:123 KJV Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.
It is amazing to realize how many times God waits until the very last minute to rescue us. But can you wait? How long does it take until you give up waiting on the Lord to help you? Can you wait until He comes through? Do you have the assurance of faith to wait for “the hour” of the Lord, and not rush to your own rescue? Have you ever waited so long that your eyes failed, filled with tears, in your desperate wait for an answer--a confirmation--while so tempted to leave off trusting and run to your own strength? Have you wrestled with the angel until the break of day though he left his mark of infirmity on you? (Gen 32:24,25).
Sometimes it may seem that God’s timing is a bit off; but isn’t it really ours that is off? He often waits till “the break of day”, (Gen 32:24) for us to come to the end of our rope, the end of our own human resources, in order to show His greatness and help us in a “nick of time”. Maybe He likes suspense! Or maybe, He wants to test our faith to see if we really can wait on Him, or will we resort to our fleshly human efforts?
Some of us are tested with our health, some with our finances, and yet others through our family situations. But before we decide to take this medicine with potentially serious side effects, let us take the time to pray and see if perhaps He may heal. Before spending money on the credit card, or make a potentially long-term loan, pray and see if perhaps He has a plan to supply. And before making rash decisions about your children or your marriage, ask the Lord as He may have some solutions. And when you pray for all these things, have the patience to wrestle with that angel until daybreak, until you eyes “fail” in tears for the Word of His righteousness that will direct and save you.
Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psa 37:34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Daily devotion
April 16, 2006
Psa 119:122 KJV Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me.
The following is a true story. It is about a family who made a “heart adoption” of a teenage girl. Her mom was a drug addict who had had many boy friends, some of whom had abused her other sisters. In the course of her fourteen years, this girl had never enjoyed the safe environment of a stable family life. In order to protect herself, she became extremely bossy, possessive--mean. Due to lack of parenting these attitudes stayed unchecked for a long time, and she therefore developed hard behaviors which made it difficult for people to care for her. She went from foster home to foster home, from state facility to state facility. She was finally taken into this family with a boy 3 three years younger than her, and it was not long until her mean insecure behavior unleashed on the poor boy. At this point it is important to say here that this family had made the decision to take this trouble teenage girl into their lives and home with the boy, who voluntarily agreed to share his parents out of compassion for her, and out of gratitude for what he had.
In spite of the constant rude meanness of the girl towards him, he showed a remarkable ability to love. He would even feel bad for her when she was corrected for hurting him. He constantly wanted to include her, when she mostly tried to exclude him. Eventually, his parents saw that his naturally jovial and happy attitude was starting to suffer. He was starting to become angry, vengeful and discouraged, but due to his compassion for her, he could not find it within himself to retaliate. It was time for the parents to intervene and they began to pay closer attention to the proud remarks that were lashed at him. They started to actively defend him from the “oppression of the proud”, making sure that he was safe from her unloving attitudes. And in turn, this exposure of the proud remarks sparked a change in the teenage girl.
Such it is between God and us. When God sees that in spite of our hurt, in spite of our pain due to the oppression from the proud we do not try to retaliate to avenge ourselves, He Himself comes to our rescue; He becomes our avenger. Our command from Him is to love one another (John 13:34), to put our love in action (Jam 2:26), to preach the Gospel (Mk 16:15), to forgive evil done against us (Mat 6:15), to give above and beyond what is required of us (Mat 5:42), and to let Him take care of vengeance (Rom 12:19). No matter what happens to us in life, let us try not to avenge ourselves, but rather stay faithful to the commandments He gave us, while allowing him to be our standard and a shield from the oppression of the proud.
Rom 12:19 KJV Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:122 KJV Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me.
The following is a true story. It is about a family who made a “heart adoption” of a teenage girl. Her mom was a drug addict who had had many boy friends, some of whom had abused her other sisters. In the course of her fourteen years, this girl had never enjoyed the safe environment of a stable family life. In order to protect herself, she became extremely bossy, possessive--mean. Due to lack of parenting these attitudes stayed unchecked for a long time, and she therefore developed hard behaviors which made it difficult for people to care for her. She went from foster home to foster home, from state facility to state facility. She was finally taken into this family with a boy 3 three years younger than her, and it was not long until her mean insecure behavior unleashed on the poor boy. At this point it is important to say here that this family had made the decision to take this trouble teenage girl into their lives and home with the boy, who voluntarily agreed to share his parents out of compassion for her, and out of gratitude for what he had.
In spite of the constant rude meanness of the girl towards him, he showed a remarkable ability to love. He would even feel bad for her when she was corrected for hurting him. He constantly wanted to include her, when she mostly tried to exclude him. Eventually, his parents saw that his naturally jovial and happy attitude was starting to suffer. He was starting to become angry, vengeful and discouraged, but due to his compassion for her, he could not find it within himself to retaliate. It was time for the parents to intervene and they began to pay closer attention to the proud remarks that were lashed at him. They started to actively defend him from the “oppression of the proud”, making sure that he was safe from her unloving attitudes. And in turn, this exposure of the proud remarks sparked a change in the teenage girl.
Such it is between God and us. When God sees that in spite of our hurt, in spite of our pain due to the oppression from the proud we do not try to retaliate to avenge ourselves, He Himself comes to our rescue; He becomes our avenger. Our command from Him is to love one another (John 13:34), to put our love in action (Jam 2:26), to preach the Gospel (Mk 16:15), to forgive evil done against us (Mat 6:15), to give above and beyond what is required of us (Mat 5:42), and to let Him take care of vengeance (Rom 12:19). No matter what happens to us in life, let us try not to avenge ourselves, but rather stay faithful to the commandments He gave us, while allowing him to be our standard and a shield from the oppression of the proud.
Rom 12:19 KJV Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Daily Devotion
April 9, 2006
Psa 119:115 KJV Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.
A man was complaining about the world’s many temptations. Whereas it is true that this world offers the glitter, the gold, and everything that our senses lust after, the intensity of temptation may also be aggravated by the company we keep.
Our senses, physical and metaphysical are sensors that bring to our heart the emotional and audio-visual input that bombard them day in and day out. But thank God, we have a filter. This filter is called “the conscience”, and it needs to be programmed by the Holy Ghost. But sometimes, the nemesis of this conscience is our own selves. Indeed, we are the ones who often fight the spiritual configuration of our conscience, and therefore end up freezing the whole machine.
This conscience often screams at us, “Get out of this relationship even though it feels good!” “Do not take this job even though the money is good!” “Can this friendship even though you find it fun!” “Don’t spend money you don’t yet have!” “Don’t read this book/watch this movie/go on this web site”. It often gives us sound counsel such as, “Talk to your spouse about this decision” “Take time with your children/to read spiritually feeding material/attend a spiritual fellowship!” “Eat healthy!”
But it takes a person of character to buck the tide of peer-pressure and say like King David, “Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.” Indeed, if we put a large buffer zone between us and temptation, we will not have such a hard time with it.
“Lord, please help me to do the right things even though my senses scream out to do the wrong thing; help me to rebuke these influences that would make me break your commandment; be my strength when I am weak!”
Rom 7:14-25 KJV For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. (15) For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (16) If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. (17) Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (19) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. (20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (21) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. (22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: (23) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (24) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Psa 119:115 KJV Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.
A man was complaining about the world’s many temptations. Whereas it is true that this world offers the glitter, the gold, and everything that our senses lust after, the intensity of temptation may also be aggravated by the company we keep.
Our senses, physical and metaphysical are sensors that bring to our heart the emotional and audio-visual input that bombard them day in and day out. But thank God, we have a filter. This filter is called “the conscience”, and it needs to be programmed by the Holy Ghost. But sometimes, the nemesis of this conscience is our own selves. Indeed, we are the ones who often fight the spiritual configuration of our conscience, and therefore end up freezing the whole machine.
This conscience often screams at us, “Get out of this relationship even though it feels good!” “Do not take this job even though the money is good!” “Can this friendship even though you find it fun!” “Don’t spend money you don’t yet have!” “Don’t read this book/watch this movie/go on this web site”. It often gives us sound counsel such as, “Talk to your spouse about this decision” “Take time with your children/to read spiritually feeding material/attend a spiritual fellowship!” “Eat healthy!”
But it takes a person of character to buck the tide of peer-pressure and say like King David, “Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.” Indeed, if we put a large buffer zone between us and temptation, we will not have such a hard time with it.
“Lord, please help me to do the right things even though my senses scream out to do the wrong thing; help me to rebuke these influences that would make me break your commandment; be my strength when I am weak!”
Rom 7:14-25 KJV For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. (15) For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (16) If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. (17) Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (19) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. (20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (21) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. (22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: (23) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (24) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Daily Devotion
April 9, 2006
Psa 119:115 KJV Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.
A man was complaining about the world’s many temptations. Whereas it is true that this world offers the glitter, the gold, and everything that our senses lust after, the intensity of temptation may also be aggravated by the company we keep.
Our senses, physical and metaphysical are sensors that bring to our heart the emotional and audio-visual input that bombard them day in and day out. But thank God, we have a filter. This filter is called “the conscience”, and it needs to be programmed by the Holy Ghost. But sometimes, the nemesis of this conscience is our own selves. Indeed, we are the ones who often fight the spiritual configuration of our conscience, and therefore end up freezing the whole machine.
This conscience often screams at us, “Get out of this relationship even though it feels good!” “Do not take this job even though the money is good!” “Can this friendship even though you find it fun!” “Don’t spend money you don’t yet have!” “Don’t read this book/watch this movie/go on this web site”. It often gives us sound counsel such as, “Talk to your spouse about this decision” “Take time with your children/to read spiritually feeding material/attend a spiritual fellowship!” “Eat healthy!”
But it takes a person of character to buck the tide of peer-pressure and say like King David, “Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.” Indeed, if we put a large buffer zone between us and temptation, we will not have such a hard time with it.
“Lord, please help me to do the right things even though my senses scream out to do the wrong thing; help me to rebuke these influences that would make me break your commandment; be my strength when I am weak!”
Rom 7:14-25 KJV For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. (15) For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (16) If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. (17) Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (19) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. (20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (21) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. (22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: (23) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (24) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Psa 119:115 KJV Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.
A man was complaining about the world’s many temptations. Whereas it is true that this world offers the glitter, the gold, and everything that our senses lust after, the intensity of temptation may also be aggravated by the company we keep.
Our senses, physical and metaphysical are sensors that bring to our heart the emotional and audio-visual input that bombard them day in and day out. But thank God, we have a filter. This filter is called “the conscience”, and it needs to be programmed by the Holy Ghost. But sometimes, the nemesis of this conscience is our own selves. Indeed, we are the ones who often fight the spiritual configuration of our conscience, and therefore end up freezing the whole machine.
This conscience often screams at us, “Get out of this relationship even though it feels good!” “Do not take this job even though the money is good!” “Can this friendship even though you find it fun!” “Don’t spend money you don’t yet have!” “Don’t read this book/watch this movie/go on this web site”. It often gives us sound counsel such as, “Talk to your spouse about this decision” “Take time with your children/to read spiritually feeding material/attend a spiritual fellowship!” “Eat healthy!”
But it takes a person of character to buck the tide of peer-pressure and say like King David, “Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.” Indeed, if we put a large buffer zone between us and temptation, we will not have such a hard time with it.
“Lord, please help me to do the right things even though my senses scream out to do the wrong thing; help me to rebuke these influences that would make me break your commandment; be my strength when I am weak!”
Rom 7:14-25 KJV For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. (15) For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (16) If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. (17) Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (19) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. (20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (21) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. (22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: (23) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (24) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Daily Devotion
April 15, 2006
Psa 119:121 KJV I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.
Just like in King David’s day, we live in a time when justice and judgment are easily perverted. In order to stay politically functional, today’s rulers and lawmakers have to be concerned about the polls. There are also concerned about their legacy, their carrier, and in all these concers, the “righter” sense of justice as per God usually goes out the window because if ever brought out, they would be considered fanatical, or at the least politically incorrect. These rulers also need the support and backing of their political parties. But when you have to please so many people in order to be accepted, you loose track of the truth, and in the matter of judgment and justice, it is pathetic. Personal opinions also make for distortion of the truth in judgment as in order to find God’s opinion and /or will in any matter, one needs to have no opinion/will of his own, or at least be committed to rescind them.
When we fight for our own truth or that of our peer-group, we put ourselves in our own hands. We therefore need to build our own “armies”, our own protection, and our lives become dependant on our own strength. But when one puts aside all human power struggles and completely yields to the truth and justice of God, then like Moses of old, one with the “club” of God’s word in his hand can inflict more damage to an empire than any full fledge army.
Is your fight for the truth of God? Is your combat on the side of the justice and judgment of the Almighty Creator? Then you need not to worry. If you know that you are on the side of the justice and judgment of God, like King David, like Moses, like Elijah, like John the Baptist, like Jonathan and his armor-bearer, you can claim God’s protection and power, and challenge the “giants”-- the lies in your life, as well as the perverted judgment of this world. The time would also fail me to bring up Martin Luther, John Bunyan, William Tyndale, who almost single-handedly conquered the minds of the people and politicians of their days with the truth of God, even though their lives were in constant danger and sometimes also in poverty. Like them, you, on the side of the truth of God, are more than a match for all the lying armies of the ungodly.
1Jo 4:4 KJV Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:121 KJV I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.
Just like in King David’s day, we live in a time when justice and judgment are easily perverted. In order to stay politically functional, today’s rulers and lawmakers have to be concerned about the polls. There are also concerned about their legacy, their carrier, and in all these concers, the “righter” sense of justice as per God usually goes out the window because if ever brought out, they would be considered fanatical, or at the least politically incorrect. These rulers also need the support and backing of their political parties. But when you have to please so many people in order to be accepted, you loose track of the truth, and in the matter of judgment and justice, it is pathetic. Personal opinions also make for distortion of the truth in judgment as in order to find God’s opinion and /or will in any matter, one needs to have no opinion/will of his own, or at least be committed to rescind them.
When we fight for our own truth or that of our peer-group, we put ourselves in our own hands. We therefore need to build our own “armies”, our own protection, and our lives become dependant on our own strength. But when one puts aside all human power struggles and completely yields to the truth and justice of God, then like Moses of old, one with the “club” of God’s word in his hand can inflict more damage to an empire than any full fledge army.
Is your fight for the truth of God? Is your combat on the side of the justice and judgment of the Almighty Creator? Then you need not to worry. If you know that you are on the side of the justice and judgment of God, like King David, like Moses, like Elijah, like John the Baptist, like Jonathan and his armor-bearer, you can claim God’s protection and power, and challenge the “giants”-- the lies in your life, as well as the perverted judgment of this world. The time would also fail me to bring up Martin Luther, John Bunyan, William Tyndale, who almost single-handedly conquered the minds of the people and politicians of their days with the truth of God, even though their lives were in constant danger and sometimes also in poverty. Like them, you, on the side of the truth of God, are more than a match for all the lying armies of the ungodly.
1Jo 4:4 KJV Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Friday, April 14, 2006
Daily Devotion
April 14, 2006
Psa 119:120 KJV My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.
How seriously do we take the Word? How much do we believe it?
We are saved by grace, but lessons are learned through experience, sometimes, bitter experience. Jesus also has a “No child left behind” program. He pays for the tuition with His blood, and He makes sure to get from us the spiritual dividends of the lessons taught. No matter what or how long it takes, we have to pass the grade, and He doesn’t grade on the curve, He only grades by the standard of the Word forever established in heaven (Psa 119:89). But how much easier it would be if we would learn by learning and just believing the course text, rather by having to always experience it. But like the Jews of old, we are not always able to believe by faith; we require a sign (1 Cor 1:22).
Oh how much trouble we would save ourselves from if we only had enough respectful fear of His Word; our sould would easily be convicted of sin big and small, just because “He said so”.
And all the more, we would read in His words of the fate of the unsaved, and feel desperation for our friends and relatives; we would see ourselves as the proverbial Good Samaritan to our “neighbors” (Luk 10:36,37) in the whole world.
“Oh my Lord, put in me a spirit of clear understanding and integrity towards your Word. Clear away the semantic fog of excuses, and the doctrinal confusions. Let me once again see and understand Your words in their full values so that I may have proper respect unto them!”
2Pe 3:9-11 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. (10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (11) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:120 KJV My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.
How seriously do we take the Word? How much do we believe it?
We are saved by grace, but lessons are learned through experience, sometimes, bitter experience. Jesus also has a “No child left behind” program. He pays for the tuition with His blood, and He makes sure to get from us the spiritual dividends of the lessons taught. No matter what or how long it takes, we have to pass the grade, and He doesn’t grade on the curve, He only grades by the standard of the Word forever established in heaven (Psa 119:89). But how much easier it would be if we would learn by learning and just believing the course text, rather by having to always experience it. But like the Jews of old, we are not always able to believe by faith; we require a sign (1 Cor 1:22).
Oh how much trouble we would save ourselves from if we only had enough respectful fear of His Word; our sould would easily be convicted of sin big and small, just because “He said so”.
And all the more, we would read in His words of the fate of the unsaved, and feel desperation for our friends and relatives; we would see ourselves as the proverbial Good Samaritan to our “neighbors” (Luk 10:36,37) in the whole world.
“Oh my Lord, put in me a spirit of clear understanding and integrity towards your Word. Clear away the semantic fog of excuses, and the doctrinal confusions. Let me once again see and understand Your words in their full values so that I may have proper respect unto them!”
2Pe 3:9-11 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. (10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (11) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Daily Devotion
April 13, 2006
Psa 119:114 KJV Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
How many times are we assailed by bad thoughts? How many times are we tempted with feelings of judgment, revenge, lust, covetousness, complaint, depression, selfishness, and pride? Jesus told us that all these negative feelings come from our hearts (Mat 15;19); and that is why King Solomon told us “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Pro 4:23).
Beloved, these are the enemies of your soul. They can do more damage to you than any terrorist, because whereas the terrorist will harm your body, these evil concepts will harm your soul (Mat 10:28). Our governments can deploy anti-ballistic missiles, magnetic shields and radar protections, but these will never protect us against the real enemy of our soul. Our scientists can develop all sorts of intelligence gathering systems, they will never be able to create something that will protect us from our real enemy: OURSELVES.
David was one of the greatest warriors the world has ever known. He was as strong and courageous as he was noble. But he knew that the protection of his heart laid in the Word of God. Let us today expose this relentless enemy to ourselves. Let us recognize him when he raises its ugly face, and not be foolish enough to think that we can fight him. Let us rather take our refuge and place our hope in the infallible standards of the Words of truth. Memorize it in your heart, and quote it to him out loud like Jesus did in the day of temptation in the desert (Mat 4:1-11), and see him vanish away!
Heb 4:12 KJV For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:114 KJV Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
How many times are we assailed by bad thoughts? How many times are we tempted with feelings of judgment, revenge, lust, covetousness, complaint, depression, selfishness, and pride? Jesus told us that all these negative feelings come from our hearts (Mat 15;19); and that is why King Solomon told us “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Pro 4:23).
Beloved, these are the enemies of your soul. They can do more damage to you than any terrorist, because whereas the terrorist will harm your body, these evil concepts will harm your soul (Mat 10:28). Our governments can deploy anti-ballistic missiles, magnetic shields and radar protections, but these will never protect us against the real enemy of our soul. Our scientists can develop all sorts of intelligence gathering systems, they will never be able to create something that will protect us from our real enemy: OURSELVES.
David was one of the greatest warriors the world has ever known. He was as strong and courageous as he was noble. But he knew that the protection of his heart laid in the Word of God. Let us today expose this relentless enemy to ourselves. Let us recognize him when he raises its ugly face, and not be foolish enough to think that we can fight him. Let us rather take our refuge and place our hope in the infallible standards of the Words of truth. Memorize it in your heart, and quote it to him out loud like Jesus did in the day of temptation in the desert (Mat 4:1-11), and see him vanish away!
Heb 4:12 KJV For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Daily Devotion
April 13, 2006
Psa 119:119 KJV Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.
Yesterday, I was teaching a history class on World War 1 and 2 to a group of teenagers. The class led to a discussion on the responsibility of protecting the oppressed from the oppressors, before they get too powerful and one day, they turn on you.
It is very interesting to see how throughout Bible history, God often thwarts His peoples’ efforts to save themselves, but through their tribulation, they develop the patience (Rom 5:3) to wait on Him to fulfill His promise to “put away” the “wicked”.
What a blessed assurance and peace of mind fills the soul of the man who has conquered his own tendencies to solve his own problems, fight his own enemies, and play “God” in his own life. This man has perfect confidence, perfect faith to wait, being fully convinced that at the right time, God Himself will come for him out of heaven, calling a Moses, a Gideon, or even a Samson to fight, conquer, subdue, and annihilate the oppressor of his soul.
May God bless you with this faith, this peace, and this confidence that you do not have to work it all out, you do not have to gather “armies” and fight evil. God has promised that He himself will put away the wicked from the earth. Who knows how many times He may be waiting for us to cease struggling in our own might in order to help us!
Heb 11:1-2 KJV Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (2) For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Heb 11:32-34 KJV And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: (33) Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (34) Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
ANECDOTE
A drowning boy was struggling in the water. On the shore stood his mother in an agony of fright and grief. By her side stood a strong man seemingly indifferent to the boy's fate. Again and again did the suffering mother appeal to him to save her boy, but he made no move. By and by the desperate struggles of the boy began to abate. He was losing strength. Presently he arose to the surface weak and helpless. At once the man leaped into the stream and brought the boy in safely to the shore. "Why did you not save my boy sooner?" asked the now grateful mother. "Madam, I could not as long as he struggled. He would have dragged us both to certain death. But when he grew weak and ceased to struggle, then it was easy to save him." It is when we cease from our own works and depend helplessly upon Him that we realize how perfectly able He is to save without any aid from us.
Psa 119:119 KJV Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.
Yesterday, I was teaching a history class on World War 1 and 2 to a group of teenagers. The class led to a discussion on the responsibility of protecting the oppressed from the oppressors, before they get too powerful and one day, they turn on you.
It is very interesting to see how throughout Bible history, God often thwarts His peoples’ efforts to save themselves, but through their tribulation, they develop the patience (Rom 5:3) to wait on Him to fulfill His promise to “put away” the “wicked”.
What a blessed assurance and peace of mind fills the soul of the man who has conquered his own tendencies to solve his own problems, fight his own enemies, and play “God” in his own life. This man has perfect confidence, perfect faith to wait, being fully convinced that at the right time, God Himself will come for him out of heaven, calling a Moses, a Gideon, or even a Samson to fight, conquer, subdue, and annihilate the oppressor of his soul.
May God bless you with this faith, this peace, and this confidence that you do not have to work it all out, you do not have to gather “armies” and fight evil. God has promised that He himself will put away the wicked from the earth. Who knows how many times He may be waiting for us to cease struggling in our own might in order to help us!
Heb 11:1-2 KJV Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (2) For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Heb 11:32-34 KJV And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: (33) Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (34) Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
ANECDOTE
A drowning boy was struggling in the water. On the shore stood his mother in an agony of fright and grief. By her side stood a strong man seemingly indifferent to the boy's fate. Again and again did the suffering mother appeal to him to save her boy, but he made no move. By and by the desperate struggles of the boy began to abate. He was losing strength. Presently he arose to the surface weak and helpless. At once the man leaped into the stream and brought the boy in safely to the shore. "Why did you not save my boy sooner?" asked the now grateful mother. "Madam, I could not as long as he struggled. He would have dragged us both to certain death. But when he grew weak and ceased to struggle, then it was easy to save him." It is when we cease from our own works and depend helplessly upon Him that we realize how perfectly able He is to save without any aid from us.
Daily Devotion
April 13, 2006
Psa 119:119 KJV Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.
Yesterday, I was teaching a history class on World War 1 and 2 to a group of teenagers. The class led to a discussion on the responsibility to protect the oppressed from the oppressors, and to also stop the oppressors before they get too powerful because one day, they may come to you.
It is very interesting to see how in all of Bible history, there is a pattern where God thwarts His people’s efforts to save themselves until through their tribulation, they develop the patience (Rom 5:3) to wait on Him to fulfill His promise to “put away” the “wicked”.
What a blessed “assurance” and peace of mind fills the soul of the man who has conquered his own tendencies to solve his own problems, fight his own enemies, play “God” in his own life. This man has perfect confidence, perfect faith to wait, being fully convinced that at the right time, God will come for him out of heaven, Himself calling a Moses, a Gideon, or even a Samson to fight, conquer, subdue, annihilate the oppressor of his soul.
May God bless you with this faith, this peace, and this confidence that you do not have to work it all out, you do not have to gather “armies” and fight evil. God has promised that He himself will put away the wicked from the earth. Who knows how many times He may be waiting for us to cease struggling in our own might in order to help us!
Heb 11:1-2 KJV Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (2) For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Heb 11:32-34 KJV And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: (33) Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (34) Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Psa 119:119 KJV Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.
Yesterday, I was teaching a history class on World War 1 and 2 to a group of teenagers. The class led to a discussion on the responsibility to protect the oppressed from the oppressors, and to also stop the oppressors before they get too powerful because one day, they may come to you.
It is very interesting to see how in all of Bible history, there is a pattern where God thwarts His people’s efforts to save themselves until through their tribulation, they develop the patience (Rom 5:3) to wait on Him to fulfill His promise to “put away” the “wicked”.
What a blessed “assurance” and peace of mind fills the soul of the man who has conquered his own tendencies to solve his own problems, fight his own enemies, play “God” in his own life. This man has perfect confidence, perfect faith to wait, being fully convinced that at the right time, God will come for him out of heaven, Himself calling a Moses, a Gideon, or even a Samson to fight, conquer, subdue, annihilate the oppressor of his soul.
May God bless you with this faith, this peace, and this confidence that you do not have to work it all out, you do not have to gather “armies” and fight evil. God has promised that He himself will put away the wicked from the earth. Who knows how many times He may be waiting for us to cease struggling in our own might in order to help us!
Heb 11:1-2 KJV Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (2) For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Heb 11:32-34 KJV And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: (33) Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (34) Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Daily Devotion
April 12, 2006
Psa 119:118 KJV Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.
History is one of the greatest proofs of the existence of its great Planner: God. One doesn’t need to be a theologian to see it. Prophecies concerning the fate of certain cities have been amazingly fulfilled!
For example, through the prophet Ezekiel, the Lord said that the city of Tyre in Lebanon would be completely destroyed & would become as bare as the top of a rock; and that her stones & debris would be cast into the sea, and that she would become a place for the spreading of the fishermen’s nets (Ez chapters 26 and 30). That's exactly what happened to that city and it is evident today. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, came along to conquer it but the inhabitants having been warned, fled to a little island a half a mile offshore with all their treasures & riches. Nebuchadnezzar couldn’t get at them because he didn’t have a navy, so he was so angry at them he destroyed the entire old city of Tyre, the great city of the Phoenicians, and left it there in ruins. But 250 years later, along came Alexander the Great, who in turn had a navy, and he wasn't going to pass up all those riches, so he decided to take all the ruins & scrape them into the water & build a half a mile causeway, a road to the new city of Tyre and captured it. Today, fishermen spread their nets on this causeway, just as the prophecy predicted!
The prophecies about the cites that God allowed to be destroyed for their sins stand forever as a testimony and warning to us and our nation of His eternal never failing Word and justice.
Psa 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:118 KJV Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.
History is one of the greatest proofs of the existence of its great Planner: God. One doesn’t need to be a theologian to see it. Prophecies concerning the fate of certain cities have been amazingly fulfilled!
For example, through the prophet Ezekiel, the Lord said that the city of Tyre in Lebanon would be completely destroyed & would become as bare as the top of a rock; and that her stones & debris would be cast into the sea, and that she would become a place for the spreading of the fishermen’s nets (Ez chapters 26 and 30). That's exactly what happened to that city and it is evident today. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, came along to conquer it but the inhabitants having been warned, fled to a little island a half a mile offshore with all their treasures & riches. Nebuchadnezzar couldn’t get at them because he didn’t have a navy, so he was so angry at them he destroyed the entire old city of Tyre, the great city of the Phoenicians, and left it there in ruins. But 250 years later, along came Alexander the Great, who in turn had a navy, and he wasn't going to pass up all those riches, so he decided to take all the ruins & scrape them into the water & build a half a mile causeway, a road to the new city of Tyre and captured it. Today, fishermen spread their nets on this causeway, just as the prophecy predicted!
The prophecies about the cites that God allowed to be destroyed for their sins stand forever as a testimony and warning to us and our nation of His eternal never failing Word and justice.
Psa 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Daily devotion
April 11, 2006
Psa 119:117 KJV Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.
“Blessed Assurance” that comes to the soul upheld by the Creator. Truly blessed is the one who has confidence that no matter what, he will never be left nor forsaken (Heb 13:5).
But full confidence and trust lie in the assurance of obedience to His statutes. How can we expect to be protected when we run outside His protective precepts? We cannot claim God’s armor if we run outside of the walls of His will for our lives.
And what about obedience! The pure Word of God is so direct, so straight, so easy to understand, but today’s semantics have blurred our understanding of the standards of right and wrong, so just as predicted by the prophet, we now have a famine of hearing the Words of God (Amos 8:11). We need the Holy Ghost to interpret the Word in our hearts so that we understand them and be protected by His statutes again.
Only His Word empowered by the Holy Spirit can help us find the protective walls of his statutes to keep us away from the dangers of the spiritual inconsistencies and conformities that are so prevalent in the world today, and be safe.
“Lord, I ask you today to make Your Word clear in my mind. Take away all the excusing arguments created by double-talk semantics, and help me to call a spade a spade in my life. Help to realize that a lie is a lie, no matter how many other people say and accept it. Help me to know that a murmur is a murmur, and a grievance unto you. That covetousness is a sin, even though accepted in our Western civilization, and that so are anger, pride and selfishness, not psychological conditions and sicknesses. Make your word clear to me again so that I can have respect unto them and be safe.”
2Pe 1:19-21 KJV We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2Pe 2:1-9 KJV But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2) And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (3) And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. (4) For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; (5) And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; (6) And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; (7) And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (8) (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) (9) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
Psa 119:117 KJV Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.
“Blessed Assurance” that comes to the soul upheld by the Creator. Truly blessed is the one who has confidence that no matter what, he will never be left nor forsaken (Heb 13:5).
But full confidence and trust lie in the assurance of obedience to His statutes. How can we expect to be protected when we run outside His protective precepts? We cannot claim God’s armor if we run outside of the walls of His will for our lives.
And what about obedience! The pure Word of God is so direct, so straight, so easy to understand, but today’s semantics have blurred our understanding of the standards of right and wrong, so just as predicted by the prophet, we now have a famine of hearing the Words of God (Amos 8:11). We need the Holy Ghost to interpret the Word in our hearts so that we understand them and be protected by His statutes again.
Only His Word empowered by the Holy Spirit can help us find the protective walls of his statutes to keep us away from the dangers of the spiritual inconsistencies and conformities that are so prevalent in the world today, and be safe.
“Lord, I ask you today to make Your Word clear in my mind. Take away all the excusing arguments created by double-talk semantics, and help me to call a spade a spade in my life. Help to realize that a lie is a lie, no matter how many other people say and accept it. Help me to know that a murmur is a murmur, and a grievance unto you. That covetousness is a sin, even though accepted in our Western civilization, and that so are anger, pride and selfishness, not psychological conditions and sicknesses. Make your word clear to me again so that I can have respect unto them and be safe.”
2Pe 1:19-21 KJV We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2Pe 2:1-9 KJV But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2) And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (3) And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. (4) For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; (5) And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; (6) And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; (7) And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (8) (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) (9) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
Daily Devotion
April 10 2006
Psa 119:116 KJV Uphold me according unto thy Word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
It is amazing to see how much easier it is for mankind to put his trust in man-made securities than in God’s Word. During the Great Depression, thousands who had put their trust in the securities of this world found themselves jobless, penniless, at the mercies of soup kitchens and government programs. The system obviously had failed them, but they went to rebuild it, and the golden “calf” on Wall Street lures investors now more than ever to the impious feasts. Recently, thousands lost their 401K, college funds, etc to the Enron debacle, but what is even more pathetic is that these same people will continue gambling their lives, possessions and “earned wages to put it into a bag with holes” of man’s securities. Hag 1:6
Can you imagine God’s disappointment and frustration? After He had opened the Red sea, drowned the armies of the enemy, provided food from Heaven, water from a rock, and yet, at the foot of Mt Sinai, they make a golden calf. When will we learn to not lean on the “stock” of Egypt? No matter what or who He uses as His instrument of supply, He ultimately is the one who is our great security.
The Bible tells us of a soon-coming day when under the last world dictator, one will not be able to buy nor sale without trading his faith in God for his faith in this antichrist ruler. Let us learn today to make God our hope according to His Word, and then in those days we will not be ashamed.
Num 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Psa 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:116 KJV Uphold me according unto thy Word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
It is amazing to see how much easier it is for mankind to put his trust in man-made securities than in God’s Word. During the Great Depression, thousands who had put their trust in the securities of this world found themselves jobless, penniless, at the mercies of soup kitchens and government programs. The system obviously had failed them, but they went to rebuild it, and the golden “calf” on Wall Street lures investors now more than ever to the impious feasts. Recently, thousands lost their 401K, college funds, etc to the Enron debacle, but what is even more pathetic is that these same people will continue gambling their lives, possessions and “earned wages to put it into a bag with holes” of man’s securities. Hag 1:6
Can you imagine God’s disappointment and frustration? After He had opened the Red sea, drowned the armies of the enemy, provided food from Heaven, water from a rock, and yet, at the foot of Mt Sinai, they make a golden calf. When will we learn to not lean on the “stock” of Egypt? No matter what or who He uses as His instrument of supply, He ultimately is the one who is our great security.
The Bible tells us of a soon-coming day when under the last world dictator, one will not be able to buy nor sale without trading his faith in God for his faith in this antichrist ruler. Let us learn today to make God our hope according to His Word, and then in those days we will not be ashamed.
Num 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Psa 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Daily Devotion
April 7, 2006
Psa 119:113 KJV I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
The Law of God establishes the standards of good and bad, of right and wrong. In spite of the ever-changing vain opinions of man, in spite of all his attempts to redefine moral concepts, he cannot temper with it; it is unchangeable.
The psalmist here states vain thoughts as the opposite of the Law of God. The opposite of the fixed and infallible, is the wavery, the unsure and the uncertain. How vain are the thoughts of the man without God. Even his best and highest seems to hardly lift from the ground compared to the grandeur of thought and purpose that is in God. And yet man prides himself in his own sense of self-security, thinking that he can be his own insurance against God. Like Nimrod, in his vain attempt to steal the control from God, he builds a high tower of confusion thinking that he can securely climb away from God’s drowning judgments.*
In his attempt to run away from God’s control and lead his own life, man perverts, and therefore weakens the very thought foundations of his own mind. The humanist forces at work in the world indoctrinate us with vain thoughts that are contrary to the Law of God. How many of these vain thoughts surround us. Do we recognize them? Are we even aware of these vain thoughts of pride, glory, conceit, self-ordained purpose, self-trust and self-dependence that have conquered our minds and hearts from the spirit of true utter-dependence on the Father? Do we denounce these thoughts to our conscience? Do they even seem right to us?
Oh LORD my God! Open my eyes that I may see! Open my heart that I may feel! Open my spirit that I may discern. Let no vain thought rule over me. Take away everyone, and let me know what they are, expose them with the light of the Words of your Law.
Psa 90:8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
*The Works of Josephus.
Antiquities of the Jews, Book 1; Chapt 4; par 2.
2. Now it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront and contempt of God. He was the grandson of Ham, the son of Noah, a bold man, and of great strength of hand. He persuaded them not to ascribe it to God, as if it was through his means they were happy, but to believe that it was their own courage which procured that happiness. He also gradually changed the government into tyranny, seeing no other way of turning men from the fear of God, but to bring them into a constant dependence on his power. He also said he would be revenged on God, if he should have a mind to drown the world again; for that he would build a tower too high for the waters to be able to reach! and that he would avenge himself on God for destroying their forefathers !
Psa 119:113 KJV I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
The Law of God establishes the standards of good and bad, of right and wrong. In spite of the ever-changing vain opinions of man, in spite of all his attempts to redefine moral concepts, he cannot temper with it; it is unchangeable.
The psalmist here states vain thoughts as the opposite of the Law of God. The opposite of the fixed and infallible, is the wavery, the unsure and the uncertain. How vain are the thoughts of the man without God. Even his best and highest seems to hardly lift from the ground compared to the grandeur of thought and purpose that is in God. And yet man prides himself in his own sense of self-security, thinking that he can be his own insurance against God. Like Nimrod, in his vain attempt to steal the control from God, he builds a high tower of confusion thinking that he can securely climb away from God’s drowning judgments.*
In his attempt to run away from God’s control and lead his own life, man perverts, and therefore weakens the very thought foundations of his own mind. The humanist forces at work in the world indoctrinate us with vain thoughts that are contrary to the Law of God. How many of these vain thoughts surround us. Do we recognize them? Are we even aware of these vain thoughts of pride, glory, conceit, self-ordained purpose, self-trust and self-dependence that have conquered our minds and hearts from the spirit of true utter-dependence on the Father? Do we denounce these thoughts to our conscience? Do they even seem right to us?
Oh LORD my God! Open my eyes that I may see! Open my heart that I may feel! Open my spirit that I may discern. Let no vain thought rule over me. Take away everyone, and let me know what they are, expose them with the light of the Words of your Law.
Psa 90:8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
*The Works of Josephus.
Antiquities of the Jews, Book 1; Chapt 4; par 2.
2. Now it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront and contempt of God. He was the grandson of Ham, the son of Noah, a bold man, and of great strength of hand. He persuaded them not to ascribe it to God, as if it was through his means they were happy, but to believe that it was their own courage which procured that happiness. He also gradually changed the government into tyranny, seeing no other way of turning men from the fear of God, but to bring them into a constant dependence on his power. He also said he would be revenged on God, if he should have a mind to drown the world again; for that he would build a tower too high for the waters to be able to reach! and that he would avenge himself on God for destroying their forefathers !
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Daily Devotion
April 6, 2006
Psa 119:112 KJV I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.
It is a sad thing that many of us are prone to preaching rather than acting. Oh, it is so easy to talk about God, to talk about service, and about self-sacrifice. How many a beautifully constructed sermon has been preached on the virtues of life consecrated to God. But to those who want to tell me the way, or expound it to me, I say to the smooth-tongued philosopher that I would prefer, any day, one who can show me the way by the example of his own personal consecrated life. Give me a performer of the virtue, rather than an exhibitor.
And all the more, it is so easy to serve God when life goes like a song; so easy to love and praise Him when the road is smooth and the weather temperate. But should we be God’s fair weather friends only? Should we not go all the way in our obedience to His commandments, even of the harder commandments, those we are not so prone to obey because they tend to take us out of our comfort zone, such as to “preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15), to “love your enemies” (Mat 5:44), to “give to whosoever asketh of thee” (Mat 5:42), to not serve God and Mammon (Mat 6:24)?
Let us today make the hard decisions that confront our spiritual lethargy. Let us “perform” His statutes always, even unto the end.
Jam 1:22 KJV But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:112 KJV I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.
It is a sad thing that many of us are prone to preaching rather than acting. Oh, it is so easy to talk about God, to talk about service, and about self-sacrifice. How many a beautifully constructed sermon has been preached on the virtues of life consecrated to God. But to those who want to tell me the way, or expound it to me, I say to the smooth-tongued philosopher that I would prefer, any day, one who can show me the way by the example of his own personal consecrated life. Give me a performer of the virtue, rather than an exhibitor.
And all the more, it is so easy to serve God when life goes like a song; so easy to love and praise Him when the road is smooth and the weather temperate. But should we be God’s fair weather friends only? Should we not go all the way in our obedience to His commandments, even of the harder commandments, those we are not so prone to obey because they tend to take us out of our comfort zone, such as to “preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15), to “love your enemies” (Mat 5:44), to “give to whosoever asketh of thee” (Mat 5:42), to not serve God and Mammon (Mat 6:24)?
Let us today make the hard decisions that confront our spiritual lethargy. Let us “perform” His statutes always, even unto the end.
Jam 1:22 KJV But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Daily Devotion
April 5, 2006
Psa 119:111 KJV Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
One is hungry after power, another after possessions. One wants to inherit gold, the other wants to inherit lands. What if God would ask you today the same question He asked King Solomon, “Ask what I shall give thee.” (2 Chron 1:7)? What would you ask for? God doesn’t make empty promises. Like Aladdin’s genie, at that very moment, the God who has created the universe offers to give whatever your heart desires and commands. As is shown us in the Bible text of 2 Chronicles 1, this question could prove to be a real test of character.
A large sum of money could solve a lot of temporary problems for many of us. Maybe one could ask for healing from a terminal disease. In a time of war, one could also ask for the unconditional protection of his life, or of that of a loved-one. It could also be tempting to ask for an unrequited love to turn around, or for a change in what one would consider “misfortune”. Vengeance over an enemy could be desirable or their death or misfortune, or even that of business competitors.
What is the desire of our heart? God knows it. God already knew the answer that Solomon would give. He was the son of the Psalmist, who though wealthy, esteemed the Word of God his true riches (Psa 119:111), and presence with the LORD his preferred inheritance (Psa 23:6).
Are the testimonies of the Lord your preferred inheritance? Do you look for it as them with more value that silver and gold? (Psa 119:72) If everything were taken away from you, would you feel that you are still rich just by your ownership of the Word? Remember, one day, everything this world offers will be taken from us, and all we’ll have left will be the wealth of Word and related virtues we have stored in our heart; how rich will we feel then?
Psa 16:5 KJV The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psa 119:111 KJV Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
One is hungry after power, another after possessions. One wants to inherit gold, the other wants to inherit lands. What if God would ask you today the same question He asked King Solomon, “Ask what I shall give thee.” (2 Chron 1:7)? What would you ask for? God doesn’t make empty promises. Like Aladdin’s genie, at that very moment, the God who has created the universe offers to give whatever your heart desires and commands. As is shown us in the Bible text of 2 Chronicles 1, this question could prove to be a real test of character.
A large sum of money could solve a lot of temporary problems for many of us. Maybe one could ask for healing from a terminal disease. In a time of war, one could also ask for the unconditional protection of his life, or of that of a loved-one. It could also be tempting to ask for an unrequited love to turn around, or for a change in what one would consider “misfortune”. Vengeance over an enemy could be desirable or their death or misfortune, or even that of business competitors.
What is the desire of our heart? God knows it. God already knew the answer that Solomon would give. He was the son of the Psalmist, who though wealthy, esteemed the Word of God his true riches (Psa 119:111), and presence with the LORD his preferred inheritance (Psa 23:6).
Are the testimonies of the Lord your preferred inheritance? Do you look for it as them with more value that silver and gold? (Psa 119:72) If everything were taken away from you, would you feel that you are still rich just by your ownership of the Word? Remember, one day, everything this world offers will be taken from us, and all we’ll have left will be the wealth of Word and related virtues we have stored in our heart; how rich will we feel then?
Psa 16:5 KJV The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
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