September 30
Do WE HEAR HIS CRY?
Psa 4:2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
In his flight from his traitorous son Absalom, David never ceases praying to God. His fight is fully borne in the Spirit world. As he cries unto God against the foolish vanity of the men who are stealing the kingdom away from him, we hear Jesus’ cry against what He coined our wicked and adulterated generation (Matthew 16:4).
We, the people—humanity--are the glory of God. We are wonderfully and fearfully made in His powerful and likeness, and yet our actions and attitudes and conduct blot the image of the glorious God who created us with shame. Do we even hear Him cry from the Heavens begging us to change our behavior? In the winds of the skies, and in the noise of high waters, He cries to stir our attention away from proud and vain thoughts, from our wicked ways, but do we hear? Do we listen?
How long, He screams, How long will you seek after ‘leasing’ , after the lies, falsehood and pretenses of the carnal man. In these words we can hear the soul of the weeping prophet crying,
Jeremiah 9:1 Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
'Be strong, be strong and be strengthened!'
Saturday, September 30, 2006
DO WE HEAR THE CRY?
September 30
Do WE HEAR THE CRY?
Psa 4:2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
In his flight from his traitorous son Absalom, David never ceases praying to God. His fight is fully borne in the Spirit world. As he cries unto God against the foolish vanity of the men who are stealing the kingdom away from him, we hear Jesus’ cry against what He coined our wicked and adulterated generation (Matthew 16:4).
We, the people—humanity--are the glory of God. We are wonderfully and fearfully made in His powerful and likeness, and yet our actions and attitudes and conduct blot the image of the glorious God who created us with shame. Do we even hear Him cry from the Heavens begging us to change our behavior? In the winds of the skies, and in the noise of high waters, He cries to stir our attention away from proud and vain thoughts, from our wicked ways, but do we hear? Do we listen?
How long, He screams, How long will you seek after ‘leasing’ , after the lies, falsehood and pretenses of the carnal man. In these words we can hear the soul of the weeping prophet crying,
Jeremiah 9:1 Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
Do WE HEAR THE CRY?
Psa 4:2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
In his flight from his traitorous son Absalom, David never ceases praying to God. His fight is fully borne in the Spirit world. As he cries unto God against the foolish vanity of the men who are stealing the kingdom away from him, we hear Jesus’ cry against what He coined our wicked and adulterated generation (Matthew 16:4).
We, the people—humanity--are the glory of God. We are wonderfully and fearfully made in His powerful and likeness, and yet our actions and attitudes and conduct blot the image of the glorious God who created us with shame. Do we even hear Him cry from the Heavens begging us to change our behavior? In the winds of the skies, and in the noise of high waters, He cries to stir our attention away from proud and vain thoughts, from our wicked ways, but do we hear? Do we listen?
How long, He screams, How long will you seek after ‘leasing’ , after the lies, falsehood and pretenses of the carnal man. In these words we can hear the soul of the weeping prophet crying,
Jeremiah 9:1 Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
Friday, September 29, 2006
WE CAN PRAY; HE ANSWERS.
September 29
WE CAN PRAY; HE ANSWERS.
Psalms 4:1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
Hear me when I call may sound like a strange statement, but many of us expect to be heard when we don’t even call. Of course God does know what we need even before we ask Him, so this ‘calling” to God is more for our benefit and for that of those around us. For our benefit, because it is a confession of our need for our wondrous God which provokes humility; for that of others, because it is a witness and a demonstration of God’s ability to helps His children in their hour of need.
In Old Testament times, to make a request from God, people had to go to a Rabbi, bring a sacrificial offering and make their request in fear and trembling. What a privilege we have today that we can simply pray offering only the sacrifice of praise. This privilege is something that we have not earned, but freely received, paid for by the death of Jesus-Christ on the cross.
Oh that we would call unto God as unto a loving Father. So many of us who call Him “Our Father” act like orphans. Let’s call Him today, in the righteousness and mercy of Jesus-Christ, and know that He will “enlarge” us when we are in distress; that he will have mercy and hear your prayers. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities (Psalms 103:10), God does not deal with us according to our sins, or we would be lost, but He deals with us according to the righteousness given according to the mercies found in the blood of Jesus-Christ shed for us. (Mercy= Undeserved forgiveness)
Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
WE CAN PRAY; HE ANSWERS.
Psalms 4:1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
Hear me when I call may sound like a strange statement, but many of us expect to be heard when we don’t even call. Of course God does know what we need even before we ask Him, so this ‘calling” to God is more for our benefit and for that of those around us. For our benefit, because it is a confession of our need for our wondrous God which provokes humility; for that of others, because it is a witness and a demonstration of God’s ability to helps His children in their hour of need.
In Old Testament times, to make a request from God, people had to go to a Rabbi, bring a sacrificial offering and make their request in fear and trembling. What a privilege we have today that we can simply pray offering only the sacrifice of praise. This privilege is something that we have not earned, but freely received, paid for by the death of Jesus-Christ on the cross.
Oh that we would call unto God as unto a loving Father. So many of us who call Him “Our Father” act like orphans. Let’s call Him today, in the righteousness and mercy of Jesus-Christ, and know that He will “enlarge” us when we are in distress; that he will have mercy and hear your prayers. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities (Psalms 103:10), God does not deal with us according to our sins, or we would be lost, but He deals with us according to the righteousness given according to the mercies found in the blood of Jesus-Christ shed for us. (Mercy= Undeserved forgiveness)
Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
HE IS AT THE HELM
September 28
HE IS AT THE HELM
Psalms 3:8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.
After trying to convince her that worry doesn’t pay, a woman jokingly exclaimed, “Oh yes, worry does pay; the things I worry about usually don’t happen.”
This is the conclusion of the whole matter (Ecclesiastes 1;13), the end of all cares: the knowledge and the assurance that when all is said and done, our Lord is in full control of our lives. “His hand is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”
Many things happen to us that don’t appear to be within the Lord’s control. It is easy to feel that life is composed of random events coming at us without rhyme nor reason. Looking at the things that happen, one could easily conclude that we are a ship left adrift given to our own care; that no one is at the helm. But the analysis of a life dedicated to faith and prayer easily proves to the contrary. It proves that whatever the Lord allows to happen to us is within His perfect control; that we can always call upon Him with the total assurance of the promise that He . . . . is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.1Corinthians 10:13.
Oh, think of how excited we get when a child in dire need of our help cries out with desperate expectancy and faith that we will rescue him! Even so, the Lord is excited when, in the midst of an inevitable ‘crash’ we let go of the stirring wheel, close our eyes, lift up our hands and scream, “Jesus, take the wheel”. He is elated when in the midst of seeming impossibility we hold Him to His Word and in a voice of excited anticipation, we proclaim with King David, Salvation is of the Lord.
Psalms 19:5 He, . . . is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
Mat 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
HE IS AT THE HELM
Psalms 3:8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.
After trying to convince her that worry doesn’t pay, a woman jokingly exclaimed, “Oh yes, worry does pay; the things I worry about usually don’t happen.”
This is the conclusion of the whole matter (Ecclesiastes 1;13), the end of all cares: the knowledge and the assurance that when all is said and done, our Lord is in full control of our lives. “His hand is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”
Many things happen to us that don’t appear to be within the Lord’s control. It is easy to feel that life is composed of random events coming at us without rhyme nor reason. Looking at the things that happen, one could easily conclude that we are a ship left adrift given to our own care; that no one is at the helm. But the analysis of a life dedicated to faith and prayer easily proves to the contrary. It proves that whatever the Lord allows to happen to us is within His perfect control; that we can always call upon Him with the total assurance of the promise that He . . . . is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.1Corinthians 10:13.
Oh, think of how excited we get when a child in dire need of our help cries out with desperate expectancy and faith that we will rescue him! Even so, the Lord is excited when, in the midst of an inevitable ‘crash’ we let go of the stirring wheel, close our eyes, lift up our hands and scream, “Jesus, take the wheel”. He is elated when in the midst of seeming impossibility we hold Him to His Word and in a voice of excited anticipation, we proclaim with King David, Salvation is of the Lord.
Psalms 19:5 He, . . . is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
Mat 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
LET GOD BE YOUR JUSTICE
September 27
LET GOD BE YOUR JUSTICE
Psalms 3:7 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheekbone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
Absalom, David’s son had successfully led a coup against his father’s government. David could have led a civil war against his own son and win, but he followed the integrity that brought him the kingdom: in the same way that when David was anointed king by the prophet Samuel, he refused to kill king Saul who pursued him, and now David did not want to kill his own rebellious son who could be the possible next heir to the throne.
David also did not want to bring civil war and division in the people of Jerusalem, but the most beautiful part of his integrity was that he did not want to rely on the arm of his own strength for salvation. He wanted the Lord to be the one to vindicate him, to fulfill all justice and righteousness, so now he fled Jerusalem with Bath-Sheba his wife, and just a handful of loyal followers.
When we are pushed in a corner; when it seems that there is nothing we can do; that whatever way we turn, we loose, let us commit our cause onto the Lord. He brings us to these places for that very reason —for us to turn to Him.
God smites the enemies of our soul with a contemptuous slap that shames them without remedy; He breaks their devices of war! Let us remember His deeds of old, and be encouraged in the assurance that God never forgets us, and that in His perfect time, he always vindicates His people.
Psalms 27:12-14 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. (14) Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
LET GOD BE YOUR JUSTICE
Psalms 3:7 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheekbone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
Absalom, David’s son had successfully led a coup against his father’s government. David could have led a civil war against his own son and win, but he followed the integrity that brought him the kingdom: in the same way that when David was anointed king by the prophet Samuel, he refused to kill king Saul who pursued him, and now David did not want to kill his own rebellious son who could be the possible next heir to the throne.
David also did not want to bring civil war and division in the people of Jerusalem, but the most beautiful part of his integrity was that he did not want to rely on the arm of his own strength for salvation. He wanted the Lord to be the one to vindicate him, to fulfill all justice and righteousness, so now he fled Jerusalem with Bath-Sheba his wife, and just a handful of loyal followers.
When we are pushed in a corner; when it seems that there is nothing we can do; that whatever way we turn, we loose, let us commit our cause onto the Lord. He brings us to these places for that very reason —for us to turn to Him.
God smites the enemies of our soul with a contemptuous slap that shames them without remedy; He breaks their devices of war! Let us remember His deeds of old, and be encouraged in the assurance that God never forgets us, and that in His perfect time, he always vindicates His people.
Psalms 27:12-14 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. (14) Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
THE ASSURANCE OF FAITH
September 23
THE ASSURANCE OF FAITH
Psalms 3:3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
In the midst of betrayal from his blood relatives and from his people, this man, Kind David, went to the Lord in a spirit of victory.
How many of us, when faced with the daily problems and inconveniences of life allow ourselves to indulge, sometimes subconsciously, in a spirit of complain, even of ‘righteous’ indignation against God saying, “How could You, after all be so cruel to me. I have confessed your name publicly; I am a devout Christian. You should be careful; Your reputation could be smeared if You treat your people so.”
We mention His Name, and forget the injunction of the apostle that says, all they that will live godly in Christ-Jesus shall suffer persecution (I Timothy 3:13). Even Jesus Himself said, The servant is not greater than His Lord, if they have persecuted Me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20). Remember, that He was afflicted, yet he opened not His mouth (Isaiah 53:7). In spite of all that may befall us, He seems to still be better to us than He was to himself when He was on the earth.
Instead of complaining, let us look to the Lord with the assurance of forgiveness, strength, support, love, and vindication from enemies, victory over our trials. Let us rest upon Him with the perfect Peace that owns the heart of those who believe by faith in His blessed Words, not by the sight of trouble around them.
Heb 11:1 …faith is the substance* of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
* “The Greek word for “substance” is huposthasis” meaning title deed. When we have the title deed for something, we know that we own it even when we haven’t seen it; “the substance of things hoped for” ”
THE ASSURANCE OF FAITH
Psalms 3:3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
In the midst of betrayal from his blood relatives and from his people, this man, Kind David, went to the Lord in a spirit of victory.
How many of us, when faced with the daily problems and inconveniences of life allow ourselves to indulge, sometimes subconsciously, in a spirit of complain, even of ‘righteous’ indignation against God saying, “How could You, after all be so cruel to me. I have confessed your name publicly; I am a devout Christian. You should be careful; Your reputation could be smeared if You treat your people so.”
We mention His Name, and forget the injunction of the apostle that says, all they that will live godly in Christ-Jesus shall suffer persecution (I Timothy 3:13). Even Jesus Himself said, The servant is not greater than His Lord, if they have persecuted Me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20). Remember, that He was afflicted, yet he opened not His mouth (Isaiah 53:7). In spite of all that may befall us, He seems to still be better to us than He was to himself when He was on the earth.
Instead of complaining, let us look to the Lord with the assurance of forgiveness, strength, support, love, and vindication from enemies, victory over our trials. Let us rest upon Him with the perfect Peace that owns the heart of those who believe by faith in His blessed Words, not by the sight of trouble around them.
Heb 11:1 …faith is the substance* of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
* “The Greek word for “substance” is huposthasis” meaning title deed. When we have the title deed for something, we know that we own it even when we haven’t seen it; “the substance of things hoped for” ”
LOOK AT JESUS, NOT YOUR TROUBLES
September 26
LOOK AT JESUS, NOT YOUR TROUBLES
Psalms 3:6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
Is this kind of willingly purposed ignorance of danger a boast, a mere denial based on therapeutic positive thinking? Or is it the fruit of a strong faith in the Lord based on the Word of truth? The end result is what shows if someone’s claims of faith are true or a proud claim, because faith without works to vindicate it, is dead (James 2:26). Unless faith is in the end ‘mated’ with some sort of tangible manifestation, it could only be a boast.
When Elishah’s servant asked the Shunamite about her son, Is it well with the child? She responded it is well. Was she in denial that he had just died of a stroke? O was she acting in full faith and supernatural assurance that God will give her her child back, which He did (2 Kings 4:26)! For the armies of Israel, Goliath was too big to fight. Was David in youthful immature ignorance of danger when he went to challenge the giant with nothing but a slingshot and 5 smooth stones? For young full of faith David, Goliath was too big to miss (1 Samuel 17:45)! It is only a question of perspective, of what we look at.
The man who has his eyes firmly focused on the Lord’s face sees no fear, no worries, no large armies of enemies, no storms, no famines, because all he sees is Jesus who calms the storm, comforts the heart, calms the sea, feeds the hungry, turns to flight the armies of the aliens (Hebrews 11:34). It was when Peter stopped looking at Jesus and looked at the waves around him that he started drowning! (Matthew 14:30), and it was through the fearful report of giants in the land that the children of Israel refused to conquer the Promised Land and continued wondering in the desert for 40 years (Numbers 13:33).
May Jesus help us to look at Him instead of the “giants” in our lives. May He fill our hearts with the same faith He gave King David in front of Goliath. May we possess the assurance of faith and peace in the midst of the storm.
Psa 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
LOOK AT JESUS, NOT YOUR TROUBLES
Psalms 3:6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
Is this kind of willingly purposed ignorance of danger a boast, a mere denial based on therapeutic positive thinking? Or is it the fruit of a strong faith in the Lord based on the Word of truth? The end result is what shows if someone’s claims of faith are true or a proud claim, because faith without works to vindicate it, is dead (James 2:26). Unless faith is in the end ‘mated’ with some sort of tangible manifestation, it could only be a boast.
When Elishah’s servant asked the Shunamite about her son, Is it well with the child? She responded it is well. Was she in denial that he had just died of a stroke? O was she acting in full faith and supernatural assurance that God will give her her child back, which He did (2 Kings 4:26)! For the armies of Israel, Goliath was too big to fight. Was David in youthful immature ignorance of danger when he went to challenge the giant with nothing but a slingshot and 5 smooth stones? For young full of faith David, Goliath was too big to miss (1 Samuel 17:45)! It is only a question of perspective, of what we look at.
The man who has his eyes firmly focused on the Lord’s face sees no fear, no worries, no large armies of enemies, no storms, no famines, because all he sees is Jesus who calms the storm, comforts the heart, calms the sea, feeds the hungry, turns to flight the armies of the aliens (Hebrews 11:34). It was when Peter stopped looking at Jesus and looked at the waves around him that he started drowning! (Matthew 14:30), and it was through the fearful report of giants in the land that the children of Israel refused to conquer the Promised Land and continued wondering in the desert for 40 years (Numbers 13:33).
May Jesus help us to look at Him instead of the “giants” in our lives. May He fill our hearts with the same faith He gave King David in front of Goliath. May we possess the assurance of faith and peace in the midst of the storm.
Psa 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
Monday, September 25, 2006
CALL UNTO HIM
September 25
CALL UNTO HIM
Psalms 3:4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
Our Lord Jesus told us that in order to see the Kingdom of Heaven we needed to become as little children. What baby cries and does not expect to be heard? And yet in our "growing up" our assurance of getting answered to when we ‘cry’ seems to decrease. The most simple act practiced by a baby requires of us ‘adults’ the understanding of a great educated theological principle, which I fear less and less of us understand as the world goes on. Alas, the knowledge of the simple abundant forgiving grace of God seems to be "out of style' and replaced by religious educated fables based on a system of bartering virtues.
God hasn't changed. In his repentant hour of need, even the most wicked sinner can call unto God, just like the baby does. God will be right there, even waiting at the door of this dear one’s heart, with great anticipation of that blessed moment, great desire to answer prayer. During our time of purging, we can call on Him, Jesus is right there with us all the way through it. He is like the father who felt sorry after he sent his son to sleep in the attic for constantly disobeying, and also went and spent the night in the attic with using his arm as a pillow under the head of the punished boy! Isn't it why he died for us?
Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me..
CALL UNTO HIM
Psalms 3:4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
Our Lord Jesus told us that in order to see the Kingdom of Heaven we needed to become as little children. What baby cries and does not expect to be heard? And yet in our "growing up" our assurance of getting answered to when we ‘cry’ seems to decrease. The most simple act practiced by a baby requires of us ‘adults’ the understanding of a great educated theological principle, which I fear less and less of us understand as the world goes on. Alas, the knowledge of the simple abundant forgiving grace of God seems to be "out of style' and replaced by religious educated fables based on a system of bartering virtues.
God hasn't changed. In his repentant hour of need, even the most wicked sinner can call unto God, just like the baby does. God will be right there, even waiting at the door of this dear one’s heart, with great anticipation of that blessed moment, great desire to answer prayer. During our time of purging, we can call on Him, Jesus is right there with us all the way through it. He is like the father who felt sorry after he sent his son to sleep in the attic for constantly disobeying, and also went and spent the night in the attic with using his arm as a pillow under the head of the punished boy! Isn't it why he died for us?
Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me..
LET THE LORD DO THE WORRYING
September 25
Psalms 3:5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.
LET THE LORD DO THE WORRYING.
Two painters each painted a picture to illustrate his concept of peace. The first chose for his scene a still, lone lake among far-off mountains. The second painted on his canvas a thundering waterfall during a raging storm with a fragile birch tree bending over the foam. At the fork of a branch, wet with the cataract's spray, a small bird sat on its nest, cheerfully singing. That is real peace.
How sad must the Lord feel when after all He does for us, we still sit there and worry.
How elated must He be when, in full trust and confidence, we cease from our own fretting and trust Him to do the work of caring for us. We can be faced with the fiercest of hurricanes and still trust in Him, because we know that no matter what the situation looks like, He keeps us In the hollow of His hands.
It is in the midst of trouble that our faith is tested. When we allow something to worry us, we have put limitations to God's omnipotence in our hearts. How offensive would that be if anyone did that to us.
Mark 4:39-40 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?
Psalms 3:5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.
LET THE LORD DO THE WORRYING.
Two painters each painted a picture to illustrate his concept of peace. The first chose for his scene a still, lone lake among far-off mountains. The second painted on his canvas a thundering waterfall during a raging storm with a fragile birch tree bending over the foam. At the fork of a branch, wet with the cataract's spray, a small bird sat on its nest, cheerfully singing. That is real peace.
How sad must the Lord feel when after all He does for us, we still sit there and worry.
How elated must He be when, in full trust and confidence, we cease from our own fretting and trust Him to do the work of caring for us. We can be faced with the fiercest of hurricanes and still trust in Him, because we know that no matter what the situation looks like, He keeps us In the hollow of His hands.
It is in the midst of trouble that our faith is tested. When we allow something to worry us, we have put limitations to God's omnipotence in our hearts. How offensive would that be if anyone did that to us.
Mark 4:39-40 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?
Friday, September 22, 2006
ACCEPT GOD’S RECKONINGS
September 21
Psalms 3:1 LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me.
Hear the heart cry of a great and mighty soldier unto his God! Hear the cry of one who, after he has won numerous battles still, does not use his own arm of flesh to save him and to get him out of trouble. Hear one who utterly leans on God’s power and learns form God’s lessons.
Because of his sin with Bath-Sheba, King David was told that violence would not depart from his family. This song is the psalm that he wrote when he fled from his own son who slyly took the throne away from him. Couldn’t he have him killed? Couldn’t this great military hero have done away with him, even with his own son? The people would have understood, his generals would have stood by him, and would have glorified him for being a king which was no respectful of persons in judgment, not even of his own blood. No. For David, this was not God’s way of doing things. Absalom had turned many people against his father, and to stand against him in military action could have involved civil war and the destruction of the city, of the beloved Jerusalem which David worked so hard to build. The most wonderful thing in David’s flight from Absalom is that David knew that what was happening to him this was the result of his own sins; therefore he was willing to eat humble pie in front of his God and in front of his people. He will not fight against God’s reckonings in his life!
Lord Jesus, help us understand when things happen to us that are simply the fruits and results of our disobediences to You. Help us not fight your chastening. Help us to eat humble pie and take your chastening bravely just as we expect our children to do.
Job 5:17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
Psalms 3:1 LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me.
Hear the heart cry of a great and mighty soldier unto his God! Hear the cry of one who, after he has won numerous battles still, does not use his own arm of flesh to save him and to get him out of trouble. Hear one who utterly leans on God’s power and learns form God’s lessons.
Because of his sin with Bath-Sheba, King David was told that violence would not depart from his family. This song is the psalm that he wrote when he fled from his own son who slyly took the throne away from him. Couldn’t he have him killed? Couldn’t this great military hero have done away with him, even with his own son? The people would have understood, his generals would have stood by him, and would have glorified him for being a king which was no respectful of persons in judgment, not even of his own blood. No. For David, this was not God’s way of doing things. Absalom had turned many people against his father, and to stand against him in military action could have involved civil war and the destruction of the city, of the beloved Jerusalem which David worked so hard to build. The most wonderful thing in David’s flight from Absalom is that David knew that what was happening to him this was the result of his own sins; therefore he was willing to eat humble pie in front of his God and in front of his people. He will not fight against God’s reckonings in his life!
Lord Jesus, help us understand when things happen to us that are simply the fruits and results of our disobediences to You. Help us not fight your chastening. Help us to eat humble pie and take your chastening bravely just as we expect our children to do.
Job 5:17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
HE SEES YOU
Psalms 1:6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
We may sometimes feel that no one sees nor appreciate us for our true value. It may look to us that this cynical world misunderstands even the purest of our motives. By comparison, it may appear to us that those with ill motives and evil intentions are succeeding in their endeavors and that this world rewards them with credit and glory
What a comfort to know that the Lord Himself knows the way of the righteous, that nothing escapes His eyes. He is the ultimate Judge. Ultimately, He is the only one we have to please and his reward last forever (Romans 11:29).
None can fool Him with pretense and false works. His spirit can discern between the sincere gift of our person to Him and the egocentric self-glorifying, self-righteous religious works of others.
So let us not fear if today, the world doesn’t seem to appreciates and value and our participation. Very soon another day is coming when the books will be opened and all things all will be revealed. In that day, every secret of the heart will be opened, every motivation revealed, and just recompense will be given to all.
Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
We may sometimes feel that no one sees nor appreciate us for our true value. It may look to us that this cynical world misunderstands even the purest of our motives. By comparison, it may appear to us that those with ill motives and evil intentions are succeeding in their endeavors and that this world rewards them with credit and glory
What a comfort to know that the Lord Himself knows the way of the righteous, that nothing escapes His eyes. He is the ultimate Judge. Ultimately, He is the only one we have to please and his reward last forever (Romans 11:29).
None can fool Him with pretense and false works. His spirit can discern between the sincere gift of our person to Him and the egocentric self-glorifying, self-righteous religious works of others.
So let us not fear if today, the world doesn’t seem to appreciates and value and our participation. Very soon another day is coming when the books will be opened and all things all will be revealed. In that day, every secret of the heart will be opened, every motivation revealed, and just recompense will be given to all.
Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
STAND IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD
September 19
STAND IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD
Psalms 1:5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
This is a day we will all face--the day when the books are opened and a true account is given for everything we’ve done and said. No more hiding; playing games is done and over with. There is no more pretending, no more bribing, begging, whining, or cajoling. The time for working things out using our favorite excuses and alibis is over; this is the day of the great accounting. What’s truly dreadful is that the game can stop at any time for any of us; we cannot count on tomorrow.
In that day, those of us who have not had our priorities straight, who have not meditated on the Word, soaked our roots deeply in the moisture brought us by the river of life, we will not have the spiritual conviction to stand in the brightness of God’s presence.
Whereas those of us who have faithfully lived off the spiritual nutrients offered by the River of Life, those of us who regularly sat at Jesus’ feet like Mary, we will be able to stand with Moses on the Mount of the congregation and hear the voice of Jesus say, well done , thou good and faithful servant;. . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord (Matthew 25:21) . We will enter without fear, with Jesus through the veil, and into the Holy of Holies. We will enjoy the presence of our God whom we know has been with us day by day. What a day that will be!
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
STAND IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD
Psalms 1:5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
This is a day we will all face--the day when the books are opened and a true account is given for everything we’ve done and said. No more hiding; playing games is done and over with. There is no more pretending, no more bribing, begging, whining, or cajoling. The time for working things out using our favorite excuses and alibis is over; this is the day of the great accounting. What’s truly dreadful is that the game can stop at any time for any of us; we cannot count on tomorrow.
In that day, those of us who have not had our priorities straight, who have not meditated on the Word, soaked our roots deeply in the moisture brought us by the river of life, we will not have the spiritual conviction to stand in the brightness of God’s presence.
Whereas those of us who have faithfully lived off the spiritual nutrients offered by the River of Life, those of us who regularly sat at Jesus’ feet like Mary, we will be able to stand with Moses on the Mount of the congregation and hear the voice of Jesus say, well done , thou good and faithful servant;. . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord (Matthew 25:21) . We will enter without fear, with Jesus through the veil, and into the Holy of Holies. We will enjoy the presence of our God whom we know has been with us day by day. What a day that will be!
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Monday, September 18, 2006
THE LIGHT AND ORDER OF OUR LIFE
September 18
THE LIGHT AND ORDER IN OUR LIFE.
Psalms 1:4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
A young woman told me that she believed in God, that He was close to Him and that He was leading her life. She also proclaimed to me that she did not believe Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and that God can only be approached or addressed to through Him. Curious to know more about the effects of this belief system on her life, I continued the conversation with this woman.
She proceeded to tell me about her life; how she was so confused and did not understand the things that were happening to her. She also didn’t seem to have a clue of where she was at and even less of where she was going. After this discussion, I concluded that no matter how much she liked to believe that she was close to God and that He was leading her life, her own testimony proved otherwise.
God is not a spirit of confusion; a life led by the Spirit of the Lord is not confused. One who is truly led by God knows and understands by sight or faith where he is at and even where he is going. It is the ungodly and the one without God who is like the chaff driven away by every wind of doctrine, new thought, idea, with no order beginning nor end. The ungodly is the anti-thesis of one who is led by the spirit of the “wind” of the God (John 3:8)’ of the one who flies ‘upon the wings of the wind’ (Psalms 18:10).
For those of us who boast that our life is ordered and lead by the Lord of the universe, if it is truly so, the light, the spiritual harmony and order will emanate the silent, but screaming testimony and witness of the beauty of God.
John 1:4 In Him (Jesus) was life; and the life was the light of men.
THE LIGHT AND ORDER IN OUR LIFE.
Psalms 1:4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
A young woman told me that she believed in God, that He was close to Him and that He was leading her life. She also proclaimed to me that she did not believe Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and that God can only be approached or addressed to through Him. Curious to know more about the effects of this belief system on her life, I continued the conversation with this woman.
She proceeded to tell me about her life; how she was so confused and did not understand the things that were happening to her. She also didn’t seem to have a clue of where she was at and even less of where she was going. After this discussion, I concluded that no matter how much she liked to believe that she was close to God and that He was leading her life, her own testimony proved otherwise.
God is not a spirit of confusion; a life led by the Spirit of the Lord is not confused. One who is truly led by God knows and understands by sight or faith where he is at and even where he is going. It is the ungodly and the one without God who is like the chaff driven away by every wind of doctrine, new thought, idea, with no order beginning nor end. The ungodly is the anti-thesis of one who is led by the spirit of the “wind” of the God (John 3:8)’ of the one who flies ‘upon the wings of the wind’ (Psalms 18:10).
For those of us who boast that our life is ordered and lead by the Lord of the universe, if it is truly so, the light, the spiritual harmony and order will emanate the silent, but screaming testimony and witness of the beauty of God.
John 1:4 In Him (Jesus) was life; and the life was the light of men.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
STAY BY THE RIVER
September, 17
Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Oh what a picture! What a picture of the child of God’s perfect harmony of with His creator, the roots of his soul fully nurtured in the Spirit of his maker. Near his God he finds divine serenity, love of purpose, lush abundance, perpetual fruitfulness, true happiness, Eden’s life returned in his heart. This is the reward of “not walking in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standing in the way of sinners, nor sitting in the seat of the scornful”; here is the perfect harmony created in the heart of the child of God having “his delight is in the law of the LORD.”
People of the world run to and fro the distance of the planet in order to find peace. Like the woman that had the issue of blood, they spend all their substance on physicians, doctors and psychologist, hoping for the peace of mind and spirit that can be obtained simply by touching the hem of His garment; do they only know that this treasure they are looking for is within the pages of their Bible? Do they know that if they daily, grab a hold of Jesus’ garment, peace will encompass and even pursue them?
When someone comes to us sharing their hearts and their problems, let us be faithful to bring them to the ‘river’. There is no other therapy, no other solution, and no other medicine. All the wisdom in the world will fail them, if we don’t bring them to the ‘river’.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Oh what a picture! What a picture of the child of God’s perfect harmony of with His creator, the roots of his soul fully nurtured in the Spirit of his maker. Near his God he finds divine serenity, love of purpose, lush abundance, perpetual fruitfulness, true happiness, Eden’s life returned in his heart. This is the reward of “not walking in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standing in the way of sinners, nor sitting in the seat of the scornful”; here is the perfect harmony created in the heart of the child of God having “his delight is in the law of the LORD.”
People of the world run to and fro the distance of the planet in order to find peace. Like the woman that had the issue of blood, they spend all their substance on physicians, doctors and psychologist, hoping for the peace of mind and spirit that can be obtained simply by touching the hem of His garment; do they only know that this treasure they are looking for is within the pages of their Bible? Do they know that if they daily, grab a hold of Jesus’ garment, peace will encompass and even pursue them?
When someone comes to us sharing their hearts and their problems, let us be faithful to bring them to the ‘river’. There is no other therapy, no other solution, and no other medicine. All the wisdom in the world will fail them, if we don’t bring them to the ‘river’.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Saturday, September 16, 2006
SACRIFICE OR PRIVILEDGE?
September 16
Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
It is no sacrifice for the child of God to not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful as was stated in the preceding verse (Psalms 1:1). The child of God does it willingly because his delight is of a higher calling. The Child of God doesn’t feel that he ‘has’ to dedicate himself to the study of the Word; he rather feels that he’gets ’ to, as a blessing and a reward from the Almighty.
Today the world offers us many distractions that compete for our attention. Most are bad; some are good, and some are less good. Whatever comes in conflict with our interest in the treasures of the Lord should be considered a negative influence in our lives, even if it is something ’good’; the ‘good’ that we settle for is often the worst enemy of the ‘best’!
It takes a total change of mind and spirit--a regeneration of the soul to be able to be sincere in saying, “Yes, my delight is in the law of the Lord, and I love to meditate on His words day and night, and I consider it my highest privilege!”
“Dear Jesus, let our appetites and desires be rewired so that we can truly say with David that our delight is in your Word; that we find meditating on your Word an incomparable treasure, an immeasurable reward, and the greatest of all honors.”
Psa 119:72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
It is no sacrifice for the child of God to not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful as was stated in the preceding verse (Psalms 1:1). The child of God does it willingly because his delight is of a higher calling. The Child of God doesn’t feel that he ‘has’ to dedicate himself to the study of the Word; he rather feels that he’gets ’ to, as a blessing and a reward from the Almighty.
Today the world offers us many distractions that compete for our attention. Most are bad; some are good, and some are less good. Whatever comes in conflict with our interest in the treasures of the Lord should be considered a negative influence in our lives, even if it is something ’good’; the ‘good’ that we settle for is often the worst enemy of the ‘best’!
It takes a total change of mind and spirit--a regeneration of the soul to be able to be sincere in saying, “Yes, my delight is in the law of the Lord, and I love to meditate on His words day and night, and I consider it my highest privilege!”
“Dear Jesus, let our appetites and desires be rewired so that we can truly say with David that our delight is in your Word; that we find meditating on your Word an incomparable treasure, an immeasurable reward, and the greatest of all honors.”
Psa 119:72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
Friday, September 15, 2006
THE FREEDOM OF THE WIND
September 15
Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
In today's world, so much is about conformity; it may not be bad, but does this conformity to accepted attitudes lead us to become the creatures God has ordained us to be? Even the concept of individuality has become an alibi that we use when we claim the freedom to choose whom or what we will conform to.
The enemy of our soul uses the grip, the vice of conformity to the world and its ways to keep our soul. The accuser of the saints terrorizes us with stories of gloom that cause us to fear lest we try to escape; lest we become free again and live under the sole dependence of God. What lies does this devil not concoct in his fear of loosing his grip on us.
Like the wind, the freedom of our soul lies in its ability to yield to God in all His ways, without controls, without the obstructions of those who would wish it to conform it their ungodly ways. Our soul only finds fullness of freedom when we give it permission to follow God, the Spirit of its Creator. One word of consent on our part towards Jesus, and we can free ourselves from the terrorizing grip of the devil.
May we never be fooled by this enemy’s lies into conforming to the ways of the world. May we never listen to him to the detriment and freedom of our soul. We can call on Jesus the Christ, the Savior, and today be blessed with the freedom of the wind.
Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
In today's world, so much is about conformity; it may not be bad, but does this conformity to accepted attitudes lead us to become the creatures God has ordained us to be? Even the concept of individuality has become an alibi that we use when we claim the freedom to choose whom or what we will conform to.
The enemy of our soul uses the grip, the vice of conformity to the world and its ways to keep our soul. The accuser of the saints terrorizes us with stories of gloom that cause us to fear lest we try to escape; lest we become free again and live under the sole dependence of God. What lies does this devil not concoct in his fear of loosing his grip on us.
Like the wind, the freedom of our soul lies in its ability to yield to God in all His ways, without controls, without the obstructions of those who would wish it to conform it their ungodly ways. Our soul only finds fullness of freedom when we give it permission to follow God, the Spirit of its Creator. One word of consent on our part towards Jesus, and we can free ourselves from the terrorizing grip of the devil.
May we never be fooled by this enemy’s lies into conforming to the ways of the world. May we never listen to him to the detriment and freedom of our soul. We can call on Jesus the Christ, the Savior, and today be blessed with the freedom of the wind.
Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Daily Devotion
September 14, 2006
Psalms 134:3 The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.
At the end of their visit to Jerusalem for one of the thrice-yearly pilgrimage, the priests pronounced this blessing on the pilgrims returning home to the four corners of the orient.
The pilgrimage was motivated by much more than the desire to see the holy sights and the tombs of the patriarchs. It was not a touristy visit to the Holy Land. Like the longing of the homing pigeon to return to its place, this pilgrimage was motivated by the longing of the human soul to return to the presence of its Creator. As the pilgrims left, the priests sent with them the blessing of the promises of Zion.
The blessing of the promise of Zion is the presence of Jesus the Messiah and of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. We spend time in the temple of God in the privacy of our prayer closet; we enjoy the blessings and edification of fellowship with the saints; so wherever we go, let us take this blessing with us and spill it over to everyone that we meet along our way.
1Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psalms 134:3 The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.
At the end of their visit to Jerusalem for one of the thrice-yearly pilgrimage, the priests pronounced this blessing on the pilgrims returning home to the four corners of the orient.
The pilgrimage was motivated by much more than the desire to see the holy sights and the tombs of the patriarchs. It was not a touristy visit to the Holy Land. Like the longing of the homing pigeon to return to its place, this pilgrimage was motivated by the longing of the human soul to return to the presence of its Creator. As the pilgrims left, the priests sent with them the blessing of the promises of Zion.
The blessing of the promise of Zion is the presence of Jesus the Messiah and of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. We spend time in the temple of God in the privacy of our prayer closet; we enjoy the blessings and edification of fellowship with the saints; so wherever we go, let us take this blessing with us and spill it over to everyone that we meet along our way.
1Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Daily Devotion
September 13, 2006
Psalms 134:2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.
The fourth chapter of the book of Revelations tells us of the throne of God. In front of the throne was an altar ablaze with a perpetual fire (Revelations 8:3). The throne is surrounded by four winged beasts full of eyes before and behind that rest not day or night from praising the God of heaven (Revelations 4:6-9).
To convey this notion to His people, God gave them a symbolic wooden Ark representing His throne, with a flaming altar in front of it. God also established the levitical service of the fire and of the altar which must be tended to day and night. The Ark, the altar, and later on the temple were only symbols of greater spiritual truths, and to be discarded in the day when the Messiah established His throne in our hearts.
We in whom Christ reigns; we in whose heart is the throne of God through the mediation of His Christ; let us serve Him in the day light when all is clear and bright; and let us serve Him also in the night watches when we cannot sleep, with praise and dedicated hands. Let us bless and thank Him for all His benefits to us. That may even by the reason we cannot sleep sometimes: we are called to do the service of praising and blessing Him.
1Ch 9:33 And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psalms 134:2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.
The fourth chapter of the book of Revelations tells us of the throne of God. In front of the throne was an altar ablaze with a perpetual fire (Revelations 8:3). The throne is surrounded by four winged beasts full of eyes before and behind that rest not day or night from praising the God of heaven (Revelations 4:6-9).
To convey this notion to His people, God gave them a symbolic wooden Ark representing His throne, with a flaming altar in front of it. God also established the levitical service of the fire and of the altar which must be tended to day and night. The Ark, the altar, and later on the temple were only symbols of greater spiritual truths, and to be discarded in the day when the Messiah established His throne in our hearts.
We in whom Christ reigns; we in whose heart is the throne of God through the mediation of His Christ; let us serve Him in the day light when all is clear and bright; and let us serve Him also in the night watches when we cannot sleep, with praise and dedicated hands. Let us bless and thank Him for all His benefits to us. That may even by the reason we cannot sleep sometimes: we are called to do the service of praising and blessing Him.
1Ch 9:33 And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Daily Devotion
September 12, 2006
NOTE: From 120 to 134 the psalms are called ‘songs of degree”. These songs were sung by the pilgrims as they traveled on their thrice yearly pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The 134th Psalm is the last one of the songs of degree. When pilgrims left Jerusalem at the break of dawn, they were moved by the sight of the light emanating from the chambers of the priests who tended to the temple during the night watches.
Psalms 134:1 Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.
There are those who pray, the prayer warriors; and there are those prayed for. We also need those who pray for the prayer warriors. Moses, as good as a prayer warrior and intercessor as he was, needed to be supported in that way.
When the children of Israel were fighting Amalek in the desert (Exodus 17:11-12), Moses, Aaron and Hur were watching and praying on a nearby hill. They realized that when Moses lifted up his hands, Israel was winning, but when Moses had his hands down, Israel was losing the battle. Aaron and Hur then decided to help prop up Moses’ tired arms until the battle was won.
Let us bless the pastors, the shepherds, the teachers, and the prayer warriors who spend their time by day or in the night watches praying for us. Let us not forget that their prayers are the winds that direct the fiery Word arrows to the heart of the enemy (1 Peter 5:8), and generates the noise of heavenly chariots that drives him away in fear (2 Kings 6:24; 7:5b-7).
Hebrews 13:18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
NOTE: From 120 to 134 the psalms are called ‘songs of degree”. These songs were sung by the pilgrims as they traveled on their thrice yearly pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The 134th Psalm is the last one of the songs of degree. When pilgrims left Jerusalem at the break of dawn, they were moved by the sight of the light emanating from the chambers of the priests who tended to the temple during the night watches.
Psalms 134:1 Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.
There are those who pray, the prayer warriors; and there are those prayed for. We also need those who pray for the prayer warriors. Moses, as good as a prayer warrior and intercessor as he was, needed to be supported in that way.
When the children of Israel were fighting Amalek in the desert (Exodus 17:11-12), Moses, Aaron and Hur were watching and praying on a nearby hill. They realized that when Moses lifted up his hands, Israel was winning, but when Moses had his hands down, Israel was losing the battle. Aaron and Hur then decided to help prop up Moses’ tired arms until the battle was won.
Let us bless the pastors, the shepherds, the teachers, and the prayer warriors who spend their time by day or in the night watches praying for us. Let us not forget that their prayers are the winds that direct the fiery Word arrows to the heart of the enemy (1 Peter 5:8), and generates the noise of heavenly chariots that drives him away in fear (2 Kings 6:24; 7:5b-7).
Hebrews 13:18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Monday, September 11, 2006
Daily Devotion
September 11, 2006
Psalms 91:16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
How do we measure a man’s life? Is it by its length, depth or content?
Some of us have the philosophy that life is short and to be enjoyed. Others, with a sense of responsibility fill it with feverish activities. But really, how does God look at it? How does God measure the fullness of a life?
We are actors on the great stage of existence. We yearn to play in the greatest play of all, under the greatest Playwright of all times. The fullness of our existence is only fulfilled by playing for Him. But there are many others who desire our participation in their drama. These other producers tempt us with carnal incentives that we at times waste our talent on; we sometimes fall for their illusionary empty promises.
Each of our lives has a purpose and God is the great Playwright who has written the script of our existence. Each part of our script is synchronized with the script of other players and produces a domino effect on the rest of the plot. Our presence in the play, or lack of it, is never passive, but reactionary; it has an effect.
The fullness of a man’s life is in how much he absorbed the script of God, regardless of how boring, glamorous, short, long, simple or intricate.
Knowing that we play for the Master-producer, conducting the only movies that have the right outcome in the theater of life, let us dedicate ourselves to only play His script, to not just play the role, but be the role He assigns for us daily.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psalms 91:16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
How do we measure a man’s life? Is it by its length, depth or content?
Some of us have the philosophy that life is short and to be enjoyed. Others, with a sense of responsibility fill it with feverish activities. But really, how does God look at it? How does God measure the fullness of a life?
We are actors on the great stage of existence. We yearn to play in the greatest play of all, under the greatest Playwright of all times. The fullness of our existence is only fulfilled by playing for Him. But there are many others who desire our participation in their drama. These other producers tempt us with carnal incentives that we at times waste our talent on; we sometimes fall for their illusionary empty promises.
Each of our lives has a purpose and God is the great Playwright who has written the script of our existence. Each part of our script is synchronized with the script of other players and produces a domino effect on the rest of the plot. Our presence in the play, or lack of it, is never passive, but reactionary; it has an effect.
The fullness of a man’s life is in how much he absorbed the script of God, regardless of how boring, glamorous, short, long, simple or intricate.
Knowing that we play for the Master-producer, conducting the only movies that have the right outcome in the theater of life, let us dedicate ourselves to only play His script, to not just play the role, but be the role He assigns for us daily.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Daily Devotion
September 10, 2006
Psalms 91:15b I will deliver him, and honour him.
Faithless people often think that faith in God is a sign of weak dependency. They think this because, in the world of carnal man, there is a certain element of humiliation in needing help. It is not so in the spiritual world; when God helps us, we are not humiliated; we are honored.
Let us put it this way. Let’s say I am drowning. Let’s say that the President of the country is nearby and sees my desperate plight. Let’s now imagine that as the President sees me struggling in the waters, he orders his motorcade to stop; that he rushes out of the car, throws his jacket off and runs to jump in the waters to rescue me. He does not want to entrust this important job to anyone else, not even to any of the very able bodyguards that surround him. He wants to make sure this job is done right and he has an unmselfish feeling of personal responsibility in saving me. Wouldn’t I feel honored that the President of the country was so concerned about little ol’ me that he stopped everything on his busy agenda and risked his life to save me?
And yet, there is here much more that the president of the country who daily faces heaven and hell to rescue us. We are honored that the Majesty of Heaven considers us so important and worthy so as to stop the whole universe if needed to succor us, so as to invest even the highest price in order to save us: His Son.
Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psalms 91:15b I will deliver him, and honour him.
Faithless people often think that faith in God is a sign of weak dependency. They think this because, in the world of carnal man, there is a certain element of humiliation in needing help. It is not so in the spiritual world; when God helps us, we are not humiliated; we are honored.
Let us put it this way. Let’s say I am drowning. Let’s say that the President of the country is nearby and sees my desperate plight. Let’s now imagine that as the President sees me struggling in the waters, he orders his motorcade to stop; that he rushes out of the car, throws his jacket off and runs to jump in the waters to rescue me. He does not want to entrust this important job to anyone else, not even to any of the very able bodyguards that surround him. He wants to make sure this job is done right and he has an unmselfish feeling of personal responsibility in saving me. Wouldn’t I feel honored that the President of the country was so concerned about little ol’ me that he stopped everything on his busy agenda and risked his life to save me?
And yet, there is here much more that the president of the country who daily faces heaven and hell to rescue us. We are honored that the Majesty of Heaven considers us so important and worthy so as to stop the whole universe if needed to succor us, so as to invest even the highest price in order to save us: His Son.
Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Daily Devotion
September 9, 2006
Psalms 91:15a He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble;
God first calls us, and then we call upon Him; and when we call upon Him, He surely always answers.
In the words of the Bible, we find that God requires total surrender, unadulterated dependence, and absolute trust from us. God is like the husband who demands that we forsake all others and look solely to Him for our every need. In our economically competitive world, secular societies such as business companies also demand a certain level of commitment for their workers to be able to enjoy greater benefits and pay. The army as well requires a do or die type of commitment from its soldiers who are ready to die for their cause.
The difference is that God can and will compensate and deliver the goods; He is the only one who can compensate us; when we call upon him in our time of need, He answers us; therefore He is not ashamed to demand such a spirit of loyalty from us. Here is the testimony of Rose Price, a holocaust survivor, in her own words. The Nazis murdered One hundred of her relatives. They took her to a concentration camp when she was twelve. They worked her day and night making ammunitions while they severely beat her. . All this was done to her in the name of Jesus Christ. At the end of the war she said, “there is no God for me.”Here is, in her own words now that she knows Jesus, how she believes her Lord compensated her, answered her unspoken prayers “Imagine, He (Jesus) was on top of my back when I was so beaten; he was holding me the nights I was so scared; He was comforting me the nights when I was crying; I don’t deserve that, none of us do, especially me.”
Only our Lord and Savior can provide such comfort; may we never despise it.
Isa 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psalms 91:15a He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble;
God first calls us, and then we call upon Him; and when we call upon Him, He surely always answers.
In the words of the Bible, we find that God requires total surrender, unadulterated dependence, and absolute trust from us. God is like the husband who demands that we forsake all others and look solely to Him for our every need. In our economically competitive world, secular societies such as business companies also demand a certain level of commitment for their workers to be able to enjoy greater benefits and pay. The army as well requires a do or die type of commitment from its soldiers who are ready to die for their cause.
The difference is that God can and will compensate and deliver the goods; He is the only one who can compensate us; when we call upon him in our time of need, He answers us; therefore He is not ashamed to demand such a spirit of loyalty from us. Here is the testimony of Rose Price, a holocaust survivor, in her own words. The Nazis murdered One hundred of her relatives. They took her to a concentration camp when she was twelve. They worked her day and night making ammunitions while they severely beat her. . All this was done to her in the name of Jesus Christ. At the end of the war she said, “there is no God for me.”Here is, in her own words now that she knows Jesus, how she believes her Lord compensated her, answered her unspoken prayers “Imagine, He (Jesus) was on top of my back when I was so beaten; he was holding me the nights I was so scared; He was comforting me the nights when I was crying; I don’t deserve that, none of us do, especially me.”
Only our Lord and Savior can provide such comfort; may we never despise it.
Isa 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Daily Devotion
September 8, 2006
Psalms 91:14b . . . I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
Each and every day, we encounter problematic situations. We take these situations to the Lord in desperate prayer, and He sees us through them. This in turn develops into a deeper trust from us towards Him and His ability to be there for us. Consequently, we feel more secure in nestling closer to Him and relying on Him.
As humans, we are of a testing nature. No matter how much we try not to, we only come to fully trust and belief as the result of positive experience. No matter how much we want in our hearts to trust and believe God by faith, our confidence in Him only grows when we experience Him coming through for us. That is why David encouraged His faith by counting His blessings (Psalms 103:2).
As we learn to live closer to the Master, as our relationship with Him grows more intimate, we get to know Him better. As we get to know Him better, as we learn rely more and more on the power of His name to help us in our daily toil and labor, our spirit is lifted up to the level of new spiritual heights. Let us today see whatever difficult situation in our way as a formidable opportunity to climb to a higher level of trust in Him.
Romans 5:3-4 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psalms 91:14b . . . I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
Each and every day, we encounter problematic situations. We take these situations to the Lord in desperate prayer, and He sees us through them. This in turn develops into a deeper trust from us towards Him and His ability to be there for us. Consequently, we feel more secure in nestling closer to Him and relying on Him.
As humans, we are of a testing nature. No matter how much we try not to, we only come to fully trust and belief as the result of positive experience. No matter how much we want in our hearts to trust and believe God by faith, our confidence in Him only grows when we experience Him coming through for us. That is why David encouraged His faith by counting His blessings (Psalms 103:2).
As we learn to live closer to the Master, as our relationship with Him grows more intimate, we get to know Him better. As we get to know Him better, as we learn rely more and more on the power of His name to help us in our daily toil and labor, our spirit is lifted up to the level of new spiritual heights. Let us today see whatever difficult situation in our way as a formidable opportunity to climb to a higher level of trust in Him.
Romans 5:3-4 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Daily Devotion
September 7, 2006
Psalms 91:14a Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him:
Let us read the book of ancient stories. Let us read the book of the acts of God. When God’s children made a choice to face ‘hell and high water’ to go and worship their God, when they put the only life they had known for centuries to the sideline of their focus and agreed to a ‘rendezvous’ with the God that courted their attention, He matched the flame of their fervor with incomparable power. All the pharaoh’s men and all the pharaoh’s horses could not stand in their way. The power of their passion for God became the catalyst attracting the protective and nurturing nature of the Almighty.
When we love God with all our heart, with the very fiber of our soul; when our passion for Him is so strong that we do not care to leave the household of our childhood and go to Him wherever He lives, even if it means to dwell in tents in the midst of the wilderness; His fury against our enemies will be worse than that of the she-bear deprived of her cubs; He will surround us with a wall of fire to protect us from our enemies (Exodus 14:19-20).
Even so, our love for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the catalyst by which we enjoy spiritual, and at times even physical, protection from God. Let us never doubt for a moment that our spiritual husband whom we love is careless about the welfare His beloved wife.
Gal 5:6 . . . but faith which worketh by love.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psalms 91:14a Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him:
Let us read the book of ancient stories. Let us read the book of the acts of God. When God’s children made a choice to face ‘hell and high water’ to go and worship their God, when they put the only life they had known for centuries to the sideline of their focus and agreed to a ‘rendezvous’ with the God that courted their attention, He matched the flame of their fervor with incomparable power. All the pharaoh’s men and all the pharaoh’s horses could not stand in their way. The power of their passion for God became the catalyst attracting the protective and nurturing nature of the Almighty.
When we love God with all our heart, with the very fiber of our soul; when our passion for Him is so strong that we do not care to leave the household of our childhood and go to Him wherever He lives, even if it means to dwell in tents in the midst of the wilderness; His fury against our enemies will be worse than that of the she-bear deprived of her cubs; He will surround us with a wall of fire to protect us from our enemies (Exodus 14:19-20).
Even so, our love for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the catalyst by which we enjoy spiritual, and at times even physical, protection from God. Let us never doubt for a moment that our spiritual husband whom we love is careless about the welfare His beloved wife.
Gal 5:6 . . . but faith which worketh by love.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Daily Surrender
September 6, 2006
Psalms 91:13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Traveling throughout India you will often find charmers seating on the ground playing a flute to a venomous serpent coming out of a basket. The serpent appears to be dancing to the music under the spell of the charmer. This makes for a very impressive scene of interaction between man and a deadly kind of animal, but what we are not told is that for the most part, the snake’s venom glands have been removed, and it is therefore inoffensive.
We in turn, fight against a deadly serpent/dragon whose venom is present and very real. This dragon has God’s children intimidated and in fear of death (Hebrews 2:15). Like Herod of old, only the shedding of the innocent blood of God’s children appeases him.
There is an English legend of a knight called George. When he returned from the crusades George found a village in fear of a local dragon. The dragon had required the life of the village princess as a token of peace. In a fight to the finish, George killed the dragon and rescued the princess. How like our Jesus rescuing his bride from the clutches of the devil.
Our fight is not for ourselves but for the deliverance of God’s entire bride. Our Lord and king has promised us that in our combat to deliver his bride, he would give us power against the deadly venom of the prince of the powers of the air (Revelations 20:2). Let us therefore, like George, fearlessly fight against the dragon and deliver the ‘princess’, knowing that no power can withstand that of the Son of God.
Luk 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psalms 91:13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Traveling throughout India you will often find charmers seating on the ground playing a flute to a venomous serpent coming out of a basket. The serpent appears to be dancing to the music under the spell of the charmer. This makes for a very impressive scene of interaction between man and a deadly kind of animal, but what we are not told is that for the most part, the snake’s venom glands have been removed, and it is therefore inoffensive.
We in turn, fight against a deadly serpent/dragon whose venom is present and very real. This dragon has God’s children intimidated and in fear of death (Hebrews 2:15). Like Herod of old, only the shedding of the innocent blood of God’s children appeases him.
There is an English legend of a knight called George. When he returned from the crusades George found a village in fear of a local dragon. The dragon had required the life of the village princess as a token of peace. In a fight to the finish, George killed the dragon and rescued the princess. How like our Jesus rescuing his bride from the clutches of the devil.
Our fight is not for ourselves but for the deliverance of God’s entire bride. Our Lord and king has promised us that in our combat to deliver his bride, he would give us power against the deadly venom of the prince of the powers of the air (Revelations 20:2). Let us therefore, like George, fearlessly fight against the dragon and deliver the ‘princess’, knowing that no power can withstand that of the Son of God.
Luk 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Daily Surrender
September 5, 2006
Psalms 91:12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Yesterday I needed to clean the gutters of my house. I am not too much of a practical person, and I do not feel very secure on a ladder either, but it had to get done. My wife and I have the habit of praying before starting any activity, but we (probably more ‘she’) felt much more compelled to pray before I start that one. My wife first prayed asking the Lord to keep me from falling, and then she proceeded by praying that even if I should fall that I would not hurt myself.
When my wife prayed that I felt, “Wow, not only is she putting a mattress at the bottom of the ladder to soften my fall, but she is dressing me up in a padded armor”. Well, I really needed that prayer because it so happened that the ladder slipped on the slippery floor of my deck and I did fall. As I was falling I had flashes of a bad accident, hurting my head on the side of the railing, dislocating my back (I have slipped disk) or something of the sort, but I just landed on my feet as the ladder only fell a short distance and got caught on a table that we had put nearby to serve guests the day before. My legs also went through the steps, and I was not hurt at all.
I don’t know if angels actually stood there to bear me on their hands lest I dash my foot against a stone, But I do believe that my wife’s prayer was just as good.
2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psalms 91:12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Yesterday I needed to clean the gutters of my house. I am not too much of a practical person, and I do not feel very secure on a ladder either, but it had to get done. My wife and I have the habit of praying before starting any activity, but we (probably more ‘she’) felt much more compelled to pray before I start that one. My wife first prayed asking the Lord to keep me from falling, and then she proceeded by praying that even if I should fall that I would not hurt myself.
When my wife prayed that I felt, “Wow, not only is she putting a mattress at the bottom of the ladder to soften my fall, but she is dressing me up in a padded armor”. Well, I really needed that prayer because it so happened that the ladder slipped on the slippery floor of my deck and I did fall. As I was falling I had flashes of a bad accident, hurting my head on the side of the railing, dislocating my back (I have slipped disk) or something of the sort, but I just landed on my feet as the ladder only fell a short distance and got caught on a table that we had put nearby to serve guests the day before. My legs also went through the steps, and I was not hurt at all.
I don’t know if angels actually stood there to bear me on their hands lest I dash my foot against a stone, But I do believe that my wife’s prayer was just as good.
2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Monday, September 04, 2006
Daily Devotion
September 4, 2006
Psalms 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
Let us hear if we can’t see; let us see if we can’t hear. If we can neither hear nor see, let us believe in the Word that assures our protection. If we’ve become one with the Son of Man, we own the same privileges as He does; and the security that is at Jesus’ disposal, protects us also.
It is not one angel that has been assigned to our spiritual protection, but his angels. The question is not “How many angels fit on the head of a pin”, but rather “How many angels does it take to protect one of us?”. Nevertheless, God did not count and He charged his heavenly angelic armies with our care.
What do we have to fear, and why would we fret? Like the young servant of Elijah in the story, let us ask God to open the dull eyes of our spirit so we can see His marvelous angels and understand all the ways in which he protects us daily (2 Kings 6:17).
Daniel 6:23 . . . So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psalms 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
Let us hear if we can’t see; let us see if we can’t hear. If we can neither hear nor see, let us believe in the Word that assures our protection. If we’ve become one with the Son of Man, we own the same privileges as He does; and the security that is at Jesus’ disposal, protects us also.
It is not one angel that has been assigned to our spiritual protection, but his angels. The question is not “How many angels fit on the head of a pin”, but rather “How many angels does it take to protect one of us?”. Nevertheless, God did not count and He charged his heavenly angelic armies with our care.
What do we have to fear, and why would we fret? Like the young servant of Elijah in the story, let us ask God to open the dull eyes of our spirit so we can see His marvelous angels and understand all the ways in which he protects us daily (2 Kings 6:17).
Daniel 6:23 . . . So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Daily Devotion
September 3, 2006
Psalms 91:9-10 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
Let evil ills come; they will not touch the righteous. For the righteous, for the one whose soul is securely anchored in God through Jesus Christ his beloved Lord, there are no such things as bad news. For him, sickness is medicine to the shallow elements of his soul; death is the ending of earth’s futile vanity; burial is resurrection in the Promised Land of God’s Spirit. He doesn’t turn the ‘lemon’ into ‘lemonade’, but the ‘lemon’ becomes for him a well of water springing up into everlasting life (John 4:14), water that quenches so, he doesn’t have to come and draw again (John 4:15). The rock that could quench him becomes a fountain for his weary doubtful soul (Exodus 17:6).
Come ye devils with your cohorts; throw your stones at my heart and my faith; you’ve always done so to the pure children of God (Acts 7:59). Your rocks will only serve to build the grave of my martyrdom as a testimony against you until such a day when the books are opened and I sit at my father’s side (Revelations 20:4,12).
Hebrews 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psalms 91:9-10 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
Let evil ills come; they will not touch the righteous. For the righteous, for the one whose soul is securely anchored in God through Jesus Christ his beloved Lord, there are no such things as bad news. For him, sickness is medicine to the shallow elements of his soul; death is the ending of earth’s futile vanity; burial is resurrection in the Promised Land of God’s Spirit. He doesn’t turn the ‘lemon’ into ‘lemonade’, but the ‘lemon’ becomes for him a well of water springing up into everlasting life (John 4:14), water that quenches so, he doesn’t have to come and draw again (John 4:15). The rock that could quench him becomes a fountain for his weary doubtful soul (Exodus 17:6).
Come ye devils with your cohorts; throw your stones at my heart and my faith; you’ve always done so to the pure children of God (Acts 7:59). Your rocks will only serve to build the grave of my martyrdom as a testimony against you until such a day when the books are opened and I sit at my father’s side (Revelations 20:4,12).
Hebrews 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Daily Devotion
September 2, 2006
Psalms 91:8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
The socio-political world of today seems to be caught in an endless cycle of vendetta type wars. Every conflict on the planet points to the victim mentality in which it is deeply engulfed. It seems that we are not learning from history, no not even from our contemporary history. Revenge only promotes more violence, and even winning a war only brings forth hatred and animosity in those who were vanquished, which will eventually retaliate in the future generations. Such are the ways of the world.
But we can recognize who are the children of the Most High. They do not have to involve themselves in the dirty business of retaliation; their history is that of a God who has taken charge to avenge them (Romans 12:19). Their Lord and Savior, by his own words and sample, even told them to love and bless the enemy that hates and curses them (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 5:44).
We do not need to worry about the wicked that wrongs us. The day is coming when the books will be opened and the truth will be known; in that day, God himself will reward the wicked and we will see it with our own eyes. What a surprise it will be then to see how God really looks at things.
1Th 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psalms 91:8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
The socio-political world of today seems to be caught in an endless cycle of vendetta type wars. Every conflict on the planet points to the victim mentality in which it is deeply engulfed. It seems that we are not learning from history, no not even from our contemporary history. Revenge only promotes more violence, and even winning a war only brings forth hatred and animosity in those who were vanquished, which will eventually retaliate in the future generations. Such are the ways of the world.
But we can recognize who are the children of the Most High. They do not have to involve themselves in the dirty business of retaliation; their history is that of a God who has taken charge to avenge them (Romans 12:19). Their Lord and Savior, by his own words and sample, even told them to love and bless the enemy that hates and curses them (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 5:44).
We do not need to worry about the wicked that wrongs us. The day is coming when the books will be opened and the truth will be known; in that day, God himself will reward the wicked and we will see it with our own eyes. What a surprise it will be then to see how God really looks at things.
1Th 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Friday, September 01, 2006
Daily Devotion
August 30, 2006
Psalms 91:5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
When we walk with God, we walk by night as if it were by day; woes do not embitter the sweetness of His way. When we walk with God, sickness may bring our weakened body down, but only serves as a platform to raise our spirits up. Why is it so? Is it due to some magic spell brewed in a dark corner of the forest? Does this immunity come from some elixir made with exotic Eastern herbs?
Leave now your search for uncertain holy grails and let’s go together through the pages of the Holy book. Watch the miracles of the Shekina standing between the children of Israel and their Egyptian slave-masters (Exodus 14;19-20). See how the Spirit of the Most High strengthened men of low degree to supernatural strengths and faith.
Jesus, our Lord and Savior, the word walking on the earth has promised power is at our disposal for the asking (John 14:14). So when we feel like the world succeeds in overcoming us with its futile race, let’s claim ‘sanctuary’ and take refuge within our hearts where the Son of God lives. There, His strength becomes ours (Philippians 4:13), His light shines our way (2 Samuel 22:29), and His spirit is the health of our bones (Proverbs 16:24).
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psalms 91:5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
When we walk with God, we walk by night as if it were by day; woes do not embitter the sweetness of His way. When we walk with God, sickness may bring our weakened body down, but only serves as a platform to raise our spirits up. Why is it so? Is it due to some magic spell brewed in a dark corner of the forest? Does this immunity come from some elixir made with exotic Eastern herbs?
Leave now your search for uncertain holy grails and let’s go together through the pages of the Holy book. Watch the miracles of the Shekina standing between the children of Israel and their Egyptian slave-masters (Exodus 14;19-20). See how the Spirit of the Most High strengthened men of low degree to supernatural strengths and faith.
Jesus, our Lord and Savior, the word walking on the earth has promised power is at our disposal for the asking (John 14:14). So when we feel like the world succeeds in overcoming us with its futile race, let’s claim ‘sanctuary’ and take refuge within our hearts where the Son of God lives. There, His strength becomes ours (Philippians 4:13), His light shines our way (2 Samuel 22:29), and His spirit is the health of our bones (Proverbs 16:24).
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Daily Devotion
September 01, 2006
Psalms 91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Believer, we live in a world where the nocturnal pestilence of immorality runs rampant, where unashamed compromise in broad daylight is the norm. Even as medical science celebrates victory over certain sicknesses and viruses, our spiritual condition is that of blindness and numbness to the sin that so easily besets us (Hebrews 12:1).
When Nostradamus was fighting the plague in Europe, he simply observed basic rules of health and cleanliness such as cleaning, washing hands and disinfecting through incineration, all of which were new at the time. He was instrumental in the lives of many, and even though he was in contact with the sickness he did not catch it. The Old Testament contains many ritual types of washing, which unbeknownst to the children of Israel, kept them from diseases that were prevalent in the lands of their enemies (Exodus 15:26).
We have the promises that even though all those around us fall in the pit of ungodly living, we do not have to. If we keep strong in the Spirit, if we wash daily in the waters of His words, if we constantly purify ourselves in the stream of His Spirit, the whole world can fall into iniquity (and the Bible tells us that it will --Revelations 13:3), we do not have to.
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psalms 91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Believer, we live in a world where the nocturnal pestilence of immorality runs rampant, where unashamed compromise in broad daylight is the norm. Even as medical science celebrates victory over certain sicknesses and viruses, our spiritual condition is that of blindness and numbness to the sin that so easily besets us (Hebrews 12:1).
When Nostradamus was fighting the plague in Europe, he simply observed basic rules of health and cleanliness such as cleaning, washing hands and disinfecting through incineration, all of which were new at the time. He was instrumental in the lives of many, and even though he was in contact with the sickness he did not catch it. The Old Testament contains many ritual types of washing, which unbeknownst to the children of Israel, kept them from diseases that were prevalent in the lands of their enemies (Exodus 15:26).
We have the promises that even though all those around us fall in the pit of ungodly living, we do not have to. If we keep strong in the Spirit, if we wash daily in the waters of His words, if we constantly purify ourselves in the stream of His Spirit, the whole world can fall into iniquity (and the Bible tells us that it will --Revelations 13:3), we do not have to.
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Daily Devotion
August 31, 2006
Psalms 91:6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
Fear may be the single, most dangerous weapon the enemy possesses against us. During World War 2, in a radio broadcast to the British people Winston Churchill said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”.
When the children of Israel were in Egypt, God taught a lesson to the whole world. While the angel of death roamed the night streets of Egypt, God’s people were in their homes eating the Passover, protected by the blood of the Lamb of God on the doorpost of their houses. David, the young shepherd boy, could have feared the giant Goliath, but his eyes were fixed on a God that made Goliath look more like a grasshopper.
If we keep our eyes on God, with the blood of His Lamb on the doorposts of our hearts, we also will not fear; and whatever woe the world may use to intimidate us will not work. How dismayed must the heart of the Almighty God be when His children fear the puniness of Satan.
Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
Psalms 91:6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
Fear may be the single, most dangerous weapon the enemy possesses against us. During World War 2, in a radio broadcast to the British people Winston Churchill said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”.
When the children of Israel were in Egypt, God taught a lesson to the whole world. While the angel of death roamed the night streets of Egypt, God’s people were in their homes eating the Passover, protected by the blood of the Lamb of God on the doorpost of their houses. David, the young shepherd boy, could have feared the giant Goliath, but his eyes were fixed on a God that made Goliath look more like a grasshopper.
If we keep our eyes on God, with the blood of His Lamb on the doorposts of our hearts, we also will not fear; and whatever woe the world may use to intimidate us will not work. How dismayed must the heart of the Almighty God be when His children fear the puniness of Satan.
Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
htt\p://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/
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