Daily Devotion

May 27, 2006

Psalms 119:169 Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.

One who may be counted wise in the eyes of the world has been called onto the scene of the Kingdom.  He arrives in great pomp and style; everything is done in correctness.  He has his diploma from the right denomination, his degree from the right university.  His speech shows the refinement of a great theologian who can discern between doctrine and doctrine; his conversation has the style of one who is used to handling the deep Word of truth; all the “prerequisites” are present, none is missing!  But what a surprise when he arrives!  He finds himself in a world of people with the simple faith of “little children” (Mat18:3); they do not regard his diploma or degree; they may not even know what a university or denomination is.  

My oh my, he steps over everyone; his language seems blurry to the simple inhabitants of the Kingdom; he even takes offense at their simplicity in handling honest and sincere truth, especially the truth of the Word of God.  “Horror of horror”, he says; “Am I now to follow the directives of this…child? (Is 11:6), “How could he know the ways of the great Kingdom of God, what are his credentials, could they be better than mine?”

He sits by the side of the road in confusion trying to understand; he tries every key;  every reasoning of reason, every formula of spiritual concept is tested, and found…wanting.  He puts it all down in despair, “Have I spent all my life in the highest institutions of man only to end up in confusion?” he cries; “Yes, my child,” replies the tender voice of the LORD; all you had to do was ask, cry unto Me, and I would have put in your heart the wisdom of the ancients. I would have given you the understanding of the pure simple truths of the Holy Spirit. I would have filled you with the knowledge of My Kingdom that is not learned in the institutions of man.  Haven’t you learned that, “as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts?” (Isa 55:9).  

Job 9:1-16  Then Job answered and said,  (2)  I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?  (3)  If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.  (4)  He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?  (5)  Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.  (6)  Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.  (7)  Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.  (8)  Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.  (9)  Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.  (10)  Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.  (11)  Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.  (12)  Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?  (13)  If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.  (14)  How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?  (15)  Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.  (16)  If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

Romans 11:33  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Luk 11:13  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 26, 2006

Psalms 119:167-168  My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.  (168)  I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

Oh my LORD; how I love your Words, your precepts and your testimonies!  I  expose my heart to you; I give it to you to do as you please because I love you. I thank you for hearing, for inclining your ear to my request to answer my prayer, -- me-- the unworthy worm that I am (Psa 22:6).

My heart, my soul and my sprit are open before You.  My sins and my errors are exposed in Your sight and any day my life is in Your hand; a simple breath from Your mouth, a look from Your fiery countenance, and life is snuffed out of me.  But instead, You withdraw Your righteous anger, and You choose to look away from my sin and point instead to the carlet thread (Jos 2:18) of Your everlasting mercies.

Let the love that I bear for Your Word be my judge;
Let the care that I give to Your precepts be my defense;
Let the attention that I impart to Your testimonies be my plea;
Let the integrity of my heart be ever before You.

Mat 7:11  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 25, 2006

Psalms 119:166  LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.

Throughout his life, David has acknowledged his sin.  He often felt that he had lost all chances of sanctity, and that he had incurred the fatal results of breaking the commandments of God (Deut 27:26)), because his passions had so often led him astray.  But yet, He hoped for salvation.  He hoped not in vain but he had confidence in the great everlasting mercies of his LORD and God.  This hope, my friend, born of his love for his LORD, was the driving force behind the doing of the commandments.

Love makes obedience a thing of joy!
     To do the will of one we like to please
     Is never hardship, though it tax our strength;
     Each privilege of service love will seize!

     Love makes us loyal, glad to do or go,
     And eager to defend a name or cause;
     Love takes the drudgery from common work,
     And asks no rich reward or great applause.

     Love gives us satisfaction in our task,
     And wealth in learning lessons of the heart;
     Love sheds a light of glory on our toil
     And makes us humbly glad to have a part.

     Love makes us choose to do the Will of God,
     To run His errands and proclaim His truth;
     It gives our hearts an eager, lilting song;
     Our feet are shod with tireless wings of youth!
     ---Hazel Hartwell Simon

Oh, so many have got it wrong; so many try to use their “good works”, their religious obedience to commandments, to bargain their salvation from God.  But can one bargain with God?  Can one dress himself with the fancy clothe of good works, put on the perfume of virtue, fashion piety, and try to fool God into rewarding them with Salvation? Nay, my friend, obedience to God is an act of love born of gratitude--not a marketing tool.

Gal 5:6  For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Matthew 22:36-40  Master, which is the great commandment in the law?  (37)  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  (38)  This is the first and great commandment.  (39)  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  (40)  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 24, 2006

Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

In the demanding fast-moving world of today, peace seems to be the elusive virtue.  It escapes our mind and spirit, and leaves a frustration in our hearts that is all too often channeled into our daily interactions.  Because of this void, households are in confusion or broken, social relationships are strained, politicians and businessmen act out of fear.

But do you know a man who has found peace in his heart?  Have you met one with the secret strength of quietness? Have you ever neared the stillness of one who has found harmony with his LORD?  Such person has an inner strength. Just to be around them relaxes you as their spirit radiates on yours; their words and mannerism emanate that stillness that is so vital to your soul.

But do you think that they themselves do not struggle inside?  Do you think that they found a secret potion that sets them in denial of life’s struggles?  Do they own a magic word that repeals all their doubts and worries?  Do they live in a self-created idyllic world?

Nay, my friend, not so! They have simply turned the fight over; they have engaged the power of Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace (Is 9:6) to fight for them.  All they have to do is take refuge in the mighty arms of the LORD through His Words.  This is the place where life’s struggles are conquered, where the lies of doubt and worry are exposed and demised, the land of the true Eden of peace.

And all the more, it is not in mere obedience to the Law of God that they found their peace; it is in loving that Law and embracing it fervently as we do a lover that that “great peace” is found.  For who can truly obey the Law in all points? We are all sinners in God’s eyes. (Rom 3:23).  So love His Law today with all your heart and you will be finally free from the offenses of the world that so often vex you.

Joh 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Joh 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 23, 2006

Psalms 119:164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.

Jewish traditions willed that a pious man would praise God seven times a day.  Twice in the morning before reading the Decalogue, and once after; twice in the evening before the same reading, and twice after; making in the whole seven times.

Any king wanting to show piety would make sure to respect these timings, but this king seemed to have had a prayer life that was much deeper than the shallow routine of rituals.  To be able to praise God for His righteous judgments, he had to have a special relationship with his Lord, as he had seen much torment in  his life.  He left home at a young age to sing for a mad king; fleeing this same mad king, he became a fugitive from his own country which he had saved. Later on, he lost the first son from the woman he loved, and because of his sin, the sword never departed from his house, and evil constantly rose from his family (2 Sam 12:9-11).  

How nice it would be if during the routine of our day we would learn to discipline ourselves to stop whatever it is we’re doing for a time of prayer and praise.  It would change our perspective on things and give us peace; it may even help us make better decisions!  

Lord, help me today to remember to praise you for your goodness, your care, your protection, your love, and your righteous judgments.    

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 22, 2006

Psalms 119:163 I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.

I would say, there at least three forms of lying.  The lying to man, which we do to man;  we try  as much as possible to not to consciously do.  There is the lying which we do to lying to ourselves, which is more difficult to discern, because we are creatures of excuses, and we like to give ourselves much too much benefit of the doubt.  Then there is the lying which we do to God, which mainly consists in twisting His words by changing their perspective; in adding or subtracting to them (which we are not meant to do) in order to make them fit our purposes and human carnal mind.

The worst lie is the one that looks so much like the truth.  The concept and the doctrine that is so diametrically opposite to the truth is easily spotted; it is also quickly accepted by the proud, arrogant and rebellious.  But while the righteous see it in all it’s perverseness, he is easily fooled by the lie that has taken the appearances of the truth.  The devil uses this as a very smart and sly two-sided psychological strategy!  On the one side, he pretends to be this creature with horns and a pitchfork wearing red pajamas, and promoting sex, violence and rock music, so that when he comes in the disguise of a handsome smooth tongue preacher, teacher, or in the form of a beautiful woman, we don’t notice him we fall for him.  And on the other side, he mixes much truth with a little bit of his sweet glittering lies, and thereby he lures mankind by using his tendency to compromise because of his lust of the eyes and of the flesh.  

We need to remember that the truth is a pure essence of doctrine.  If it contains even a fraction of a drop of lie, it has been contaminated and it is not pure truth anymore.

With this in mind Christian, check you own heart with the Truth of the pure word of the LORD as interpreted by the Holy Spirit (John 16:13). Honestly subject  your doctrine, your beliefs, your *“conversation”, your Christian practices to It’s pure truth.  Can you then concur with David, “I hate and abhor lying: but thy Law do I love”?

* Conversation:  In the King James Bible, the word “conversation” means:  lifestyle.

Mat 15:3  But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

Galatians 1:6-9  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  (7)  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  (8)  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  (9)  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 21, 2006

Psalms 119:162  I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

It is our God-given human nature to appreciate, cherish and protect the fruit of our labor and hard work more than what is simply given to us for free. Salvation is free.  There is nothing we can do to earn it; nothing we can do to annul it.  It’s like birth--once it happens, you can die, but it cannot “un-happen”.  But to be nourished by the Word takes effort and will, and it is our responsibility same.  

The treasures of the Word are found through hard work, laboring in study and/or prayer.  The first battle is to realize the need; that you cannot live without it.  Next, the fight is against the odds and business of your daily schedule that have decreed that you don’t have time for the Word.  You need to prioritize; fight for the conviction that the gain of this investment will give you more wisdom than reading any other “how-to” magazine; more class than any other fashion review; more entertainment than all the fiction and mystery books in the world.  Once this battle is won, and you finally sit down to dig for the cherished treasure, as your spirit relaxes in the arms of your Lord, being so unused to this quiet and calm atmosphere, the devil comes to you with a spirit of drowsiness and sleep.  You have to stand up, drink a glass of water, take a breath of fresh air, rebuke this spiritual drowsiness.  You even read the same passage several times, because you feel that it has a value and importance that eroded you.

After a couple of hours, after the darkness of a great fight, the light comes as some truth downs on you; a concept is conceived; a spiritual principle was uncovered and you are happy; you rejoice as one who has found great reward.  You fought a good fight, and you won!  You feel as one who fought a great war and divides the spoil with the princes--as one who searched long and hard at the bottom of the ocean and finally found the hidden treasure; as one who has loved long and true, and whose love has finally been requited.

And my friend there is more to this idea.  It is a paradox, but while believing that what was not worth fighting for does not own much value, our lazy nature does like easy gains.  But in your appetite for the Word, rely not only on the processed and “pastor-ized” foods (the foods already processed by your local pastor).  It is the sick and weak who only eat easily chewed soft foods, because they cannot “stomach” the meat of the Word in their lives that the true Pastor, Jesus, can and will give them individually.  The personal digging and searching for the precious Word will take you to that level of understanding truth that is hard to hear, truth that challenges every iota of comfort in your soul (John6:60).  But that truth my friend, that coarse barley bread of the Word, is where the strong nourishment that your soul desperately needs is found.  

Consider the quality of your Word time, the decisive factor in the outcome of the war in your life and service for the Lord.  Time spent sharpening the sword is not wasted!
  
Matthew 13:3-8  And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;  (4)  And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:  (5)  Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:  (6)  And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.  (7)  And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:  (8)  But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Matthew 13:44  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Matthew 13:45-46  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:  (46)  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Luke 15:8-9  Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?  (9)  And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 20, 2006

Psalms 119:161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

Brother, t’is one thing to suffer for the sins we know; it is even understandable to suffer for the sins we don’t know; but oh how hard it is to suffer without a cause!  We try with all we have to keep the suffering away, we “play the game by the rules” and stay in the “safe zone”.  But suffering “without a cause” was the baptism of Christ, and we are to be baptized with the same baptism He was (Mat 20:22,23). From Abel all the way through to Job, David and Jesus, the lot of the child of God is the same.  It is the earmark of a life touched by God; to suffer with a cause, without a cause, or even for your virtue.  

But oh, how hard it is!  Here we are, we obey, give all, sing praises, fellowship, pray, and yet, we are not spared the rod of suffering.  Oh. how that hurts our sense of justice!  We claim that if we were God we would know better, we would treat us better, we would be more fair to ourselves; we would not subject us to such an unfair treatment.

But don’t you see, don’t you see that this is the devil’s morbid sense of justice? “How can he be clean that is born of a woman” Job says (Job 25:4).  In God’s eyes, we are dead from the minute we are born, but in our self-righteous condemned pride, we can’t help but try to bargain our lot with God using our good works.  But suffering “without a cause” has the ability to cleanse us from this ungodly sense of justice born of our carnal mind (Rom 8:7).

My brother, whatever your lot, know that it is in the hand of God, and that it is within His perfect plan.  Let the blessing of the suffering he has allotted you cleanse the sin and uncleanness of your spirit, even your own perverted sense of justice.

Matthew 5:10-12  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  (11)  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  (12)  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

1Pe 2:20  For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 19, 2006

Psalms 119:160  Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

NOTE: The Hebrew text actually says:  “The beginning of thy Word is truth…”

From the beginning, God’s Word has been our link with Salvation: our return to the presence of God.  From the beginning, this Word promised us the final demise of the devil: the end of his power on mankind. Oh how precious are the first sweet Words of promise uttered in the Garden: “And I will put enmity between thee (the serpent (Rev 20:2) and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel (Gen 3:15).

Have you read?  Haven’t you seen?  Day after day, event after event, we read it in the Book of God, we read it in our daily lives.  Every time the enemy would lift his hand against one of God’s children, he ends up in the pit he intended for them, the victim of his own evil devices.

From the beginning, the devil was trying to separate man from God via sin, but from the beginning, through the spirit of yearning and longing, man has learned to know God in a closer and more intimate way than he had ever known Him before.  From the beginning, the devil tried to establish his justice upon us, but from the beginning, it made us all the more appreciate God’s merciful kindness.   From the beginning, the devil has tried to steal our loyalty to God, but from the beginning, it made us cling all the more to Him.

Oh, the precious and true Word of God! From the beginning it has decreed God’s sustained victory over His opponents, the establishment of His Kingdom and righteousness on the earth, the victory of mankind through the Lamb, and the final demise of the devil.  How can we fear, how can we doubt?

Hab 2:14  For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

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.

Revelation 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.  

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 18, 2006

Psalms 119:159  Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.

Throughout his pleading, begging, praying, David had one yearning request: SALVATION. He lived his life longing for the promised restoration of his spirit, for his soul’s return in the presence of the LORD. David also longed for the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth, and to the best of his ability and knowledge, he devoted his physical and spiritual strength to that purpose.  He longed to live in the presence of the Lord; he had a deep love and appreciation for His precepts. David also acknowledged his sin, and he did not make his claim to Salvation by presenting his own self-deserving goodness to God; instead, he solely depended on God’s lovingkindness.  

My friend; have you yet discovered the depths of His love for you? Has the marvelous bounty of His grace dawned upon you?  There were two thieves on Calvary crucified with Jesus.  They were crucified for the sins they had committed on the earth.  The law of the land had no power to either forgive or regenerate; they had to pay for their sins with a cruel death, but even then, it would not redeem their soul.  In his unrepentant and hardened spirit, one of the thieves tried to use Jesus to absolve his punishment, but the law is an unforgiving taskmaster; it claims that the “wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23), and it has to be paid in full.  The other thief knew his sin but he had faith in the merciful lovingkindness of the Master.  He did not have the possibility to get baptized and do great works for Jesus. He did not have the opportunity to learn to understand the theological depth of Jesus’ role on the earth, he was fastened to a piece of wood bound to die within the hour. All he could bring to Jesus was the gift of his repentant and believing heart, and that was enough for Christ to pay his debt (for the law required the payment) and say to him, “today, thou shalt be with me in paradise” (Luk 43:23).

Dear One, this is all Jesus needs: your repentant believing yielded heart. He wants to control and lead it; he wants to make His inhabitation in it.  .  Deceive him not with the works of your flesh; no works of man can be brought forth in exchange for the grace of His presence. All He needs is your heart fully yielded to Him so He can do the “works” through you.  Like the thief on Calvary, make your acceptance by Him dependent solely on the grace of His lovingkindness.  That is the only hope!

1 Corinthians 13:1-3  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  (2)  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.  (3)  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Heb 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 17, 2006

Psalms 119:158  I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.

I recently heard this song about a carpenter who finally decides to retire.  As he hangs up his hammer he says, “I don’t want to drive another nail”. Later, on Easter morning his wife brings him to a service where the preacher talks about the nails in Jesus hands.  The old carpenter got convicted of his sins against Jesus and said, “I don’t want to drive another nail”!

Our spiritual sickness of indifference and confusion laid the healing stripes (Is 53: 5) on Jesus’ body.  Our sins drove the nails of transgression into our Savior’s hands and feet. Our shallow mockery pierced his head with a crown of thorns; our defiant arrogance pierced His side with a spear of contempt. Once we acknowledge Him as our LORD and Savior, He forgives us these sins and comes down from the cross to lives in our hearts forever, but each day that passes, the indifference, the confusion, the sins, the mockery, the defiance and the arrogance of the transgressors add to the stripes, the nails and the piercing of Jesus.  

How can we watch transgressors so hurt our dear Savior and not grieve?  How can we, for the sake of social acceptance take part of daily mockeries at the Spirit of Righteousness?  How can we “walk in the counsel of the ungodly”, “stand in the way of sinners”, or “sit in the seat of the scornful” (Ps. 1:1)and not feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit telling us, “It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” (Act 9:5).

My dear friend, let not your heart be so hardened.  Let not your spirit become so familiar with the defiling of the Holy Spirit, that it blurs the difference between the “bride” (Rev 21:2) and the “whore” (Rev 17:1).  Let not your heart feel so “at home” in this world that the transgression of the ungodly doesn’t make you grieve.  

Jer 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!

Mat 23:37  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 16, 2006

Psalms 119:157 Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.

David was a godly man.  He was godly because of his great love for God, his great faith in God, and because of his great repentance from his sins.  His heart was truly yielded to the heart of God and he did not resist the correction of the Almighty. Yet, in spite of all these great virtues, he had many enemies.

These enemies were not only foreign people, nations and armies, but were also counted among his own friends and kin (Psa 41:9; 2 Sam 15:4).  Do you wonder how it is that such a man who gave his all to God found very little peace during his lifetime?  Do you wonder why it is that his life seems to have been a constant struggle from within and from without?

Haven’t you read?  Haven’t you read the Words of the Master? How do you expect them to receive you who have not received Him?  How do you expect a world who crucifies Him daily to receive you?  How do you expect the prince of the power of the air to leave you, the “seed of the woman”, alone when he knows that you are a daily threat to his kingdom? Be thankful for any moment of peace in this world.  Consider it a treat that He has Himself had foregone while in ministry here.  He is certainly better to us that he was to Himself while He was on earth!

But Christian, there is yet another question to be asked.  Does your life roll along like a song without much ado or is it a fight?  Do the congregations of the world accept you, or are the enemies of your virtues many?  Do you find it easy to get along with all, or does even your own kin or best friend rise against you without a cause (John 15:25)? The life of every true child of God in history is marked with physical and spiritual persecutions. It is so because every true child of God is a witness to God’s power, and therefore a threat to the devil’s kingdom.  In the Greek, the word “witness”, is the word “martyr”. My question to you Christian is: are you a witness?  Are you a martyr?

John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 15, 2006

Psalms 119:156 Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.

Are you discouraged from the fight?  Does the way seem long and hard?  Do you think that you should be able to endure things better? Do others seem to have an easier path?  Do you feel your lot is unjust?  But do you like Job, Abraham, Jacob and David have the confidence to contend with God?

My friend, what does a relationship with God look like to you? What is He to you? Is He that great distant ruling potentate?  Is He so far from your heart that His commands seem cold and unreasonable?  Is He like the rulers of this world who exercise authority over the children of men, or like the gods of the heathen who only require sacrifices and care not for the welfare of their followers? And tell me now, does such a high and haughty god make you feel “religious”, does it feed your spiritual ego?

But now, look at life.  Who are the people with whom you have the faith to plead your cause with, to ask for mercy, to plead for reprieve and forgiveness?  Is it the stranger, the governor or the blind justice of the land?  Nay my friend, it is from your friends, those closest to you, those who you know love you.  Those are the ones we argue the most with because we have faith in their love for us, that they will even forgive our contentions.  

So my friend, do not be unnecessarily “religious”.  Leave that for those whose gods cannot speak nor hear nor feel.  Leave that for the people who do not want a living god who will reason and talk with them; or a god who will get involved in their lives. Yea, leave it to them who want to place there god on a shelf in a shrine outside their home.  

Like the patriarchs of old, plead your cause, demand His mercy, claim His promises.  He loves to hear His Children contend for His love and care, to wrestle with the angel for His blessing.  He loves to prove Himself to be the God of their salvation beyond and above all circumstances.

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.

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 14, 2006

Psalms 119:155 Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.

Oh, my friend, would you know the difference between the saved and the unsaved?  Would you know the difference between the righteous and the wicked? Would you know the difference between the son and the “stranger”?  

Would the child who lives close to the bosom of his father fret?  Would he be afraid of the bully?  Thus it is my friend!  The saved, the righteous, the son, have their eyes on their Lord and Father.   They keep their eyes upon His and thus have perfect peace. The devil and his cohorts can scream, screech, saber-rattle all they want; they can elevate their towers, strengthen their battering rams, show off their fancy weapons in attempts to scare the righteous; but God and the righteous will laugh at his pretentious puny attempts, he will not be moved. He knows one look from His father and the pride of the wicked vanishes away (Job 40:9,11-12).  Child of God, be not afraid of the devil’s showy strength displays; fret not when he comes to you with his lies amplified by the hot air of lies! Rebuke Him in the name of your LORD Jesus and see him vanish away!

It is not the same with the unsaved, the wicked and the “stranger” to the household of God. He does not have the protection of the Creator to keep him safe; he does not have the assurances of the Words of the LORD to comfort him; he does not have the securities of the arms of God to envelop him.  He is frightened of death and of the dark; he needs constant reassuring.  He has to rely on potent medicines and drugs to find peace of mind and quietness of spirit.  He is afraid of his own shadow; he lives in constant fear and confusion because he seeks not God’s statutes.

My friend, rest in the arms of God! Go to sleep there and let Him fight the darkness that would want to conquer you!  Let the sunshine of His Spirit burn the chaff, the dross;  let It give you light, warmth, strength and perfect peace.

Pro 11:19  As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

Pro 13:21  Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

Pro 28:1  The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 13, 2006

Psalms 119:153-154 Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.  (154) Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.

The prosecutor of this world has come to the throne of the great Judge of all (Job 1:6-12).  He has found fault, he has found wickedness in you.  He expounds the case before the God of the universe without forgetting a single element.  He *twists facts like the wick of a candle; he supports his case with false witnesses (Mat 26:60).  

Appear now before the throne of the Eternal Judge.  What will you plead?  Will you bring your fleshly works before Him to prove the goodness of your heart?  Will justify your case with a show of religiosity?  Will you show Him wrong,  and proclaim that you do not deserve the worst of all punishment (Psa 51:4)?

Guilty, yea, you will plead guilty.  There is no other plea for you.  “How can he be clean that is born of a woman”? (Job 25:4).  From the foundations of the world, before you were created, you were born to be found guilty…and to be justified.

But, oh, what a comfort we have in a Defense Attorney who has conquered the death of guilt.  What a relief, what a sigh to know that we have One who will stand for us as the standard (Is 59:19) of God’s Word of grace and **mercy. Let Him battle with the lying prosecutor, let Him prove him to be the liar that he is.  He will not absolve you from your mistakes nor from your sins--justice will be served--but as a tender and wiser older brother, He will take upon Himself the price of your foolish youthful pranks and deliver you from “the snare of the fowler” (Psa 91:3).

*The word “wicked” comes from the twisting of a candle “wick”.

** Mercy:  Undeserved forgiveness.

Psalms 91:2-4  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.  (3)  Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.  (4)  He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Daily Devotion

May 12, 2006

Psalms 119:152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.

The world and its vanity can vanish away; thy testimonies are founded forever.
My friends and their fickle ways can bid me leave; thy testimonies are founded forever.

Of this rest assured, my friend: that the world was not founded on temporal material.   It does not rest on wooden beams and cement foundations.  Nails and glue do not hold it together, nor is it sewn together like a garment.  Wheels and gears activated by uncertain fuel powers do not hold it in space nor make it turn.  It is the sureties of the testimonies of God that hold it all together, my friend.  

Look at the earth. Would you be afraid to build something too heavy on it, or that the weight of an excess of population would bring it down?  Do you think that you could build a wall too high that could hinder its revolutions in space?  

Nay my friend; the testimonies of God are not founded on the material elements of this temporal world, they are founded on the immutable eternity of God.  A sparrow does not fall; neither does a hair of your head without His permission (Mat 12:29; Luk 12:7).  

Rest assured then of the testimonies of God!  Rest assured that what He has said He will perform (Numb 23:19); that what He has created He will nurture and protect (Zec 2:8); that what He has given He will not take away (Rom 11:29); and that He forever will be with you (Heb 13:5).

Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 11, 2006

Psalms 119:150-151  They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.  (151)  Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.

You, Child of God, who by your own integrity have decided to follow close to the Lord; you, Christian, who of your own gratitude have enrolled in active service for your Lord: you, Servants of Righteousness (Rom 6:17), do you think that your life will now unfold like a springtime morning breeze? Do you think that because you are on the winning side you have stopped experiencing the blows of the enemies of your soul?  Nay, my friend, oh nay!   Once the child of God has enrolled in the Army of Righteousness, he may well have forfeited his right to peaceful civilian life.  

Can you hear the steps of the enemy drawing near?  He has no face but the face of the ungodly who rebels against God’s ways.  He has no goal but that of destroying everything that is Godly, including you.  He has no desire but the desire to establish his rule and dominion on all mankind.  Because you have enrolled in active service, you will be his daily and nightly target.  He will follow nigh after you in hopes of tripping your steps, disturbing your sleep, confusing your thoughts, wounding your faith.

But as near as the enemy is, as close as he is drawing nigh, God is ever closer.  Yes. you may hear his steps approaching, but listen child of God listen; you can hear your LORD and commander ‘s breath at your side.  If you walk, He walks by you.  If you run He runs with you.  If you stop to catch your breath, He massages your spirit, deflecting the enemy’s fiery darts (Eph 6:16) for a time.

Yes, those who fight the Servants of God are far from His laws.  They will fall into the ditch which they themselves have digged for you; like Haman of old, they will hang on their own gallows (Est 9:25).

1 Peter 5:8-10  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  (9)  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.  (10)  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 10, 2006

Psalms 119:149  Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.

They say that there is something wrong with a baby that cannot make his needs known. A baby does this by shaking the whole house, screaming at the top of his lungs.  In the same way, there is something spiritually wrong with the Christian who cannot express himself out loud in praise and prayer.

Oh, that my voice may be heard in the Heaven.  Oh, that it may express the full expression of my love for my LORD.  Will I talk softly or shyly?  Will I whisper?  Will I measure my expression for the sake of poise and eloquence?  Will I use the trickeries of rehearsed speeches?  Will I compete with the rich and wise in my mannerism? Will I apply “self-control”?

Nay, my God and my LORD!  Nay, nay, nay!  No preparations and rehearsals are needed. Let my voice be loud; let it shout through the heavens.  Let my spirit carry it unto you in a wild dance of adoration.  Like the King of old, let me appear vile and humble in praises to my LORD (1 Sam 6:21,22). Let my voice praise you in tongues of men and of angels (1 Cor 13;1); let my heart beat to the rhythm of my Lord;, let my body be raptured in the freedom of your spirit:  let my whole body and soul be the full expression of my love for my LORD.

I know I can come to you with no fear, no apprehension.  I know that you see my faults, my failings; but you have covered them with the expression of your love (Is 1:18), and I trust in your loving kindness and in your judgment to hear and *quicken me.  

*Quicken: To give life

Jer 33:3  Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Jer 29:13  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 10, 2006

Psalms 119:149  Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.

They say that there is something wrong with a baby that cannot make his needs known. A baby does this by shaking the whole house, screaming at the top of his lungs.  In the same way, there is something spiritually wrong with the Christian who cannot express himself out loud in praise and prayer.

Oh, that my voice may be heard in the Heaven.  Oh, that it may express the full expression of my love for my LORD.  Will I talk softly or shyly?  Will I whisper?  Will I measure my expression for the sake of poise and eloquence?  Will I use the trickeries of rehearsed speeches?  Will I compete with the rich and wise in my mannerism? Will I apply “self-control”?

Nay, my God and my LORD!  Nay, nay, nay!  No preparations and rehearsals are needed. Let my voice be loud; let it shout through the heavens.  Let my spirit carry it unto you in a wild dance of adoration.  Like the King of old, let me appear vile and humble in praises to my LORD (1 Sam 6:21,22). Let my voice praise you in tongues of men and of angels (1 Cor 13;1); let my heart beat to the rhythm of my Lord;, let my body be raptured in the freedom of your spirit:  let my whole body and soul be the full expression of my love for my LORD.

I know I can come to you with no fear, no apprehension.  I know that you see my faults, my failings; but you have covered them with the expression of your love (Is 1:18), and I trust in your loving kindness and in your judgment to hear and *quicken me.  

*Quicken: To give life

Jer 33:3  Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Jer 29:13  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 9, 2006

Psalms 119:147-148  I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.  (148)  Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.

How quiet are the wee hours of the morning.  What blessedness is found in waking ahead of the world’s frantic action to connect with the Lord!

You wake up when “no man can work” (John 9:4), when darkness has wrapped the world with its heavy coat.  You eagerly enter the temple of your heart, this is the climax of your life, what you live for, what you die for: to meet with your Lord. You do not need pompous preparations; His Temple is ready for you.  You do not need ritual cleanings; you are already washed. You do not need to ask someone to unlock the door; it is wide open.  You do not need to pay the fee; it has already  been paid. You do not need a vicarious presence; it is you and your Lord, in a heart to heart intimacy that has yet to be imagined.

You sit at His feet, you listen to His soothing voice.  The waters of the fountain of His words refresh your heart, strengthen your spirit.  You drink them, splash them on your face, on your whole body.  You want to feel their coolness on the burning of your battle scars.  You want to apply them on the sores of your wounded spirit.  You want to feed your innermost being with the nutrition of their spiritual minerals.  

You would stay there all day if you could, but the sun runs to its eastern course; the dawn slowly shies on the horizon.  You say, “No, not yet, please, just a little more before the world gets up, before duty calls me to the fields, Lord.  Please, why can’t it be Sabbath today? I want to spend all day in the refreshing waters of your arms!”  You wish you could keep the sun from rising, you wish you could, like Joshua, stop the sun.

The Lord looks up to you with a tender reassuring look, “You can! Give me your heart; I will fill it up with these waters like a bottle.  It will bring with you their refreshing and strengthening coolness wherever you go.  Each time it pumps, it will pump it into every fiber of your soul.  Take it; take it with you.  Take enough for yourself, and to share with every one you meet.  Tell them about the Fountain, that they too can meet me in its Temple every morning.  Tell them that if they come to me, I will heal their wounds, soothe their sores and fill their empty heart with my Spirit.”

“And wherever you go, remember:

“…I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”. Heb 13:5
“… lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Mat 28:20  
Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 8, 2006

Psalms 119:146  I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.

So many times the Children of Israel asked the Lord to save them from their enemies, only to return to their rebellious ways afterwards.  Due to their sins, God had allowed them to become prey to the nations around them.  After a few years they became desperate and promised to change, the Lord sent them a deliverer, and then a few years later, they were once again back to their disobedient ways.  Sad to say, this seems to be the perpetual story of mankind.

The keeping of the testimonies of God has one and only one purpose: to be a witness of God’s ways to the world, to be a representation of His Spirit and of His care and love.  David begged God to deliver him so that he could continue being a witness unto God.  There was no concept to him of salvation without *repentance--of a salvation that would not be for the purpose of continuing God’s work.

Therefore let us not hypocritically make promises of faithfulness unto God  only when we need His help.  God desires so much to show the world how it could and should be run.  He wants so much for the testimonies of His wisdom to be spread around the world, His righteousness to cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.  Let us therefore promise instead, that whether God delivers us or not, we will obey, we will be the witnesses that he wants us to be through the “keeping’ of His “testimonies”. Obedience comes first, then God answers prayer!

Whoever you are in present trouble, whoever you are calling for God’s rescue, whoever you are shedding remorseful tears, whoever you are my friend, ask your soul this question:  What am I going to do with my Salvation?  My Lord has given all for me, what have I given to Him?  Will I return to Him dividends, of His life invested for me?

Luke 8:8  And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Luke 8:15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

* Repentance:  From the Greek word, “Metanoia”: turn around, U-turn, revolution.


ANECDOTE:
Bishop Moore tells the story of a little boy who was swimming one day in a lake when suddenly he suffered some type of physical difficulty and could swim no farther. The boy struggled for his life. He had gone under twice, when he felt the strong arm of a man lifting him. The man had seen the little boy's desperate plight and had swum out to save him. The man took the boy safely to shore and, after making certain that everything was well, turned to leave. The little boy said, "Thank you, sir, for saving my life." The man replied, "You're welcome, son. See to it that you are worth saving."
     Bishop Moore said that he has never forgotten those words, for he was that boy whose life was saved by a man who didn't even leave his name.
     A good question for the Christian to ask is, "Am I worth saving?" God in Christ has made a large investment in the life of each of us, and He has every right to expect a return of His investment.


Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 7, 2006

Psa 119:145 I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.

Here is a principle that today’s society has largely forgotten.  With very few exceptions, the Word teaches us that distresses, problems, tragedies, and even persecutions come from God in order to teach us lessons, to work His will in our lives, and bring our strayed hearts back to Him.  Job’s comforters tried to convict Job of sin.  Even the pagan sailors in Jonah’s ship wanted everyone on board to make things right with their god.  Jesus’ disciples wondered if the healed man had been blind because of his own sins, or those of his parents.

There should never be a question as to whether you have sinned or not.  The Bible said that we have all sinned (Rom 3:23).  If you have a hard time finding faults in yourself, enroll the help of those closest to you such as your spouse, your teenage children, or your closest co-workers--they will be glad to tell you! When tragedy hits as a person, a society, a country, it is a time for heart-searching and to desperately cry to the Lord.  It is a time for repentance, and to determine to keep God’s command. It is a time to re-evaluate your modus operandi; to yield to the changes God brings in your life.  It is not a time for justification, arguing and arranging with God; it is a time of learning by listening to the instruction that He has for you with a sincere and honest heart (Luk 8:15).  

No matter who’s right or wrong, no matter what the physical elements of the situation are, the spiritual principle remains the same; it is a time of learning to keep His precepts.

In your desperation today, cry with whole heart; be desperate to learn, and promise to keep His statutes.

1 Corinthians 5:7  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 6, 2006

Psa 119:144  The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.

Knowing the Word of God, I must read it; reading the Word of God, I must understand it, for then, “I shall live”.  

The Bible is not a book of “do’s” and “don’ts”, neither is it a book of doctrines. It is a book outlining spiritual principles for us to discover.  The discovering of them by the means of understanding gives life.  Have you ever studied a passage, which all of a sudden becomes clear to you?  It opens a whole avenue of principles and a deeper understanding of the Word.   The rush, the happiness, the “goose-bumps” of that moment, is the Spirit of life feeding your soul.

The Bible is not a book too “deep” for us to understand.  It can be understood with the pure and simple innocent logic of a child.  The helpful element necessary to help us grasp the fullness of its principles is a good knowledge of culture, language and history of the areas where its actions takes place.

In the Word, God seems to teach us by exposing opposite principles.  Proverbs 26, verse 4 advises us, “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him,” while the next verse tells us, “Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.”  Obviously, the Word is not here to give us legalistic guidelines as whether to “answer a fool” or not, but that there are times when you should, and times when you shouldn’t, and it also tells us the reasons why.  The Word confirms the idea and tells us that “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver (Pro 25:11).  

Oh Lord, help me do justice to your Word by letting it feed my heart, my soul.  Help me not to analyze it with my carnal mind, but help me to understand by the means of Your spirit, the Holy Spirit which you have said will lead me into all truth (John 16:3).

Joh 6:53-63  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.  (54)  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.  (55)  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.  (56)  He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.  (57)  As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.  (58)  This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.  (59)  These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.  (60)  Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?  (61)  When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?  (62)  What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?  (63)  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:
the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 5, 2006

Psa 119:143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.

Trouble without, anguish within; whatever the trouble, anguish is its eternal companion. But yet, see, my friend; the child of God.  The true Child of God who lives close to his Father differs from the worldling in his processing of trouble.  

Watch him well and learn.  He does not curse it, nor kick it in frustration.  Neither does he, like the proverbial ostrich, put his head in the sand in denial of it. You will not find him rationalizing and analyzing the trouble.  Minimizing it is unrealistic to him, and he has too much integrity to maximize it into giants in order to excuse himself (Num 13:32).

Yes,in the time of trouble and anguish, the true child of God who lives close to his father finds delight in the commandment of his God.  You who have experienced spiritual warfare know what I mean!  It is in such times that the Word becomes your strength and comfort; at such times, it seems to take a life of its own and add dimensions to itself. It becomes your lifeline, your anchor; it talks to you and fills your heart with joy.  

Beloved, do not curse the trouble, do not kick the anguish in anger.  It is the pressure of the spiritual battle which will give life to the Word of life that will make you soar.

1Pe 4:12-13  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  (13)  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

ANECDOTE:
The cocoon of the emperor moth is flask-shaped. In order for the perfect insect to appear it must force its way through the neck of the cocoon in hours of intense struggling. It is believed that the pressure to which the moth's body is subjected is a provision of nature for forcing the juices into the vessels of the wings.
     A person was witnessing this struggle once, and out of pity took the point of some scissors and snipped the confining threads to make the exit easier, but the moth's wings never developed, and it spent its brief span of life crawling instead of flying through the air on rainbow wings.
     Look not with false pity on God's children who suffer. As men we are inclined to be shortsighted. God would have us inspire their courage in the midst of it by remembering His love, and then looking for the glory to come out of it.

Daily Devotion

May 4, 2006

Psa 119:142  Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.

Kingdoms and their rulers exercise power over the kingdoms of men for a while, and then in the end, yield it to another.  Philosophers bask in the sunshine of fame for a moment of glory, until such time when the fickle loyalties of humanity run in search of something new (Acts 17:21).  The world and its temporal vanity will eventually yield to the eternity of God.  The temporal will yield to the eternal; the corruptible to the incorruptible; the flesh to the spirit  (1 Cor 15:53,54).

Today, it is you have a choice .  Do you want to live in the vanity of man, entrust your destiny to its temporal world; yield your soul to its fickle vanity?  Will your eyes behold in wonder and serve the deceiving beauty of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 3)?  Will your heart shun investments made in the prospects of life in the invisible eternal kingdom of God? The apostle told us “the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (2Co 4:18).  

“Even so, come Lord Jesus; come with your everlasting righteousness written in the heart of every man woman and child (Jer 31;31-33).  Come to rule over us, and all the kingdoms of men with a rod of iron (Rev 19:15).  Come with the truth of thy law which surpasses the vanity of past present and future philosophers.  Come establish you kingdom on earth.”

I long for the time when my eyes will behold no more the terrors of war and sickness; for the time when my ears will be overwhelmed no more with the longing of the desperate; for the time when my spirit will grieve no more for the heart of the innocent.  I long for the time when You, the righteous judge of the earth will come and teach us how we ought to live; Yes, I long for the time when the truth of Your everlasting righteousness will have conquered the hearts of man, and fear and terror will have vanished.

1Ti 1:17  Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Rev 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 3, 2006

Psa 119:141  I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.

How many times do we want to get back at those who despise us and make us feel small.  How many times do we want to say or do something that we feel may help vindicate us in our own eyes?  How many times when in those situations, are we tempted to forget His precepts and try to bring in our own justice?

Whatever our background, the fate of God’s children is to eventually be abased in the eyes of the world, as well as their own eyes, so they can learn the true humility that elevates someone in the eyes of God.  This “humility training” will come at the price of deep humiliations and true breakings, and oh, how God knows our number; how well He knows the very thing that will provoke the humility schooling out of us!

He may use what you are the most conscious of, your outward appearance.  He may use a poor complexion or an inability to lose weight.  With others He may use a handicap such as a speech impediment.  He may also use a simple mind or an inability to compete with others in certain matters.  He will also allow people, often those closest to you, to mock you, despise you, use and misunderstand you, even and even particularly at times when you try to do something good for them.  This will cause you to want to cry out for “justice” and vindication that will not come no matter what you do.  It will bring you to a place where the only godly solution to the situation is to go under in humility.

Jesus suffered His all without opening His mouth, and went as a sheep to the slaughter (Isaiah 53).   He gave His body and His life voluntarily over to the mockers and scorners of this world. He did it so He could conquer evil.  He did it so we could live.  He did as a sample for us to follow, and no true missionary, pastor or teacher of the Word can do a good job without the humility schooling that God sends our way and brings us through.  


Mat 5:3-10  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  (4)  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.  (5)  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.  (6)  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.  (7)  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.  (8)  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.  (9)  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.  (10)  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 2, 2006

Psa 119:140  Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

When will man stop trying to improve on the creation of God!  In his attempts to adapt everything to his own pride, lust and greed, man has adulterated most of creation.  Maybe that is why it is “groaning” (Rom 8:22)!

Because of so much mixing, breeding and grafting, some roses lose their smell.  Because of market demands, vegetable, poultry and cattle are modified to unnatural sizes and colors, and lose taste and nutritional values.  
Because of pride and vanity, people modify their bodies to unnaturally “enhance” them to meet man’s idea of beauty.  They also modify their spirit by turning to pills for the slightest difficulty or pain, rather to prayer and the Lord. And saddest of all, is that after man has laid God’s creation on the altar of his proud vanity, he has also laid his faith on it, and mixed it with philosophy, secular psychology and superstitions.  Not only have we lost the pure originals in the physical, but we have also lost it in the spiritual.

But thank God, we still have the pure Rose of Sharon (SOS 2:1) to teach us the original perspective of godly beauty and fragrance.  We have the meekness of the Lamb of God (John 1:29) to bring us back to the true values of God, and all things will be restored when the incorruptible puts on the corruptible (! Cor 15:53).  

“Lord, wean me from the adulterated ways of man; deliver me from pride, vanity and lust which has so corrupted me and creation.  Help me with all my heart to desire the purity of your Sprit and of your words.  In Jesus Name!”

Rev 21:1-5  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  (2)  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  (3)  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  (4)  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  (5)  And he that sat upon the throne said,
Behold, I make all things new.



Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/

Daily Devotion

May 1, 2006

Psa 119:139 My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.

David grieved to the point of self-consumption when he saw people who should have known better, forget the Lord who has made them, and act in disregard of His goodness and wholesomeness.  David’s zeal for following the Lord was like a consuming fire within him (Heb 12:29). His enemies were the ungodly. They were not defined by the prejudice of geographical boundaries or by religious sectarianism; they were simply people who despised God’s Words no matter who they were.  They hated his godliness because he hated their ungodliness.

Today, there is a crowd of those with  “victim mentality” who’d rather find fault in God than change their twisted behavior—those would brand someone projecting this attitude as self-righteous and intolerant.  The disheartening element in this is that Christians who would be of good reputation rather than stand for God’s standards, respond to this emotional black-mail by lowering the concept of Godliness.  They also adapt Godliness to a man-pleasing ritualistic and/or humanistic form.

The whole idea is not about how much you hate evil, which is nevertheless the fear of the Lord (Pro 8:13), but it is all in how much you love God.  Just like when you really love someone, you think that they are the best of the best in the world, and you feel grieved if someone else doesn’t like them.  

Psa 97:10  Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

Patrick Lumbroso
For past issues of the daily devotion go to my blog at:
http://hearthstoneministries.blogspot.com/