See God; follow Jesus

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post in the archives, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog.

Saturday, November 28, 2009
Devotions: Ps 104; 137; 144; Mic 7:11-20; 1 Pet 4:7-19; Mt 20:29-34

May my soul bless YHWH my God, clothed with majesty, filled with light, Master of creation! God, You manage nature wonderfully; all life springs from You and depends on You. How manifold are Your works, my God! And humanity is the crown of this creation; in wisdom You have made all that exists, and all looks to You for sustenance. May Your glory endure forever; may You rejoice in Your works; and may my life and my meditations and my actions be pleasing in Your sight. Praise YHWH! Let us never forget God or His wondrous works; when we’re in exile, or when the day is troublesome, let me nevertheless recall the goodness of YHWH. Let God have vengeance on His enemies, and let God bless all who take refuge in Him! God is my Rock, and my Trainer; He prepares me for the struggles of life. We mortals pass like smoke in the wind, but God is eternal and mighty. I sing a new song glorifying God. May our sons and daughters be pleasing to You, Lord; fill our garners; prosper our labor. Happy are all whose God is YHWH!

It is a day for building and extending! Let God shepherd His people and prosper us as in days of old. Let the pagans see our prosperity and the power of our God, and be ashamed! God pardons iniquity, passes over transgression, and preserves His remnant. Our God delights in steadfast love; He casts our sins into the depths, and remembers them no more. God keeps His promises and prospers His people.

The end is near—so stay sane and sober, and keep on praying! Love one another without fail, for love covers many sins! Practice hospitality ungrudgingly; use the gifts you have to help one another; be good stewards of God’s varied grace. Speak God’s wisdom; serve with God’s strength; let God be glorified in all things, through Jesus the Messiah. To Him be glory and dominion forever. Amen! My loved ones, don’t be startled by the fiery ordeals that come upon you; rejoice, rather, to the extent that you share in the Messiah’s sufferings—for you will also share in His glory and rejoice in His joy. Reproach for Christ’s sake is an honor and blessing; the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you! Do no evil; suffer for being a Christian, not a miscreant. No shame in that, friends; judgment comes, and it begins with God’s own household. If we have to suffer for a time, consider how awful it will be for those who do not obey or acknowledge God’s gospel! If the righteous is barely saved, what will happen to the impious sinners? So, if you suffer, continue to do God’s will; entrust yourselves to a faithful Creator.

As Jesus departed Jericho on His way up to Jerusalem, two blind men accosted him, crying out ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David!’ Though the crowd rebuked them, they cried out all the more, ‘Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!’ Jesus stopped and called them to Himself; He asked, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ They answered, ‘Lord, let our eyes be opened!’ In pity, Jesus touched their eyes, and immediately they received their sight and followed Him.