New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that label.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Devotions: Ps 12-14; 119:1-24; Isa 41:1-16; Eph 2:1-10; Mk 1:29-45
We’re in a troubled time, Lord—get involved and protect the needy against those who would despoil us. God’s promises are pure and sure, and we need God’s protection against the growing vileness that seeks to harm us. I will trust in YHWH and His steadfast love; my heart will rejoice in Your salvation, Lord, and I will sing to You. You have been kind and generous to me. Fools deny God’s existence; God seeks those who can become wise; let His deliverance come to us; let God restore our fortunes, and all His children will rejoice! Blessed are all who walk in God’s ways; He is my Strength and my Song; He has become my Salvation! I will survive to sing God’s praises; He has opened to me the way of righteousness. He has made Jesus the Ruler of all, Whom the authorities rejected. This is God’s day; He enables me to rejoice and be glad in it! I am protected by God’s word hidden in my heart. I delight in God’s testimony.
YHWH is the First and Last, Master of all! He is the one true living God; all other objects of worship are idols imagined and made by mortals. God will strengthen me and help me, upholding me by His righteous and mighty right hand. He makes me victorious, and I glory in my Lord!
God made me alive when I was dead in my sins—a child of wrath. But God, rich in mercy and great love, has made me alive with and in Jesus the Messiah; I am raised with Him and exalted to the heavenly places. I am saved by God’s grace, through the faith He has provided me. I am His workmanship, made in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for me to do.
Jesus visited in the home of Simon and Andrew, and healed Simon’s mother-in-law of a fever. The whole city brought their sick and demon-oppressed to Him, and Jesus healed them. He went out to pray, and when Simon sought Him out, Jesus announced He would be moving on to preach, teach, exorcise and heal in all the villages of Galilee. A leper came to Jesus and knelt: ‘If You will, You can make me clean.’ Jesus was moved with pity, touched the man, and healed him: ‘I will. Be clean!’ Jesus told the man to keep the experience quiet, but he told everyone how Jesus had healed him, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the towns and villages—yet seekers from every quarter found Him in the open country.
Showing posts with label Conditions for mercy and blessing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Conditions for mercy and blessing. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Right Response to God's Compassion
New Guest: Most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that label.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Devotions: Ps 138, 139:1-17; 147; Isa 65:1-9; Rev 3:1-6; Jn 6:15-27
God, I praise you openly; You have exalted above all things Your name and Your word; You have strengthened my soul. Great is the glory of YHWH, yet He is Friend to the lowly! God, You preserve my life, even though I walk amid troubles; Your steadfast love endures forever. Stay near me, Lord; I am Your creature. You know everything about me; You are everywhere; You made me, and have nurtured me from conception on. I’m impressed by Your handiwork, God; and I know Your book holds the unfolding truth of my entire life. Your thoughts are precious to me, Lord God! You number the stars and manage the universe; yet You also lift up the downtrodden and cast down the wicked. God is delighted by those who fear Him and hope in His steadfast love. All creation is His. Let all that lives praise the Lord!
God says: ‘I have made Myself available to everyone; I have courted the faithless children of Israel, but they continue to rebel against Me. How I hate idolaters! Yet I do not destroy them, in My mercy and compassion. I will continue to deliver and protect the sons and daughters of Jacob and Judah, and they will inhabit the land I promised their fathers.’
Jesus says to the church in Sardis: ‘I Am He Who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know you and your works; you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead! Wake up! Strengthen what remains; recall what you received from God. Unless you wake up and repent, I’ll come like a thief, at an unexpected hour. You still have a few members who have not lost their testimony; these, I will dress in white and keep with Me. Their names will remain the book of life, and I will confess them before My Father and His angels. Listen to what the Spirit is saying!’
After feeding the multitude, Jesus withdrew from them to the mountaintop, lest they force kingship upon Him. At evening, His disciples went down to the sea and began the voyage to Capernaum. After they had rowed three or four miles into a stiff wind, they saw Jesus approaching, walking on the water! They were afraid, but He encouraged them; as soon as He got into the boat, they reached their destination. The next day, the crowds searched for Jesus, first near the site of the feeding miracle, then at Capernaum. They wondered at His transportation, but He focused on what mattered more: ‘Don’t labor after food that perishes; search for what gives eternal life, which the Son of man will give you: for God has set His seal upon Me.’
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Devotions: Ps 138, 139:1-17; 147; Isa 65:1-9; Rev 3:1-6; Jn 6:15-27
God, I praise you openly; You have exalted above all things Your name and Your word; You have strengthened my soul. Great is the glory of YHWH, yet He is Friend to the lowly! God, You preserve my life, even though I walk amid troubles; Your steadfast love endures forever. Stay near me, Lord; I am Your creature. You know everything about me; You are everywhere; You made me, and have nurtured me from conception on. I’m impressed by Your handiwork, God; and I know Your book holds the unfolding truth of my entire life. Your thoughts are precious to me, Lord God! You number the stars and manage the universe; yet You also lift up the downtrodden and cast down the wicked. God is delighted by those who fear Him and hope in His steadfast love. All creation is His. Let all that lives praise the Lord!
God says: ‘I have made Myself available to everyone; I have courted the faithless children of Israel, but they continue to rebel against Me. How I hate idolaters! Yet I do not destroy them, in My mercy and compassion. I will continue to deliver and protect the sons and daughters of Jacob and Judah, and they will inhabit the land I promised their fathers.’
Jesus says to the church in Sardis: ‘I Am He Who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know you and your works; you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead! Wake up! Strengthen what remains; recall what you received from God. Unless you wake up and repent, I’ll come like a thief, at an unexpected hour. You still have a few members who have not lost their testimony; these, I will dress in white and keep with Me. Their names will remain the book of life, and I will confess them before My Father and His angels. Listen to what the Spirit is saying!’
After feeding the multitude, Jesus withdrew from them to the mountaintop, lest they force kingship upon Him. At evening, His disciples went down to the sea and began the voyage to Capernaum. After they had rowed three or four miles into a stiff wind, they saw Jesus approaching, walking on the water! They were afraid, but He encouraged them; as soon as He got into the boat, they reached their destination. The next day, the crowds searched for Jesus, first near the site of the feeding miracle, then at Capernaum. They wondered at His transportation, but He focused on what mattered more: ‘Don’t labor after food that perishes; search for what gives eternal life, which the Son of man will give you: for God has set His seal upon Me.’
Friday, November 21, 2008
Effective Persistence
New Guest: Most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that label.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Devotions: Ps 102, 107:1-32; Mal 3:1-12; Jas 5:7-12; Lk 18:1-8
Lord, I cry to You for forgiveness and mercy. My bones burn like a furnace; I am desolate, like a vulture in the wilderness, an owl in the wasteland. I cause much of my own suffering, by foolish and sinful choices. I know better, yet do worse. But You—God, You are enthroned in majesty, and wreathed in light. In Your integrity, have pity on me, Lord. Your mercy is wonderful! You save my life, and You bless my children and grandchildren. Your steadfast love endures forever. In every generation of history, You have rescued and delivered those who trusted in You—out of Mesopotamia into Canaan, from Canaan to Egypt, from Egypt to Palestine, from sin and death into salvation and vindication. You set prisoners free; You heal the sick and even raise the dead. You watch over travelers and wanderers. I will praise You in the community of faith, and serve You in the world of commerce, YHWH.
Malachi spoke for God: ‘Look! I send My messenger to prepare My way. The Lord you seek will suddenly come to His temple, bringing fulfillment to the covenant. But who can withstand His coming and His presence? He is like a refining fire, like a strong cleansing soap. He will purify the heirs of Levi, until they can present right offerings to the Lord. Then I will draw near to you, and I will judge and punish My enemies. I don’t change—that’s why you are still alive. Return to Me, and I will return to you! Stop robbing me by withholding your tithes and offerings. I don’t need your money or your goods—but you need to keep faith with Me: you are cursing yourselves when you cheat Me. Why not test Me to your benefit rather than your harm? Test me: bring the full tithe to Me, and I will open heaven’s windows and shower you with an overflowing blessing—and you will be a land of delight!’
James wrote: ‘Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord comes. Farmers plant, then wait, trusting God and nature for the rain and the crops. Establish your hearts, for the Lord’s coming is at hand. Stop grumbling against one another; let the Judge find you in peace. Be steadfast, like God’s prophets; consider Job’s story—his steadfastness, and God’s blessing to him in the end. Say yes or no with a simple "yes" or "no." No oaths, no inflated promises—just yes and no, so you are not condemned.’
Jesus taught His disciples to pray and not lose heart: ‘There was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people. In his jurisdiction was a persistent widow who kept demanding his judgment in her favor. The judge complied with her petition because otherwise she would have worn him out.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Now if an unrighteous human responds this way, how much more will the merciful God vindicate His elect when they cry to Him day and night! Pray, and keep on praying, and see how God blesses you.’
Friday, November 21, 2008
Devotions: Ps 102, 107:1-32; Mal 3:1-12; Jas 5:7-12; Lk 18:1-8
Lord, I cry to You for forgiveness and mercy. My bones burn like a furnace; I am desolate, like a vulture in the wilderness, an owl in the wasteland. I cause much of my own suffering, by foolish and sinful choices. I know better, yet do worse. But You—God, You are enthroned in majesty, and wreathed in light. In Your integrity, have pity on me, Lord. Your mercy is wonderful! You save my life, and You bless my children and grandchildren. Your steadfast love endures forever. In every generation of history, You have rescued and delivered those who trusted in You—out of Mesopotamia into Canaan, from Canaan to Egypt, from Egypt to Palestine, from sin and death into salvation and vindication. You set prisoners free; You heal the sick and even raise the dead. You watch over travelers and wanderers. I will praise You in the community of faith, and serve You in the world of commerce, YHWH.
Malachi spoke for God: ‘Look! I send My messenger to prepare My way. The Lord you seek will suddenly come to His temple, bringing fulfillment to the covenant. But who can withstand His coming and His presence? He is like a refining fire, like a strong cleansing soap. He will purify the heirs of Levi, until they can present right offerings to the Lord. Then I will draw near to you, and I will judge and punish My enemies. I don’t change—that’s why you are still alive. Return to Me, and I will return to you! Stop robbing me by withholding your tithes and offerings. I don’t need your money or your goods—but you need to keep faith with Me: you are cursing yourselves when you cheat Me. Why not test Me to your benefit rather than your harm? Test me: bring the full tithe to Me, and I will open heaven’s windows and shower you with an overflowing blessing—and you will be a land of delight!’
James wrote: ‘Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord comes. Farmers plant, then wait, trusting God and nature for the rain and the crops. Establish your hearts, for the Lord’s coming is at hand. Stop grumbling against one another; let the Judge find you in peace. Be steadfast, like God’s prophets; consider Job’s story—his steadfastness, and God’s blessing to him in the end. Say yes or no with a simple "yes" or "no." No oaths, no inflated promises—just yes and no, so you are not condemned.’
Jesus taught His disciples to pray and not lose heart: ‘There was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people. In his jurisdiction was a persistent widow who kept demanding his judgment in her favor. The judge complied with her petition because otherwise she would have worn him out.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Now if an unrighteous human responds this way, how much more will the merciful God vindicate His elect when they cry to Him day and night! Pray, and keep on praying, and see how God blesses you.’
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