MONDAY MORNING
David's heart before the LORD
Read Psalm 141
David had a very open way of pouring his heart out to the Lord. Look a little more closely at these verses in Psalm 141:
Verse 1: "... come quickly to me. Hear my voice ..."
Don't we all want that?
Verse 3: "Set a guard over my mouth ... keep watch over the door of my lips."
Can we be honest enough with ourselves and with God to ask for this as David did?
Verse 4: "Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil ..."
We need to know as David did that there is evil in this world trying to pull our hearts away from God.
Verse 5: "Correct me when I have done wrong --- it is a kindness ..."
Wow! How many times have we actually and truly asked for correction and considered it "kindness"?
Verse 8: "But my eyes are fixed on You ..."
Where are our eyes fixed? May it always be on Him. May we not be distracted away from Him.
Verse 9: "Keep me from the snares of the enemy ..."
Snares are always hidden and disguised so they are not easily recognized. This is a request of God we need to make everyday.
David was very specific in his prayers to the LORD.
Bottom Line: How willing are we to be open and honest in our prayer life with the LORD? Exposing our shortcomings to Him. Asking Him to correct us, to set a guard over our mouths, to protect our hearts from evil. May we be willing to be as open and honest and true as David was to himself and to the LORD. Amen? Amen.
Monday, October 17, 2016
Monday, October 10, 2016
MONDAY MORNING
"... strong tower..."
"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." -- Proverbs 18:10
Hearing the word "safe" in this scripture reminds me of playing "Hide and Seek" as a kid. If you made it back to the base you would yell out for all to hear, "Free Base!" Meaning that you were safe from being caught. And, if you were "it" you would say, "Got you!", when you did catch someone.
I have heard people say, "God is out to get me.", when things did not go their way. Hear me loud and clear -- God is not out to get us! God is the "free base". He is the strong tower. He is our refuge. He is our source of security and safety in all things. Amen?
When you need a friend, He's the free base -- run to Him, the Strong Tower.
When you need comforting, He's the free base -- run to Him, the Strong Tower.
When you are not sure of directions, He's the free base -- run to Him -- the Strong Tower.
When you are in trouble, He's the free base -- run to Him, the Strong Tower.
Bottom Line: Who is our strong tower? May the strong tower in our life always, always, always -- be the LORD God Almighty -- the maker of heaven and earth. And, may we always run to Him for in Him we now and always will have a "free base" where we are safe.
"... strong tower..."
"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." -- Proverbs 18:10
Hearing the word "safe" in this scripture reminds me of playing "Hide and Seek" as a kid. If you made it back to the base you would yell out for all to hear, "Free Base!" Meaning that you were safe from being caught. And, if you were "it" you would say, "Got you!", when you did catch someone.
I have heard people say, "God is out to get me.", when things did not go their way. Hear me loud and clear -- God is not out to get us! God is the "free base". He is the strong tower. He is our refuge. He is our source of security and safety in all things. Amen?
When you need a friend, He's the free base -- run to Him, the Strong Tower.
When you need comforting, He's the free base -- run to Him, the Strong Tower.
When you are not sure of directions, He's the free base -- run to Him -- the Strong Tower.
When you are in trouble, He's the free base -- run to Him, the Strong Tower.
Bottom Line: Who is our strong tower? May the strong tower in our life always, always, always -- be the LORD God Almighty -- the maker of heaven and earth. And, may we always run to Him for in Him we now and always will have a "free base" where we are safe.
Monday, October 3, 2016
MONDAY MORNING
..."standing firm in the Lord."
"For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord." -- I Thessalonians 3:8
Verse 6: "But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love."
Timothy found them "standing firm in the Lord". They were found standing firm -- not in the ways of the world, or the way of present day society, or in selfishness, or pride, or the enemy, or the politically correct. But they were found "standing firm in the Lord"
Question: If someone were to be sent to check on you --- will you be found standing firm in the Lord? Or will they find you standing firm to ideas and ways and attitudes and pressures that are not of the Lord?
Bottom Line: May we all be found "standing firm in the Lord" whenever anyone comes to check on us. May we be found standing firm and true to Him and His Word. May we be found standing firm in Him so that good news about our faith and love can be reported back. Amen? Amen.
Monday, September 26, 2016
MONDAY MORNING
What are we doing with the Word of God?
"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yield its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." -- Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)
A lot in these verses we could talk about. I want to concentrate on, "What are we doing with the word of God? James 1:22 -- "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (NIV)
Are we reading His Word? Are we delighting in His Word? Are we allowing His Word to penetrate us? Are our hearts meditating on His Word? Are we allowing His Word to nourish us? Add to us? Make us stronger in Him?
His Holy Word is not just for apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. (Ephesians 4:11). His Word is for all of us. We all -- every man and every woman -- have a responsibility to His Word.
Bottom Line: May we delight in His Word. May we meditate on His Word. May His Word be planted and watered in us. May His Word yield the fullness of its fruit in every season of our lives. May we continually prosper in the midst of His Word. And, may we be doers of His Word. Amen? Amen!
What are we doing with the Word of God?
"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yield its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." -- Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)
A lot in these verses we could talk about. I want to concentrate on, "What are we doing with the word of God? James 1:22 -- "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (NIV)
Are we reading His Word? Are we delighting in His Word? Are we allowing His Word to penetrate us? Are our hearts meditating on His Word? Are we allowing His Word to nourish us? Add to us? Make us stronger in Him?
His Holy Word is not just for apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. (Ephesians 4:11). His Word is for all of us. We all -- every man and every woman -- have a responsibility to His Word.
Bottom Line: May we delight in His Word. May we meditate on His Word. May His Word be planted and watered in us. May His Word yield the fullness of its fruit in every season of our lives. May we continually prosper in the midst of His Word. And, may we be doers of His Word. Amen? Amen!
Monday, September 19, 2016
Monday Morning
"... unwholesome talk ..."
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." -- Ephesians 4:29
"unwholesome", the KJV Bible translate as "corrupt".
Webster's definition of unwholesome: detrimental (tending to cause harm) to physical, mental, or moral well-being; corrupt (rotten, decaying, worthless, dirty, foul)
So, what does "unwholesome talk" cover? It covers things said that cause harm -- can we add gossip and slander? It covers things said that are foul and dirty -- can we add off color jokes and foul language? It covers things said that are worthless -- can we add opinions that really do not matter? It covers things said that are detrimental -- can we add things said to intend hurt towards others and just plain rudeness?
This scripture tells us that what comes out of our mouths should be helpful for building up because people are listening. We encourage -- we do not discourage. We lift-up -- we do not put-down. We do not gossip -- and we put a stop to it when it is trying to be passed on. We choose not to express ourselves with foul or dirty language. We choose not to be rude. We choose not to say hurtful things. We choose to keep some opinions unspoken.
I will also add: This applies to your thoughts, too. Words come to us by our thought processes. We think them before we speak them. Now I will say that some are pretty fast on the draw and you may wonder if they ever put those words through a thought process. Have you ever said to yourself, "Wish I had never said that."? Then you know what I am talking about.
Bottom Line: May the words of your mouth, the talk that comes out -- be wholesome and clean and uplifting and encouraging. And, may we remember these words from David: "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14 -- Amen? Amen.
"... unwholesome talk ..."
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." -- Ephesians 4:29
"unwholesome", the KJV Bible translate as "corrupt".
Webster's definition of unwholesome: detrimental (tending to cause harm) to physical, mental, or moral well-being; corrupt (rotten, decaying, worthless, dirty, foul)
So, what does "unwholesome talk" cover? It covers things said that cause harm -- can we add gossip and slander? It covers things said that are foul and dirty -- can we add off color jokes and foul language? It covers things said that are worthless -- can we add opinions that really do not matter? It covers things said that are detrimental -- can we add things said to intend hurt towards others and just plain rudeness?
This scripture tells us that what comes out of our mouths should be helpful for building up because people are listening. We encourage -- we do not discourage. We lift-up -- we do not put-down. We do not gossip -- and we put a stop to it when it is trying to be passed on. We choose not to express ourselves with foul or dirty language. We choose not to be rude. We choose not to say hurtful things. We choose to keep some opinions unspoken.
I will also add: This applies to your thoughts, too. Words come to us by our thought processes. We think them before we speak them. Now I will say that some are pretty fast on the draw and you may wonder if they ever put those words through a thought process. Have you ever said to yourself, "Wish I had never said that."? Then you know what I am talking about.
Bottom Line: May the words of your mouth, the talk that comes out -- be wholesome and clean and uplifting and encouraging. And, may we remember these words from David: "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14 -- Amen? Amen.
Monday, September 12, 2016
Monday Morning
"Where are you?"
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called out to the man, "Where are you?" -- Genesis 3:8-9
Have you ever heard God call out to you? "Morris, where are you?" "Frank, Craig, Willie, Sylvia, where are you?" "Johnny, Jimmy, Amy, Tom, where are you?"
Why was God calling out to Adam? Let me take a few liberties here of what I envision: To me it is kind of obvious that this was a daily routine, if you will, between God and Adam and Eve. For them to hear the sound of God as He was walking in Eden. And I envision Adam and Eve seeking God out and saying, "There You are, glad to see You today." And they would fellowship.
But this day was different. Adam and Eve heard but did not seek God out -- They hid from God. Yet, yet --- God called out, "Where are you?"
I believe God enjoys our fellowship. That is part of why He called out to Adam and Eve. He enjoys being among what He created.
Is God having to call out to you or do you hear and sense His everyday presence and seek Him out on your own? As husband and wife, do you seek Him out?
Bottom Line: May we know that God enjoys our fellowship. And, may we seek Him out everyday! Amen? Amen.
"Where are you?"
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called out to the man, "Where are you?" -- Genesis 3:8-9
Have you ever heard God call out to you? "Morris, where are you?" "Frank, Craig, Willie, Sylvia, where are you?" "Johnny, Jimmy, Amy, Tom, where are you?"
Why was God calling out to Adam? Let me take a few liberties here of what I envision: To me it is kind of obvious that this was a daily routine, if you will, between God and Adam and Eve. For them to hear the sound of God as He was walking in Eden. And I envision Adam and Eve seeking God out and saying, "There You are, glad to see You today." And they would fellowship.
But this day was different. Adam and Eve heard but did not seek God out -- They hid from God. Yet, yet --- God called out, "Where are you?"
I believe God enjoys our fellowship. That is part of why He called out to Adam and Eve. He enjoys being among what He created.
Is God having to call out to you or do you hear and sense His everyday presence and seek Him out on your own? As husband and wife, do you seek Him out?
Bottom Line: May we know that God enjoys our fellowship. And, may we seek Him out everyday! Amen? Amen.
Monday, September 5, 2016
MONDAY MORNING
Christ as Lord
"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord." -- I Peter 3:15a
"...Christ as Lord." --- So many times we refer to Jesus, as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And rightly so because He is! But if most of us are honest, we dwell mainly on Him as Savior. He saved me from my sins, from the wretched life I had before.
How much do we actually dwell on Him being "our Lord". Because that means -- He is in charge and we are submitted to Him and His authority in and over our lives. Paul, in Romans 1:1 and in Titus 1:1 refers to himself as "a bond-servant of Christ Jesus" (NAS). Meaning that whatever Jesus said, or directed, or instructed or commanded of Paul -- he was willing to do because in his heart he had set apart Christ as Lord.
Bottom Line: Who is the Lord of your heart? Who is directing your heart? Who are you allowing to instruct your heart? Who are you giving command over your heart? May we all "set apart Christ as Lord" in our hearts. Amen? Amen.
Christ as Lord
"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord." -- I Peter 3:15a
"...Christ as Lord." --- So many times we refer to Jesus, as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And rightly so because He is! But if most of us are honest, we dwell mainly on Him as Savior. He saved me from my sins, from the wretched life I had before.
How much do we actually dwell on Him being "our Lord". Because that means -- He is in charge and we are submitted to Him and His authority in and over our lives. Paul, in Romans 1:1 and in Titus 1:1 refers to himself as "a bond-servant of Christ Jesus" (NAS). Meaning that whatever Jesus said, or directed, or instructed or commanded of Paul -- he was willing to do because in his heart he had set apart Christ as Lord.
Bottom Line: Who is the Lord of your heart? Who is directing your heart? Who are you allowing to instruct your heart? Who are you giving command over your heart? May we all "set apart Christ as Lord" in our hearts. Amen? Amen.
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