Thought:
I heard the other day that "the devil doesn't play by the rules" and I was surprised to realize that I didn't already live with that understanding. I have been living like a sucker, not realizing that of course he (satan) doesn't play fair! Because of my poor choices in earlier years, I have always been quick to blame myself for the sinful choices or painful thought patterns in my life and would rarely give thought to being tempted by satan. Now as I am growing in godliness, I realize his attempts to influence me and my choices. I can say that I understand James' admonishment in the 4th chapter to resist the devil! When he flees I enjoy freedom through Jesus Christ!
So where is all this going (I'm wondering)...Here's the thing, all through the New Testiment I see "resist the devil," "don't give place for the devil," "your enemy the devil prowls," and "give no opportunity to the devil." All of these should have helped me see what the first quote says "he doesn't play by the rules"! When I choose to let down my guard, when I debate with him instead of resist him, when I listen to his influence because I am weak - I assume that if I do give into the devil that he will treat me fairly! For instance with Eve, he said "you will not surely die!"
Spiritual death or spiritual life. If I choose to follow the Holy Spirit with everything that I am, I live. If I choose to believe a lie, I die. Right here and right now - I am either spiritually alive or dead. I can't risk my spiritual life by playing with someone who doesn't play by the rules.
Thanks for reading.
Scriptures:
Psalm 19:7-11
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rulesd of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Psalm 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.
Psalm 36:9 For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.
Psalm 119:14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.
Psalm 119:128 Therefore I esteem right all Your precepts concerning everything, I hate every false way.
1 Peter 5:6-10
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Song:
Words & Music: J. Bruce Evans, 1906 (MIDI, score).
Just when I am disheartened,
Just when with cares oppressed,
Just when my way is darkest,
Just when I am distressed—
Then is my Savior near me,
He knows my every care;
Jesus will never leave me,
He helps my burdens bear.
His grace is enough for me, for me,
His grace is enough for me;
Through sorrow and pain,
Through loss or gain,
His grace is enough for me.
Just when my hopes are vanished,
Just when my friends forsake,
Just when the fight is thickest,
Just when with fear I shake—
Then comes a still small whisper:
“Fear not, My child, I’m near.”
Jesus brings peace and comfort,
I love His voice to hear.
Just when my tears are flowing,
Just when with anguish bent,
Just when temptation’s hardest,
Just when with sadness rent—
Then comes a thought of comfort:
“I know my Father knows.”
Jesus has grace sufficient
To conquer all my foes.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Day by Day
Hymn: Day by Day:
"Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've no cause for worry or for fear.
He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Every day the Lord Himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counsellor and Pow'r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
'As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,'
This the pledge to me He made.
Help me then, in every tribulation,
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation,
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E'er to take, as from a father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till with Christ the Lord I stand."
Scripture: 1 Peter 5:6-11
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Thought:
In a sermon*, I once heard that humbling one's self is worked out through the action of "casting all your care". Personally when I cast all my thoughts, fears, anxieties, etc on the Lord I am humbled because I have nothing left to hold onto but Him. I make myself trust Him to work all things out for my good. There is nothing that I can do on my own; I must believe. And this process is daily. I wish I could cast everything onto Him and really, really mean it for a months time or even a week! But I find that my flesh and my heart are so deceitfully wicked and I cannot carry my own cares for even a day let alone a week. I pray that this hymn "Day by Day" will encourage you as well to remember that He has promised to be near those who are humble and broken, and His nearness is a treasure that is far more beautiful that being able to take care of things on your own.
*http://www.yourchurch.com/sermon/pray-or-youll-become-proud/
"Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've no cause for worry or for fear.
He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Every day the Lord Himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counsellor and Pow'r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
'As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,'
This the pledge to me He made.
Help me then, in every tribulation,
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation,
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E'er to take, as from a father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till with Christ the Lord I stand."
Scripture: 1 Peter 5:6-11
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Thought:
In a sermon*, I once heard that humbling one's self is worked out through the action of "casting all your care". Personally when I cast all my thoughts, fears, anxieties, etc on the Lord I am humbled because I have nothing left to hold onto but Him. I make myself trust Him to work all things out for my good. There is nothing that I can do on my own; I must believe. And this process is daily. I wish I could cast everything onto Him and really, really mean it for a months time or even a week! But I find that my flesh and my heart are so deceitfully wicked and I cannot carry my own cares for even a day let alone a week. I pray that this hymn "Day by Day" will encourage you as well to remember that He has promised to be near those who are humble and broken, and His nearness is a treasure that is far more beautiful that being able to take care of things on your own.
*http://www.yourchurch.com/sermon/pray-or-youll-become-proud/
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Nothing Compares
Song:
Hands lifted high, we come
Distractions aside
Humbly, we bow our hearts
And lay down our lives
For there is no one like you, Lord
No eye has seen, no ear has heard
Nothing in this world compares to You
No nothing compares
Perfect and Sinless One
Righteous and True
Savior for all who come
Lord, Worthy are You
Awesome in all of Your ways
To Your grace, to Your love and Your mercy
To Your fame, Your renown, may the world see
You are Great, You are God, You are Lord
We see You for who You are
By: Steve Busch from "Only God," Harvest Bible Chapel: West Olive, MI
Scripture:
Isa 64:4-5
4 For since the beginning of the world
Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear,
Nor has the eye seen any God besides You,
Who acts for the one who waits for Him.
5 You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness,
Who remembers You in Your ways.
You are indeed angry, for we have sinned--
In these ways we continue;
And we need to be saved.
NKJV
Isa 6:3-5
3 And one cried to another and said:
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
The whole earth is full of His glory!"
4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 So I said:
"Woe is me, for I am undone!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King,
The LORD of hosts."
NKJV
Thought:
"When we experience God for who He really is, we suddenly see ourselves for who we are. We have no identity problem when we understand ourselves from God's perspective."
Dr. James MacDonald
Hands lifted high, we come
Distractions aside
Humbly, we bow our hearts
And lay down our lives
For there is no one like you, Lord
No eye has seen, no ear has heard
Nothing in this world compares to You
No nothing compares
Perfect and Sinless One
Righteous and True
Savior for all who come
Lord, Worthy are You
Awesome in all of Your ways
To Your grace, to Your love and Your mercy
To Your fame, Your renown, may the world see
You are Great, You are God, You are Lord
We see You for who You are
By: Steve Busch from "Only God," Harvest Bible Chapel: West Olive, MI
Scripture:
Isa 64:4-5
4 For since the beginning of the world
Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear,
Nor has the eye seen any God besides You,
Who acts for the one who waits for Him.
5 You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness,
Who remembers You in Your ways.
You are indeed angry, for we have sinned--
In these ways we continue;
And we need to be saved.
NKJV
Isa 6:3-5
3 And one cried to another and said:
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
The whole earth is full of His glory!"
4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 So I said:
"Woe is me, for I am undone!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King,
The LORD of hosts."
NKJV
Thought:
"When we experience God for who He really is, we suddenly see ourselves for who we are. We have no identity problem when we understand ourselves from God's perspective."
Dr. James MacDonald
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