Wednesday, October 31, 2012

TODAY'S PROMISE



"Because he has set his love on me,
I will deliver him:
I will protect him,
because he knows my name.
He shall 'call upon me,
and I will answer him;
I will deliver him, and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him, 
and show him my salvation."
(Psalms 91: 14-16 AKJV)

"The promises of the Lord can be trusted;
they are as genuine as silver refined
seven times in the furnace."
(Psalms 12:6 GNB)

1. Meditate on God's Promises.
2. Plead the Promises at the throne of Grace.
3. Act in Faith that God Will Perform His Promises.
(William Gurnall)



Tuesday, October 30, 2012

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR



Photo courtesy of: www.freefoto.com


"They were filled with craving in the desert
and put God to the test;
so he gave them what they asked for,
but also sent a terrible disease among them."
(Psalms 106:14,15 GNB)


How many has been the time we just had to have something.
Then it ended up being an unbearable expense,
a head ache,
or an entanglement we regretted?

Years ago there was a song that went something like this,
"I got what I wanted.  But I lost what I had."

We need to beware of our desires.
May they be God directed.



Photo courtesy of:
www.freefoto.com
Photo courtesy of:
www.freefoto.com






Sunday, October 28, 2012

GOD'S HELP





"I called on the LORD in my distress;
the LORD answered me, and set me free.
The LORD is on my side;
I will not fear:
what can man do to me?
The LORD is on my side to help me:
I will see my desire on those who hate me.
It is better to trust in the LORD
than to put confidence in man.
It is better to trust in the LORD
than to put confidence in princes."
(Psalms 118:5-9 AKJV)

Friday, October 26, 2012

GOD WANTS TO BE NAGGED

Photo courtesy of: www.freefoto.com


How often do you consider nagging a virtue?
Consider these passages.

Concerning Jerusalem God said,

"On your walls, Jerusalem, I have placed sentries;
They must never be silent day or night.
They must remind the Lord of his promises
and never let him forget them.
They must give him no rest until he restores Jerusalem
And makes it a city the whole world praises."
(Isaiah 62:6,7 GNB)

Or consider what Jesus told us about praying.

If we went to a friend at midnight and pestered him
for some food,
"... he will get up and give you everything you need 
because you are not ashamed to keep on asking.
And so I say to you: Ask, and you will receive;
seek and you will find;
knock, and the door will be opened to you."
(Luke 11:8,9 GNB)

Further, "... Jesus told his disciples a parable 
to teach them that they should always pray and 
never become discourage."
Then he gave the parable of the widow harassing
the unjust judge.

He concluded,
"Now, will God not judge in favor of his own people
 who cry to him day and night for help?
Will he be slow to help them?
I tell you he will judge in their favor and do it quickly."
(Luke 18:1,7,8 GNB)

CAUTION:

This does not mean that everyone in the world can go
running to God and nag him for something they want.

Notice it says God will judge in favor of 
"his own people".

If I do not have a personal relationship to God,
I am not his child and have no right to ask
anything of him.

And even if I am his child God pointed this out to me.
"Don't think that the LORD is too weak to save you
or too deaf to hear your call for help!
It is because of your sins that he doesn't hear you.
It is your sins that separate you from God when
you try to worship him."
(Isaiah 59:1,2 GNB)


Wednesday, October 24, 2012

TODAY'S PROMISE






"For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
O LORD Almighty
blessed is the man who trusts in you."
(Psalms 84:11,12 NIV)

********* 

"The promises of the Lord can be trusted;
they are as genuine as silver refined
seven times in the furnace."
(Psalms 12:6 GNB)

1. Meditate on God's Promises.
2. Plead the Promises at the throne of Grace.
3. Act in Faith that God Will Perform His Promises.
(William Gurnall)

Sunday, October 21, 2012

GOD'S BLESSINGS



"Bless the LORD, O my soul:
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits;
Who forgives all your iniquities;
who heals all your diseases;
Wo redeems your life from destruction;
who crowns you with lovingkindness
and tender mercies;
Who satisfies your mouth with good things;
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."
(Psalms 103:1-5 AKJV)












Friday, October 19, 2012

CAGED IN


These rabbits are caged.  For rabbits, they are rather large cages.
The little guy is in a walk in cage that is about 3 ft. x 6 ft.
And the large girl is in a walk in cage that is 6 ft. x 10 ft.

Both seem quite content.  I can work with them and just leave
the door open.  Also I have observed that if some dog or 
other happens to come around, the rabbits just ignore it.
No panic.  They seem to have learned that the cage 
protects them.

I am at a point that I would like to just open the cages and
let the rabbits go.  You know - total freedom.

But I have done that before.  The result would be,
in a couple of days there would only be a few
chunks of fur left.  A dog, cat, raccoon, or fox
would get them.

So, I have to keep them caged for their own protection.



That is why God has laws.
For our own protection.
  
 God cages us in with his laws for our own good.

"Happy are those whose lives are faultless,
who live according to the law of the Lord.
(Psalms 119:1 GNB)

But his cage is large.

"I will live in perfect freedom,
because I try to obey your teachings."
(Psalms 119:45 GNB)

However, God will allow us to walk out the door
away from his laws and commands - at our own
risk.

"Be alert, be on watch!
Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a lion,
looking for someone to devour."
(1 Peter 5:8 GNB)

When we leave God's cage [His laws and commands.]
We are going to be hurt bad in this life,
and utterly destroyed in the next.