Happy Reformation Day!

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you had a super weekend! 

 

I'm going to take a different devotional path this week.  Instead of doing our usual HOPE devots. or focusing on Halloween (what Scripture has to say about the day, the history behind  it and a more godly alternative), I am going to focus on another celebration occurring today.

 

Today is the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation!   My pastor said that many Protestant churches will celebrate the Reformation, but not understand the meaning behind it, the Bible doctrines( teachings) that were placed in the spotlight or they may even deny/ not teach what was so loudly proclaimed!

Let me give you a bit of background on the Reformation, the heart of the matter and then the 5 main points of the Reformation which come directly from Scripture.

Quick History Behind the Reformation:

 

On October 31, 1517 a humble Monk named Martin Luther saw 95 things that were wrong and also lacking in the church at this time.  At the cost of excommunication from the church and worse,  he bravely wrote out 95 Theses (grievances) and publically nailed them to a church in Wittenburg, Germany.  

 
The heart of the matter: 

 

The Reformation was all about Jesus.  It emphasized salvation was through Him alone and by faith in Him alone, not traditions made by man,  that the Scriptures were the Infallible, Authoritative Word of God and  that the Truths found within the Word of God needed to be proclaimed and shared with the common people. 

 

Today, the Reformation is still about all Jesus, helping folks see their personal need of salvation through Him  alone and proclaiming the Truths found in God's Word being the truth.

Below are the 5 main principles that were the heart of the Reformation and they are based directly on Scripture.  It's at the heart of how we can get to Heaven!  And if you do not know if you are going to Heaven, check out this link: http://thejourneyheavenward.blogspot.com/p/are-you-100-sure.html

 

Sola Scriptura=Scripture alone 

2 Timothy 3:16, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, (means "God breathed") and is profitable for doctrine,( teaching) for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (godliness)"

 1 Peter 1:20-21, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: (The Bible was not put together by man) but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

Sola Gratia=Grace Alone

Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Sola Fide= Faith Alone 

Galatians 3:26, "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ."
Romans 10:17, "...faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

 

Solus Christus= Christ Alone

John 14:6, " Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Soli Deo Gloria = Glory to God Alone   (Jesus alone did the work of getting us to Heaven and deserves the credit!)

1 Peter 2:21-24, "...because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps,  Who did no sin, neither was guile (hypocrisy) found in his mouth:

 Who, when he was reviled, (abused or angrily insulted) reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."

Below is a song written esp. for Reformation Day that sums up the 5 tenets above.  The first link is my favorite, gives me goose bumps, but the 2nd one has the words on slides  so you can read the lyrics.   The song is very powerful, taken from Scripture, so please listen.

 

The 2nd link I have included is a website dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.   If you want to do some exploring, read more, this is a neat site, so I encourage you to check it out.

Pray you have a blessed week!

Reformation Song:

#1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if0px-drjHk

#2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6lMC75e8uU

Reformation Website:  https://lutheranreformation.org/

Our Reason for Hope

HI Folks,

 

I hope you have had a blessed week!  

 

I found this devot. tonight and it looked very encouraging.   I pray this devot. reminds you of the Reason for our hope.

 

I am also including a song whose message is rooted in Scripture.

 

Lord bless you and yours this weekend!

 

Devot. https://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions/our-reason-for-hope  (Used by permission.   Taken from https://www.intouch.org/)

 

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV3rYXc152E

Hope: The Anchor of the Soul

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you are having a good week! 

 

Here is another "Hope" devot. which I pray will bless your heart.

 

I have also included a song link that I hope will add 'a pep to your step' and remind all of us again to spread the  hope found in Jesus to someone this week.   One way you could do so is sending someone to this blog and encourage them to read the "Are You Sure" tab, as it shares how we can be sure of going to Heaven through faith in Jesus Christ.

 

Lord bless you and yours!

 

Devot.https://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions/hope-the-anchor-of-the-soul  (Used by permission.  Taken from https://www.intouch.org/)

 

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIKH9xWkyuQ

Devot. The Source of Hope

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you have had a good week! 

 

The devot. for today is again on Hope and most importantly the Source of it, as we talked about on Tuesday.    The world's looking for Hope and it's found though our Saviour, Jesus.

 

A favorite verse of mine from the New Testament that has encouraged me many times is found in Romans 15:13, "Now the God of hope fill you  with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."

 

I pray the devot. below is a blessing to your weekend!   Lord bless and keep you and yours.

 

Devot. https://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions/the-source-of-hope   (Used by permission.   Taken from https://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions/)

Devot. Holding Onto Our Hope

HI Folks,

 

I hope you had a good weekend!  

 

Today's devot. is on Hope.   This is something that is desperately lacking in our word right now or we look for it in all the wrong places.  

 

My pastor was saying last Sunday that our world has lost hope.  They are searching, grasping for it, but they miss it because lasting, tangible, eternal hope is only found in Jesus.   And for those of us who have found Jesus a our personal Saviour, we need to share and tell others about Him, pass the hope along them.   Jude verse 22  says, "And of some have compassion, making a difference:"

We can make a difference this week in the life of someone who needs hope through Jesus.  

 

This blog is one means of sharing the hope found in Jesus. Consider finding one person and passing it along to them this week,  and encouraging them to spread it along.   The purpose of the blog is to encourage and bring hope to others through the Word of God. http://thejourneyheavenward.blogspot.com/p/home.html

 

Below is the devot. and one of my favorite songs on hope.  

 

Also update from InTouch (the ministry where I find so many of the blog's devots) on what they are   doing to help the folks in Puerto Rico.    I think it is awesome!

 

Lord bless you and yours this week! 

 

(Devots. used by permission.   Taken from https://www.intouch.org/)

 

Puerto Rico News:  https://www.intouch.org/read/messengers-for-puerto-rico

 

Devot. https://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions/holding-on-to-our-hope

 

Song:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkMapZB8qMk

 

 

Slideshow

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Slideshow

 

HI Folks,

I hope you had a good weekend!   Today's devot. is on Hope.   This is something that is desperately lacking in our word right now

or we look for it in all the wrong places.  

My pastor was saying yesterday that our world has lost hope.  They are searching, grasping for it, but they miss it because lasting,

tangible, eternal hope is only found in Jesus.   And for those of us who have found Jesus a our personal Saviour, we need to share and tell

others about Him, pass the hope along them.   Jude verse 22  says, "And of some have compassion, making a difference:"

We can make a difference this week in the life of someone who needs hope through Jesus.  

 

Remember the blog I passed onto you a few weeks back? Consider finding one person and passing it along to them this week,

and encouraging them to spread it along.   The purpose of the blog is to encourage and bring hope to others through the Word of God. http://thejourneyheavenward.blogspot.com/p/home.html

 

Below is the devot. and one of my favorite songs on hope.   Also another update from InTouch on what they are now doing to help the folks in Puerto Rico.  

  Lord bless you and yours this week! 

 

(Devots. used by permission.   Taken from https://www.intouch.org/)

Puerto Rico News:  https://www.intouch.org/read/messengers-for-puerto-rico

Devot. https://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions/holding-on-to-our-hope

Song:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkMapZB8qMk

 

Devot. Angels Round About

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you had a good week.  

 

When we think of God protecting us and our loved ones, we may think of angels watching over us.

Scripture tells us that they do!   

 

Psalm 34:7-9 states, " The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear (reverence) him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed (also means happy) is the man that trusteth in him. O fear (respect, reverential awe) the Lord, ye his saints: (Scripture refers to those who have trusted Jesus for salvation as "saints"-Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:2, 2 Cor. 1:1, Ephesians 1:1, Philippians 1:1, Colossians 1:2) for there is no want (need) to them that fear him."

God does send His angels to watch over and protect us, and based on the above verse, most especially those who respect the Lord and who are His children by faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26).   

 

 I have seen this protection in my own life.  My mother always prays for protection over our family as we leave and go our separate ways.     I can't tell you the amount of times I should have been in an accident and I escaped narrowly!  

I pray that this devot. will encourage you this week as you strive to trust the Lord each day.   

 

Lord bless you and yours!

Devot. used by permission.  Taken from http://www.icr.org/

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October 4, 2017 Angels Round About “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” (Psalm 34:7)   Since God’s angels are normally unseen, we have little appreciation of how intimately they are involved in our lives. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14). As in our text, there may well be a protecting angel embracing and delivering us in times of danger. “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone” (Psalm 91:11-12).   Angels are sometimes called on to rout the enemies of God and His people. “Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul . . . and let the angel of the LORD chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them” (Psalm 35:4-6).   Angels are intensely interested in the salvation and spiritual growth of believers, “which things the angels desire to look into” (1 Peter 1:12). “For we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men” (1 Corinthians 4:9). There are even occasions when “some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2).   There is “an innumerable company of angels” (Hebrews 12:22), beings of great power and wisdom (2 Kings 19:35; 2 Samuel 14:20). They are not omnipotent, omnipresent, or omniscient, of course, since they—like us—were created by God simply to obey God. “Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word” (Psalm 103:20).   Finally, we shall be “carried by the angels” (Luke 16:22) into God’s presence. Then we can better understand and thank them for all the many services rendered to us here on Earth. HMM     This email was sent to  | Print this article Unsubscribe | Subscribe

Devot. Our Refuge

Dear Friends,

 

I hope you had a good weekend.  

 

I found some devots. for this week that I pray are meaningful, hopeful and will ease your mind and heart through the Word of God in light of the tragedies in the world right now.

 

One of the devots. is a personal note from Dr. Charles Stanley and his ministry InTouch, the ministry that I send so many devots. from.    He highlights the tragedy in Las Vegas this weekend and offers comfort.

 

 Today I heard one of the country music stars speak to a news station and say something like, "We always say that our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims.  No, we really need to pray!  We need to talk to the Good Lord. He's the only One that can bring comfort to these folks."

 

I was very impressed that he said this, as his point was that now, indeed is the time to pray, not just say that we will or use this as an expression.   Now is the time to call out to the Lord!  

 

Psalm 18:6 says, "In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears."

 

Psalm 9:9 says, "The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble."

 

I pray that the devot. below and the song link will encourage you this week.  The song has been played many times in the past when I needed comfort.

 

 

Lord bless and keep you and yours this week (Numbers 6:24-26).

 

Note from Dr. Stanley:  https://www.intouch.org/read/blog/pray-for-las-vegas (Used by permission.   Taken from https://www.intouch.org/)

 

Devot. http://www.icr.org/article/2021  (Used by permission.   Taken from http://www.icr.org/)

 

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wOhVh2bct8