Devot. Good Soldiers

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you had a good long weekend!  

 

Today is a day to remember and honor those who have  bravely served, fought for our rights and freedom and have given their lives for our liberty.  It's a day to salute those who are currently serving as well.   For me personally, today encompasses vets, current military and even law enforcement personal as they are watching out for us as well.

 

If you are your family have served in either of these capacities, THANK YOU from a grateful citizen!

 

Our devot. for today is a perspective on what it means to be a good solder, in the spiritual sense.   I pray it is encouraging and informative!  

 

I have also included a very short devot. link that gives 4 Scriptures specifically in reference to Memorial Day.

 

Pray both devots. are a blessing!   Lord bless you and yous this week!

 

ICR devot. used by permission.  Taken from http://www.icr.org/homepage/

 

Dayspring devot. taken from https://www.dayspring.com/

 

https://www.dayspring.com/articles/a-memorial-day-weekend-scripture?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBNAEN20180527MemorialDayWeekendSundayDevo&utm_term=Most%20Engaged%2045%20Days%20%2B%20Wants%20Content

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May 17, 2018 Good Soldiers “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (2 Timothy 2:3-4) From a Kingdom perspective, a good soldier has several responsibilities. Initially, we can expect challenges, wherein we might “suffer trouble as an evil doer” (2 Timothy 2:9), endure afflictions (2 Timothy 4:5), or even be afflicted (James 5:13). Ultimately, a soldier has one purpose, “that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” Put another way, “do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10). Soldiers are called out of the normal life of a nation and dedicated to executing the will of the king. Thus, from a spiritual perspective, “know ye not that friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4). The source of that friendship is a focus on walking by the flesh, which has no good thing in it and cannot please God (Romans 8:8). We are to “war a good warfare” (1 Timothy 1:18) and to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12) because “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). Fighting God’s battles with God’s armor ensures the ultimate victory promised by our King, Creator, and “captain of the host of the LORD” (Joshua 5:14). “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it” (Isaiah 25:8). HMM III     This email was sent to | Print this article Unsubscribe | Subscribe

Devot. The Better Hope

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you had a good week! 

 

I felt strongly that the Lord wanted me to send you this one, so here it is:) 

 

We will do some Mother's Day devots. next week that I hope will bless you.

 

Proverbs 31:28-31 says of the Godly, virtuous woman, "Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.  Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."

 

The virtuous woman will be blessed and honored by her husband and children.  She has a deep reverence and respect for the Lord and knows that is far more important than external beauty.  The work she does on behalf of her family, those in her community (the previous verses explain that she takes care of  those in her household and the poor in the community), do not go unnoticed by those who are watching her God fearing actions.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms-physical and those who are spiritual moms (you are eternally investing in the those of others around you), aunties, best friends, mentors and teachers who act as moms in the lives of young people.  

 

Lord bless you and yours this weekend! 

 

Devot. below. and a link to send Christian cards for Mother's Day this weekend.

https://www.dayspring.com

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April 30, 2018 The Better Hope “For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.” (Hebrews 7:19) Men and women have many false hopes in this world, one of which is that they can earn heaven by good works. Even though God’s law is a perfect law, it can never make a person fit for heaven because no one can keep the law perfectly. There is a better hope, however, and that hope is “the hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:8) “which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). This “hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15) is indeed a wonderful hope. In addition to the one in our text (“better”), there are three other adjectives in the New Testament relative to our Christian hope. First, it is called a “good hope.” “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father . . . hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace” (2 Thessalonians 2:16). Next, it is a “blessed hope.” “Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:12-13). Finally, it is a “lively [or living] hope.” “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). It is true, of course, that our hope is centered on the eternal future, for “if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19). Nevertheless, the proved resurrection of Christ makes it a good hope, a blessed hope, and a living hope. HMM     This email was sent to | Print this article

Devot. The Strength of the Lord

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you had a good week!

 

I have two devots. for you today.   The one below is one I felt the Lord wanted me to send you.

It is a reminder of where our strength comes from when life is tough and troubles abound.  

 

The other devot. (the link) is a Mother's Day devot.   I know that this day isn't always the easiest of holidays.

Some folks have lost their moms, or maybe are not close to them.   I pray that this devot. will comfort your heart if you fall into this category.

 

Psalm 56:8 states, "Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?"

 

David is crying out to the Lord is the previous verses.  He is saying in this verse that God knows our footsteps, where we travel through life.  He even puts our tears into a bottle and even writes them in a book.

 

Isaiah 53:3 says of Jesus, "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:" (He knew what grief and pain felt like!)

 

Hebrews 4:13 echoes this sentiment and applies it to us, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;"

(We have a Saviour, a go-between us and God who can understand how we feel).

 

I pray that the devots. below are a big boost of encouragement to your week and the Lord uses it in your life.  Feel free to pass on.   Lord bless you and yours this weekend!

 

Devot. https://www.dayspring.com/articles/when-mothers-day-is-difficult?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEBNAEP20180506MothersDaySundayDevoDifficultMothersDay&utm_term=Most%20Engaged%20List%20Last%2045%20Days%20KEEP  (Taken from https://www.dayspring.com/)

 

Other devot. below.

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+   May 4, 2018 The Strength of the Lord “I will go in the strength of the LORD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.” (Psalm 71:16) Since God the Creator is omnipotent, if we can go in His strength, there would seem to be no limit to what could be accomplished. The book of Psalms, in particular, over and over again testifies that God indeed is our strength. For example: “I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower” (Psalm 18:1-2). But how do we appropriate God’s strength, and how is it manifested in our own lives? The answer is not what most would expect. “He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy” (Psalm 147:10-11). “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). Our text itself indicates that going in the strength of the Lord is essentially to “make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.” Speaking of God’s righteousness (not ours) in the fear of the Lord and the leading of the Spirit, hoping only in His mercy, manifests the strength of the Lord. Furthermore, “the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). And, finally, the apostle Paul, who surely exhibited the strength of God in his life as much as anyone ever did, testified that “he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). His grace and His joy, shining through our own weakness, enable the man “whose strength is in thee” to “go from strength to strength” (Psalm 84:5, 7) in His service. HMM     This email was sent to  | Print this article

Devot. The Spiritual Fruit of Patience

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you had a super week!

The devot. for today is on learning to be patience, another valuable lesson in our spiritual education.

 

Have you ever had someone tell you, "Don't pray for patience!"   I've been told that before and then

reminded that when you do pray for patience, you usually get everything thrown at you that will try

your patience!

I have actually found the exact opposite to be true.   When I have cried out for patience at the times

when I need it the most, I have felt the Lord bring that to my heart and spirit.   I've been able to

go through the task at hand  it with a calmness I didn't have before I asked.

 

2 Peter 1:3-8 states, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, (we have been given the ability to live a Christ like lie with His help!) having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience;

and to patience godliness;  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

 

We are admonished above to add to our store of spiritual character-patience.   In thinking about my own self I will have to admit at he Lord can definitely be better seen in me and represented when  I ask for His help in displaying patience:)

 

I pray the devot. below is an encouragement to your weekend.   Lord bless you and yours!

 

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

Devot. Lessons to Learn

Hi Folks,

 

I hope you had a super week!

The devot. for today is one learning.  

 

I was thinking as I read this devot. that May and June are graduation months.

 

One phase of learning has been completed, another chapter of learning begins.  

 

 When I think in that context, this passage always comes to mind in regards to encouraging continued spiritual growth in the life of a person (and encouraging a graduate to hold onto their faith in Jesus Christ).

 

Colossians 2:6-8 states, "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.   Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

 

These verses are a reminder to me that just as someone as trusted the Lord Jesus as their way to get to Heaven, they need to continue to  walk in Him, spiritually rooted and grounded in the Word of God and they have been taught, thriving (abounding) with thanksgiving.  And to be careful of being corrupted by the world's philosophies and teachings, which are contrary to God and His Word.

 

This is a good admonition to all of us to continue growing in Jesus!    I pray the devot. is a blessing to your weekend!   Below I also have a few added links.

 

For those of you who have expressed an interest in Pastor Andrew Brunson, his 2nd trial Turkey was May 7th and the outcome was not good. There is an update on the American Center for Law and Justice's website (Home page, link below) on how the trial went.   Please keep praying for him and his family! 

 

I've also included a petition calling for his release that you can sign if you have not already.  

Pass it along!

 

 In addition is another update on ACLJ's website (Home page) Christian mom Asia Bibli who has been on death row in Pakistan for her faith in Jesus (for those of you who may remember her from previous posts.)

 

Lastly is the offer of a free book through Christian Book Distributors.  It's the story of Pastor Richard Warmbrand, the founder of Voice of the Martyr's that I have mentioned in recent posts.

 

I pray all this would be insightful/encouraging to your weekend.   Feel free to pass this devot. and its content along.   Lord bless you and yours! (Devot. below all the links.)

 

Petition for Pastor Andrew:   https://aclj.org/persecuted-church/save-pastor-andrew-from-a-turkish-prison?utm_medium=Email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=d-04132018_top-PC_seg-NexN20plFBR_typ-PT

 

ACLJ Website:  https://aclj.org/

 

Free Book: https://etools.ncol.com/a/tfc/bg_vomtfc_cbd-tfc50-email_309.html

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April 27, 2018 Lessons to Learn “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Matthew 9:13) The Lord Jesus called all who would be His disciples to “learn of me” (or “from me,” Matthew 11:29), and our text verse contains the first use of “learn” in the New Testament, thus indicating a basic item we must learn when we become Christians. The Lord stressed that God cared nothing about the ritualistic offering of animal sacrifices, as such, but rather desired understanding of the meaning of those sacrifices, accompanied by the motivating love and faith of a repentant heart. He referred them back to their own Scripture: “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). This is the most difficult but most basic lesson to learn by one seeking forgiveness and salvation. There are many subsequent lessons to learn, of course; many of them very difficult even for sincere, believing Christians. Paul notes one of them he had learned the hard way: “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11). Another difficult but vital lesson has to do with Christian humility in leadership, “that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another” (1 Corinthians 4:6). Even the Lord Jesus Christ in His perfect humanity had lessons to learn. “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8). Finally, having learned these and many other such lessons, we must not forget them. Paul, in his final letter, so reminds us: “Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned” (2 Timothy 3:14). HMM     This email was sent to | Print this article Unsubscribe | Subscribe