Happy New Year!

MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST...
This Devotional Book is good to read every day, but is also one of the best ways I know to transition from one year to another, saying all the things you need to hear for letting go of the past and looking to the future... HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Yesterday

“You shall not go out with haste, … for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard” (Isaiah 52:12).

Security from Yesterday. “… God requires an account of what is past” (Ecclesiastes 3:15). At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise when we remember our yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God’s grace tends to be lessened by the memory of yesterday’s sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth for our future. God reminds us of the past to protect us from a very shallow security in the present.

Security for Tomorrow. “… the Lord will go before you … .” This is a gracious revelation—that God will send His forces out where we have failed to do so. He will keep watch so that we will not be tripped up again by the same failures, as would undoubtedly happen if He were not our “rear guard.” And God’s hand reaches back to the past, settling all the claims against our conscience.

Security for Today. “You shall not go out with haste … .” As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, forgetful delight, nor with the quickness of impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ.

Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.

Pending

Pending

Day of Rest

Nada

I have nothing to say right now as I revisit past posts and work to get back up to speed.

Now

Damage Control In Progress

The attack on my computer destroyed hundreds of files and kind of leaves me in limbo for the moment. I covet your prayers. Thanks!

Pending

Pending

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

I'll meet you somewhere in the air, Mom, since the dead in Christ shall rise first; and then those of us who remain shall be caught up with you. Dorothy Olive Grimes McFarland.

I always used to call and sing the words of this song for you, as I will tomorrow when I visit.

"I just called to say I love you. I just called to say how much I care. I just called to say I love you... and I mean it from the bottom of my heart!"

Pending

Computer down for repairs. Hope to see you soon?

Pending

Pending

John 1

Romans 30

Romans 29

Romans 28

Romans 27

Romans 26

Romans 25

Romans 24

Romans 23

Romans 22

Romans 21

Romans 20

Romans 19

Romans 18

Romans 17

Romans 16

Romans 15

Romans 14

Romans 13

Romans 12

Romans 11

Romans 10

Romans 9

Romans 8

Romans 7

Romans 6

Romans 5

Romans 4

Romans 3

Romans 2

Romans 1

Acts 28

Acts 27

Acts 26

Acts 24

Acts 23

Acts 22

Acts 21

Acts 20

Acts 19

Acts 18

Acts 17

Acts 16

Acts 15

Acts 14

Acts 13

Acts 12

Acts 11

Acts 10

Acts 9

Acts 8

Acts 7

Acts 6

Acts 5

Acts 4

Acts 3

Acts 2

Acts 1

Acts Author: The Physician Luke

The Acts of the Apostles by the Holy Spirit

The Book of Acts as we all call it in the simplicity of our conversation; or just Acts, as we preface referencing some chapter and verse; has been titled as both "The Acts of the Apostles" and "The Acts of the Holy Spirit" in different publications. Of course, the pragmatist wants everyone to know this is a history about how the Gospel was further spread by those disciples, now called apostles, following the vicarious death and glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. While those incipiently spiritual, obviously want to give the ascendancy to the Holy Spirit, without whom none of these Acts might have been done. Only I see no reason for not expanding this nomenclature to logically cover and integrate both necessaries. So I have entitled this study, as being collaterally "The Acts of The Apostles by The Holy Spirit."

Trending

20/20 Hindsight

Distracted

Save

Day Of Rest

Proverbs 5

Proverbs 5



1My son, attend unto my wisdom,

and bow your ear to my understanding:


2That you may regard discretion,

and that your lips may keep knowledge.



3For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb,

and her mouth is smoother than oil:


4But her end is bitter as wormwood,

sharp as a two-edged sword.


5Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.


6Lest you should ponder the path of life, her ways

are moveable, that you can not know them.


7Hear me now therefore, O you children,

and depart not from the words of my mouth.


8Remove thy way far from her, and

come not nigh the door of her house:


9Lest you give your honour unto others,

and your years unto the cruel:


10Lest strangers be filled with your wealth;

and your labours be in the house of a stranger;


11And you mourn at the last, when your flesh

and your body are consumed,


12And say, How have I hated instruction,

and my heart despised reproof;


13And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers,

nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!


14I was almost in all evil in the midst

of the congregation and assembly.


15Drink waters out of your own cistern,

and running waters out of your own well.


16Let your fountains be dispersed abroad,

and rivers of waters in the streets.


17Let them be only your own,

and not strangers’ with you.


18Let you fountain be blessed: and

rejoice with the wife of your youth.


19Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe;

let her breasts satisfy you at all times;

and be you ravished always with her love.


20And why will you, my son, be ravished with a strange woman,

and embrace the bosom of a stranger?


21For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD,

and he ponders all his goings.


22His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself,

and he shall be held with the cords of his sins.


23He shall die without instruction;

and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

The Acts of the Apostles by the Holy Spirit

The Book of Acts as we all call it in the simplicity of our conversation; or just Acts, as we preface referencing some chapter and verse; has been titled as both "The Acts of the Apostles" and "The Acts of the Holy Spirit" in different publications. Of course, the pragmatist wants everyone to know this is a history about how the Gospel was further spread by those disciples, now called apostles, following the vicarious death and glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. While those incipiently spiritual, obviously want to give the ascendancy to the Holy Spirit, without whom none of these Acts might have been done. Only I see no reason for not expanding this nomenclature to logically cover and integrate both necessaries. So I have entitled this study, as being collaterally "The Acts of The Apostles by The Holy Spirit."

Discerning What To Do Next

What feels right to you? A former pastor once gave me some advice about discerning for myself what I need to be doing spiritually, even in my devotions. If you go to pray, and you're not really feeling it, then switch to reading your Bible. If you're not really getting any inspiration from reading your Bible, then you might want to read what someone else has already explained in a Daily Devotional, or some other book. If that doesn't work, and it's Football Season, I've always found that to be motivational, especially if my Patriots are playing. Finally, if all else fails, go to sleep... "old men shall dream dreams", and that's definitely spiritual!

“For God speaks once, yea twice, yet man perceives it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, in slumbering upon the bed; Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword”. - Job 33: 14-18

Interceding For Our Country

Are you praying for our country? Not just those things you want to see happen for your own benefit, but for those things that need to be changed and removed, that you most often never think about. Time to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty!

The scripture also says to "Watch unto prayer", which means to monitor the affects of your own prayers to judge the need for any modification in thought and fervency, as well as do any practical thing revealed to facilitate the results. You are not only the intercessor; you might just be a part of the answer.

Faith

Pending

Change

Day of Rest

Now

Praying For The Country

All Men In Authority

The Spirit Brooded...

Still Waiting

The Lord Gives Us Sleep

Contemporary society pushes us harder and harder, faster and faster into feeling, as the adage goes, "If you snooze: you loose!" None of us want to be seen as not being "diligent in business", which is also one of the requirements for being a pastor; but there is a scriptural balance. "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman awakens but in vain." There are so many scriptures speaking to the fact of our dependency on Christ for all things, as expressed in the direct simplicity of his words, "Without me you can do nothing."

"It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows, for so the Lord gives his beloved sleep." So why are you pursuing the vanity of worrying at all?

Recently, I heard a wonderful secular euphemism, delivered by actor Mark Harmon's character on NCIS, the venerable Special Agent Jethro Gibbs. "Anticipation doesn't get you the win. It's how you react to the situation." So it's more about doing your homework and then being rested up to meet the moment head on at your very best.

There is one thing I have learned to say every night; after my prayers, so I can even let go of those prayers to gt to sleep: "I will both lay me down in peace and sleep, for you Lord only make me to dwell in safety". But I change the word "peace" back to the original word "Shalom", because of all it fully means to us. After awhile I would begin to yawn even before I got all the words out, and fall right off to sleep. When I don't, I simply repeat the one word "Shalom", over and over, to remind myself and God of His promise. "Shalom, shalom, shalom... zzzzzzzzzzz..."

T.D. Jakes

Preemptory Challenge

Waiting By The Brook Of Cherith

One of the most amazing personally comparative experiences in my life is the biblical story of Elijah waiting upon further instruction from God by the Brook of Cherith. While there, he was also fed meat everyday by ravens that were appointed by God to meet that need. The scripture doesn't say very much more about the process, which makes it a rather unremarkable little blip on the radar. That's exactly the reason I finally recognize it. When everything else around you becomes increasingly unrecognizable and mundane, so you begin to resign yourself to your circumstances, but with one eye always open to finding something more... Blip, there it is! I'm waiting here because I'm waiting here in obedience to God, because it is the place of his provision. I'm not in the wrong place. I'm not being lazy and idle. I'm just here abiding where God put me. I've been here before, so it takes less time to recognize it, even though I never really expect it, until... Blip!

Prayer Walk

Busyness

Meditation

Petition

When Nehemiah knew he was called by God to restore Jerusalem, the first thing he had to do was get permission from the King to go and check out the situation there. But after he knew what was needed, Nehemiah still had to petition the King for the resources to accomplish the goal. Too often, we stop at catching the vision, but never get down to the nitty gritty work of gathering what we need t make it happen. Learn to petition God for every big and little thing you need, whether people or other resources!

Day Of Rest

Later Tonite

Gratitude Attitude

Stepping Up

Waiting

Whatever Cannot Go Through The Fire

Monday Morning Quarterbacking

Okay! The Big Game is over, and now everyone is talking about it, and what they would have done differently, if they had been the Quarterback. The real question is what would you have done differently before the game. Would you have run more practice plays of your own in scrimmages, paid more attention to the other teams game films to figure out what are the most successful plays they like to run against other teams, or just got to bed earlier the night before. There are a great many more things involved in winning a football game than most of us understand, or can take into consideration on a moment's notice; just like our own lives.

Super Bowl Sunday

It's a good thing Football is not my Religion, because the Seahawks ahead of the Broncos by 29 points to zip, espcially just scoring that last touchdown 7 seconds into the 2nd Half might result in apostay. Although I can always go back to watching Tennis, since the scripture says, even "Moses served in the courts of Pharoah". Only I think there was a Pyramid Scheme involved?

Anointed To What, Where, When, And How?

“And there was delivered unto Jesus the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” – Luke 4:17-19


Jesus was anointed to do all those things listed above. The scripture further says, "It pleased god that all the fullness of the Godhead should dwell in Him bodily". But what about you? When Jesus returned to the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to distribute those gifts among us as the Spirit sees fit; so we are all basically under evaluation for being given assignments. We all got really excited when we first saw the list of those compassionate things that Christ came to do for us. Only now what are we really concerned about doing for others? It's not a one way proposition. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails a great deal." The best way to understand "effectual fervent prayer" is as being "sufficiently passionate" about that for which you are praying. When the scripture says "desire spiritual gifts", it uses a Greek word that means to "lust after". Therefore, if you want to have spiritual gifts in your life, then you need to become "sufficiently passionate to the point of lusting" after them. So what, where, when, and how does God want to anoint you?

TGIF

Opening Your Cause

¹²But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause. 

Fellowship

All Men In Authority

This evening, President Barack Obama will make his 2014 State of the Union Address. It will be viewed on at least thirteen television channels I know about, so you only need to decide what commentary you want to hear along with it. It will be followed by four Republican responses, two official speakers, one unofficial (Rand Paul), and finally one Hispanic. But I'm sure every one of us will have our own opinions about what we hear. My landlord, who is also a good friend, already said he probably would not watch for some of the same opinions I hold about the Obama Administration. So I am equally disinclined, but I will still watch for one simple reason, as the apostle Paul exhorts us…


“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.” – 1Timothy 2:1-3

Regardless of how disillusioned we are about anything that might come out of the mouth of what seems to be a pathological liar, we still need to be able to effectively pray with understanding about those issues he advances and problems he usually creates. So put on your sackcloth and ashes, and do it for the Lord, our Saviour, God, and Guide.

Practical Theology

Quite a few years ago, I came across a book called "Shepherding God's Flock", which has always remained a great resource for me concerning all the issues of ministry. Most important of all, it had one totally unique chapter appropriately titled "Practical Theology", that answered much neglected concerns. The most immediate thing to remember is the author said that all practical theology should also be equally subject to the Word of God. We waste our time and efforts when we try to solve practical matters as if they were just secular things. The scripture says, "God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness", so that includes the practical things, and results in a Practical Theology of how those things ought to work and are interrelated in our lives.

Sunday Meditation

Later

Early Will I Seek Thee

The scripture tells us, through the psalms of King David, that our heart's cry ought to be, "Early will I seek thee, thou art my God!" This doesn't mean that all godly people are morning people, since comtemporary lives can begin at anytime all around the clock, so the chronology of "early" for you might be different from mine. It is what it is, and begins when it begins, but we all need to start that day renewing our hearts and minds with God. This declaration of "early will I see thee" refers more specifically to those times of troubles and trials in our lives. Who are you going to turn to first? How many machinations and changes do you go through looking for an answer from other sources and resources; including your own best ideas from past experience; before you finally turn to God to seek and consider his present answer and ultimate solution? That is a true way to measure your spirituality. "Abba, Daddy...help me!"

"If you had asked Me, I could have told you not to go there in the first place, so now how can I help you? And, how are those other choices working for you so far? "

Save For Later

God Needs Snow Angels Too

Prayer Works, But...

Prayer works, but... sometimes it takes longer to get the answers than we might like. "If any of you are afflicted let him pray." Sometimes we are expecting the prayer of others to make the difference for us, but prayer is in the details; and who knows those details better than you. "The curse doesn't come without a cause." Only sometimes we go into denial and suppress those things which we actually knew at the outset in order to get away from the pain. In Job, we are told, "If you embrace the pain you will discover what it is trying to tell you." A positive profession of faith about what God wants to do or you, only works if you really know what is wrong and acknowledge your need, so you can specifically speak the correct aspect of His multi-faceted Word to that precise issue. Remember, as King David said, the Lord "teaches my hands to war, and even my fingers to fight". Ask and He will tell you how to get down into the details for a more speedy answer! Amen.

Working

Patriots @ Broncos

"Standing in the need of prayer... Patriots?"

Posited

Word Up, Beloved!

When are the words more powerful than the thoughts behind them? They are more powerful when we get our words from God. King David said, "Let my words, O Lord, come from your presence?" God's answer... "The word of faith is nigh you, even in your mouth!"

Argh!

Still trying to catch up with my blogging due to sickness. Sorry. Gotta run!

Doubtless

"Doubtless I shall come to visions..."

Timely

"There is a time and a season to every purpose under heaven." Are you paying serious attention to those times and seasons in your own life? Are you patiently waiting to enter those times and seasons, or are you running ahead of God and wasting your energy and resources before it's appropriate. Enjoy your season of rest, and prepare for when it's time to run, and learn to know the difference.

What's Next?

Sunday

Waiting To Hear

Saving Grace Space

Pray Without Ceasing

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:16-18

The work of prayer is never really done. Another scripture tells us to “be anxious for nothing, but in everything with prayer and supplication make your requests known unto God”. Until you see what you are specifically looking for begin to materialize, like Elijah who sent his servant seven times to look out over the sea, until he saw a cloud no bigger than a fist, you need to persist in prayer. We become anxious for a reason. It let’s us know that we need to be concerned about the details involved in the goal of our prayers. Pray about the people, places, and issues involved; both pro and con.

Prototypical

Scatters Hoarfrost... Snow

Effectual Fervent Prayer

Rejoicng In The Way

14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Psalm 119: 14-16

We are naturally looking for our own personal experience of the grace of God in our lives as we seek to walk in the way. Sometimes we are less than excited when it seems to be business as usual. Only the apostle Paul said that “all things are yours” and “all these things were written for your admonition and instruction”. So the Way is actually the way of his testimonies, where the Lord has already approved and confirmed His promises in others, as we see in the list of the faithful forerunners recounted in Hebrews. We need to meditate on all these things; what they believed, obeyed, and reaped as reward; so we can know what to expect and hope for in our own walk, and ultimately use to stay focused and undistracted by rejoicing in this Living Truth which has been given to us. “Rejoice in the Lord always!”

Sinners In The Way

Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD. Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. the meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. Psalm 25:7-10

God will not only guide and teach the righteous in the way, but also sinners. It’s all about his goodness and mercy. No matter where you find yourself in life, even just struggling to overcome what are called easily besetting sins, God will not abandon you. Not everyone struggles with the same sins. Some sins are more publicly obvious, and easier to fall back into than others. Substance abusers, for example, are often also struggling with natural addictions, rather than just our all too human sin nature. We only need to put on a little humility and become meek in acknowledging our errors, and our need for God’s grace to change.

The Way You Shall Go

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go: I will guide you with my eye. Do not be as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest those things come near unto you. Psalm 32:8-9

It’s not enough to simply be told the directions to your destination. We also need to know how to conduct ourselves on the journey. Since the Lord will “teach us in the way” then we need to be sure to continue to walk in the way, and not wander here and there, all willy-nilly like the horse or the mule. The horse always wants to be given his head to run wild and free, exhilarating in the beauty of his own strength, and fears nothing in the day of battle. While the wild ass snuffs up the wind, going here and there to check things out. The grass always seems greener as long as he can smell something different before he can see it. If you are like them, God has to lead you with a bit and bridle in your mouth to overcome your natural self-interest, through chastening. He prefers for you to hear his voice and use your mouth to declare you understand the teaching and instruction, which is the first step to always making the next step, and keeping these other things from coming near you. Remember, “the word of faith is nigh you, even in your mouth”!

Your Guide Into All Truth

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you. John 16: 12-15


Jesus said there were many things that He wanted to say to the disciples, to say to us, but we could not bear them. Perhaps, this is the year when you can finally bear to receive those things. How is your relationship with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth? Can you hear his voice for yourself, or do you need some help? Open your eyes and you just might see Him showing you things in the easiest possible way for you to receive them. All things that the Father has, also belong to Jesus, who also wants to share them with us; and specifically what you need, when you need it, as you are able to bear it.

Happy New Year 2014

Greetings Beloved,


It’s now 2014, another New Year, and what are we going to do to “redeem the time”. No matter what any of our past limitations, hindrances, and even failures have been, and where they seem to have left us, let us remember these words of the apostle Paul. “Forgetting those things that are behind, I stretch myself beyond myself, to apprehend that for which I have been apprehended by God, and strive for the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Sounds like a plan to me!