1 Corinthians 1:9 " God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is
faithful."
1 Corinthians 1:26 "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise
by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth."
God, Father, thank You for Your faithfulness! It is because of it and Christ's strength that I can do anything and everything that You have called me to do. When You called me, I was not wise by the world's standards. In fact, because of the choices I had made, I was considered foolish. I was an average student and dropped out from college. I certainly had no influence on anyone, even my own family and was not of noble birth. We were poor working class folks.
But by Your grace and resurrection power, and that alone, I have Your wisdom and can ask for more at any time and you will give it in abundance. You have been able to bless many young folks through Your influence both in my prior ministries and now at Liberty U. And because You are the King of Kings, and I am by re-birth Your sibling through adoption, I am of noble birth. Who would have ever thought any of that would be possible?
Lord, in Your wisdom You chose me to be the mother of three wonderful sons who are walking with You and are an influence in their families, and in Your greater family. It is only by Your grace that I was able to be the wife, mother, and mother-in-law and grandmother that I am. To You be all the glory, honor, praise, and thanks.
You have called me to faithfulness, holiness, and obedience. The most important thing to me is fellowship with You, my family, and Your family.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
God's Foolishness and Weakest Weakness is Wisest and Stronger Than Ours
1 Corinthians 1:25 "For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God
is stronger than man's strength."
Lord, this seems to be ridiculous to say to You, but this statement is so true! To the worldly wise, You seem prudish, foolish, at some times mean and spiteful because You allow tragedies to happen in our lives, and have called some things sin. They see the fact that You allowed Yourself to be crucified as a weakness and say, "Some kind of Messiah king He is! He allowed Himself to be killed instead of killing all of his enemies. They do not know that Your enemy was defeated that day and his destruction is near. How very wrong they are.
In their arrogance, they do not see that:
1) You have very right to destroy us all because of our rebellion and sin, but in Your patience, You don't.
2) It is ONLY because of Your love for us that You allow tragedy into our lives because it is meant to bring many to him.
3) Our salvation cost You everything, but You made it simple for us because even the brightest of us are simple minded.
4) Any being that can create the world and the universes by His word with all of their diversity and holds it all together with His word is stronger than the mightiest human.
Oh, Lord, only You are worthy of honor, praise, majesty, and glory forever and ever, amen!
Lord, this seems to be ridiculous to say to You, but this statement is so true! To the worldly wise, You seem prudish, foolish, at some times mean and spiteful because You allow tragedies to happen in our lives, and have called some things sin. They see the fact that You allowed Yourself to be crucified as a weakness and say, "Some kind of Messiah king He is! He allowed Himself to be killed instead of killing all of his enemies. They do not know that Your enemy was defeated that day and his destruction is near. How very wrong they are.
In their arrogance, they do not see that:
1) You have very right to destroy us all because of our rebellion and sin, but in Your patience, You don't.
2) It is ONLY because of Your love for us that You allow tragedy into our lives because it is meant to bring many to him.
3) Our salvation cost You everything, but You made it simple for us because even the brightest of us are simple minded.
4) Any being that can create the world and the universes by His word with all of their diversity and holds it all together with His word is stronger than the mightiest human.
Oh, Lord, only You are worthy of honor, praise, majesty, and glory forever and ever, amen!
Thursday, May 24, 2012
A Stumbling Block to Jews and Foolishness to Gentiles
1 Corinthians 1:22-23 "Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,"
Lord, Good Morning! I can understand why the Jews demand miraculous signs. Al throughout their history as a nation You have given them miraculous signs: from the birth of Isaac, to the ram in the thicket, to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, to Jacob's wrestle with the angel and vision of Heaven, to to the Exodus from Egypt and Your provisions in the desert for 40 years as they wandered there, and the fall of Jericho...and the list goes on and on. Even when You were with them here on earth, You did many miracles as signs that You were the long awaited Messiah. But they had You crucified. Then the greatest miracle of all, You ROSE FROM THE DEAD! Even with all of those signs throughout their history, they did not proselytize as they were supposed to, but held themselves aloof in pride and arrogance.
The Greeks (Gentiles) had none of those so tried to find god and their purpose on their own so to speak. They came up with mnay gods and sought after this world's wisdom and came up empty.
You are a stumbling block to the Jews because they expected something other than You, and Your ways and "simple, but costly, salvation message seems like foolishness to them, and to our age as well.
Oh, Lord, open the Spiritual eyes of the world to see Your truth, and meay we Christians not be like the Jews holding ourselves up as "holier than thou. You have called us to come out from among the world and be sepearate, but not separated. We are to live a holy life, but to give grace and mercy to those who do not know You so we might win some. We are In, but not Of this world. Thank You, very humbly, Lord, for Your grace and mercy You showed, and show me daily.
Lord, Good Morning! I can understand why the Jews demand miraculous signs. Al throughout their history as a nation You have given them miraculous signs: from the birth of Isaac, to the ram in the thicket, to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, to Jacob's wrestle with the angel and vision of Heaven, to to the Exodus from Egypt and Your provisions in the desert for 40 years as they wandered there, and the fall of Jericho...and the list goes on and on. Even when You were with them here on earth, You did many miracles as signs that You were the long awaited Messiah. But they had You crucified. Then the greatest miracle of all, You ROSE FROM THE DEAD! Even with all of those signs throughout their history, they did not proselytize as they were supposed to, but held themselves aloof in pride and arrogance.
The Greeks (Gentiles) had none of those so tried to find god and their purpose on their own so to speak. They came up with mnay gods and sought after this world's wisdom and came up empty.
You are a stumbling block to the Jews because they expected something other than You, and Your ways and "simple, but costly, salvation message seems like foolishness to them, and to our age as well.
Oh, Lord, open the Spiritual eyes of the world to see Your truth, and meay we Christians not be like the Jews holding ourselves up as "holier than thou. You have called us to come out from among the world and be sepearate, but not separated. We are to live a holy life, but to give grace and mercy to those who do not know You so we might win some. We are In, but not Of this world. Thank You, very humbly, Lord, for Your grace and mercy You showed, and show me daily.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Salvation Seems Foolishness to Human Wisdom
1 Corinthians 1:21 "For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe." NIV
"Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe." NLT
Lord, Sweet Lord, I praise You again today for Your wisdom. In this world's standards I was not a wise person. I had no college degree, graduated high school with a B average, did not have a high paying job, and certainly had not made wise choices in my life...BUT YOU had someone share the "foolishness" of the gospel with me and You changed EVERYTHING! You are daily making me more and more wise in Your eyes with Your Word through the teaching and encouragement of Your Holy Spirit. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Yes, to some I seem more foolish now than I did when I was an unbeliever because I can now see the foolishness of the world's thinking and they cannot because spiritual things have to be understood and discerned "Spiritually". Without the Spirit, nothing that is spiritual makes any sense at all.
Paul is saying that he was perceived as foolish by the Greeks,Gnostic's, Philosophers, and the religious leaders of his day. However; without Christ, all of their "wisdom" gave them an eternity in Hell for the prize. The "foolishness" he preached, brought all who believed Heaven for all eternity. So who was wise and who was foolish?
"Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe." NLT
Lord, Sweet Lord, I praise You again today for Your wisdom. In this world's standards I was not a wise person. I had no college degree, graduated high school with a B average, did not have a high paying job, and certainly had not made wise choices in my life...BUT YOU had someone share the "foolishness" of the gospel with me and You changed EVERYTHING! You are daily making me more and more wise in Your eyes with Your Word through the teaching and encouragement of Your Holy Spirit. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Yes, to some I seem more foolish now than I did when I was an unbeliever because I can now see the foolishness of the world's thinking and they cannot because spiritual things have to be understood and discerned "Spiritually". Without the Spirit, nothing that is spiritual makes any sense at all.
Paul is saying that he was perceived as foolish by the Greeks,Gnostic's, Philosophers, and the religious leaders of his day. However; without Christ, all of their "wisdom" gave them an eternity in Hell for the prize. The "foolishness" he preached, brought all who believed Heaven for all eternity. So who was wise and who was foolish?
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
God Has Made Foolish the Wisdom of the World
1 Corinthians 1:20 " Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?" NIV
Lord, You created man with the ability to think and think deeply because we are made in Your image. Man desperately wants to know five basic things:
Who are we?
Where did we come from?
What is our purpose here?
What, if anything, happened to us before conception and what happens after death?
How is this thing called "Life" supposed to work properly?
Before I came to know You and the truth, I was so confused by all of their different thinking...who was right? Lord, You have answered these things most adequately in Your word of truth, but if men disregard it, we come up with the most staggering and different opinions!
All of the great thinkers and philosophers of Paul's day are long since dead. What they thought is taught in schools everywhere and their writings are available in libraries if anyone cares to read them. Some of their theories have been taught as truth and have been incorporated into our school systems and government.
Lord, the fact is that You are the only eternal Wise and Omniscient One. Your truth and Your wisdom are man's only hope. I thank You, Lord, that You opened my eyes to the truth and revealed the foolishness of my own thinking to me. I am so unworthy of this precious gift, Lord.
Lord, You created man with the ability to think and think deeply because we are made in Your image. Man desperately wants to know five basic things:
Who are we?
Where did we come from?
What is our purpose here?
What, if anything, happened to us before conception and what happens after death?
How is this thing called "Life" supposed to work properly?
Before I came to know You and the truth, I was so confused by all of their different thinking...who was right? Lord, You have answered these things most adequately in Your word of truth, but if men disregard it, we come up with the most staggering and different opinions!
All of the great thinkers and philosophers of Paul's day are long since dead. What they thought is taught in schools everywhere and their writings are available in libraries if anyone cares to read them. Some of their theories have been taught as truth and have been incorporated into our school systems and government.
Lord, the fact is that You are the only eternal Wise and Omniscient One. Your truth and Your wisdom are man's only hope. I thank You, Lord, that You opened my eyes to the truth and revealed the foolishness of my own thinking to me. I am so unworthy of this precious gift, Lord.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Foolishness or Power?
1 Corinthians 1: 18 "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to
us who are being saved it is the power of God." NIV
"The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God." NLT
Lord, this is so true. It was true of me before You saved me. All of man's "religion" is us reaching up to an angry god and trying to win his favor. The thought of an all powerful God reaching down to me, knowing my sinful state and that I are headed for destruction, and being willing to sacrifice Yourself and pay the infinite sin debt owed to the holy Father for me seemed like such foolishness it was impossible to believe on my own. It was good works that would get me into heaven.
Then that sweet day so many years ago, You lifted the blindness from my heart and mind and revealed the truth to me! Hallelujah, what a day that was! The power of that moment will be forever unforgettable.
Thank You for the cross, Lord.
Thank You for the price You paid,
Bearing all my sin and shame,
In love You came,
And gave amazing grace!
Thank You for this love, Lord.
Thank You for the nail pierced hands.
Wash me in the cleansing flow
'Til all I know
Is Your forgiveness and embrace.
Oh, Lord, how I love and thank You. You and You alone are worthy to be praised and honored.
"The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God." NLT
Lord, this is so true. It was true of me before You saved me. All of man's "religion" is us reaching up to an angry god and trying to win his favor. The thought of an all powerful God reaching down to me, knowing my sinful state and that I are headed for destruction, and being willing to sacrifice Yourself and pay the infinite sin debt owed to the holy Father for me seemed like such foolishness it was impossible to believe on my own. It was good works that would get me into heaven.
Then that sweet day so many years ago, You lifted the blindness from my heart and mind and revealed the truth to me! Hallelujah, what a day that was! The power of that moment will be forever unforgettable.
Thank You for the cross, Lord.
Thank You for the price You paid,
Bearing all my sin and shame,
In love You came,
And gave amazing grace!
Thank You for this love, Lord.
Thank You for the nail pierced hands.
Wash me in the cleansing flow
'Til all I know
Is Your forgiveness and embrace.
Oh, Lord, how I love and thank You. You and You alone are worthy to be praised and honored.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Lest the Cross of Christ Be Emptied of Its Power
1 Corinthians 1"17 "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words
of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power."
Sweet Lord! You are telling me that if one preaches the gospel in human wisdom the power of the cross is of no effect to those who hear. I understand why that is true, but I never thought of that before. Now I understand why "preachers" who have never truly trusted in You for their salvation are ineffective for the Kingdom even if they preach the gospel. Lord, our human wisdom is distorted at best and downright evil at its worst.
Lord, when I speak of You to others, please fill me with Your wisdom and Your words that the gospel will have great effect and I will not be guilty of emptying the cross...Your cross, of its power. I love You so much, Lord, and am so very thankful for salvation and all that it brings into my life. I want to effectively share that with the people around me who need You, but to do it in power...YOUR power!
Sweet Lord! You are telling me that if one preaches the gospel in human wisdom the power of the cross is of no effect to those who hear. I understand why that is true, but I never thought of that before. Now I understand why "preachers" who have never truly trusted in You for their salvation are ineffective for the Kingdom even if they preach the gospel. Lord, our human wisdom is distorted at best and downright evil at its worst.
Lord, when I speak of You to others, please fill me with Your wisdom and Your words that the gospel will have great effect and I will not be guilty of emptying the cross...Your cross, of its power. I love You so much, Lord, and am so very thankful for salvation and all that it brings into my life. I want to effectively share that with the people around me who need You, but to do it in power...YOUR power!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Sad Commentary for Corinth
1 Corinthians 1:15-17 "I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember
if I baptized anyone else.)"
Lord, this is a very sad statement Paul makes here. It should be able to read, I am thankful that I got to baptize many of you including Crispus and Gaius and wish I could have baptized many more for so many were coming to trust in Christ. However; under the circumstances, I see why You allowed him only the few.
Sweet Lord, I pray You would send revival to Your church as a whole so we would all be fervent in our reverence and obedience to You and Your Word; that You would have first place in our lives to rule and reign as You see fit; that our thoughts and speech would be saturated with You and Your purposes, that we would all live the holy sanctified life You intend for us, and we would treat all around us in a way that no one could ever say that Your church is full of hypocrites! If we did, the unsaved would be flocking to us to get what we have.
Lord, this is a very sad statement Paul makes here. It should be able to read, I am thankful that I got to baptize many of you including Crispus and Gaius and wish I could have baptized many more for so many were coming to trust in Christ. However; under the circumstances, I see why You allowed him only the few.
Sweet Lord, I pray You would send revival to Your church as a whole so we would all be fervent in our reverence and obedience to You and Your Word; that You would have first place in our lives to rule and reign as You see fit; that our thoughts and speech would be saturated with You and Your purposes, that we would all live the holy sanctified life You intend for us, and we would treat all around us in a way that no one could ever say that Your church is full of hypocrites! If we did, the unsaved would be flocking to us to get what we have.
Our Enemy Would Divide Us
1 Corinthians 1:13 "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?" NIV
"Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not!" NLT
Dearest Lord, I praise Your holy name today because none of us can say that we did what You did for us. Abe Lincoln illuded to Luke 11:17 when he said, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." The actual verse reads, "Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall." The unity of the Church must be protected at all cost. Our enemy would divide us. We must learn to give reproof bathed in grace to those who err as to bring them back to the truth.
One of the areas where the church is divided is in the area of baptism: some sprinkle babies, some sprinkle babies into their "church" to secure their salvation giving false hope to them and their parents. I myself was sprinkled at age 12 and was not saved and if my mother had not told me, I would never have remembered it. Acts 8:36-38 is a clear truth about baptism:
"Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, [here is] water. What hinders me from being baptized? Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him." NKJV
Lord, unite Your church once again. Bring revival to us all, and begin with me!
"Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not!" NLT
Dearest Lord, I praise Your holy name today because none of us can say that we did what You did for us. Abe Lincoln illuded to Luke 11:17 when he said, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." The actual verse reads, "Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall." The unity of the Church must be protected at all cost. Our enemy would divide us. We must learn to give reproof bathed in grace to those who err as to bring them back to the truth.
One of the areas where the church is divided is in the area of baptism: some sprinkle babies, some sprinkle babies into their "church" to secure their salvation giving false hope to them and their parents. I myself was sprinkled at age 12 and was not saved and if my mother had not told me, I would never have remembered it. Acts 8:36-38 is a clear truth about baptism:
"Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, [here is] water. What hinders me from being baptized? Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him." NKJV
Lord, unite Your church once again. Bring revival to us all, and begin with me!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Don't Quarrel-Follow Jesus
1 Corinthians 1:11-12 "My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are
quarrels among you.What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow
Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas ";
still another, "I follow Christ."
Lord, today this might read: "I follow Joel Olstein", "I follow Benny Hin", "I follow Adrien Rogers", I follow Chuck Swindoll", I follow John MacArthur", "I follow John Piper", "I follow Charles and Andy Stanley", or, "I follow Bob Jones". In our time of technological media, the list could go on and on: Chip Ingram, James McDonald, Allister Begg, Woodrow Crowl, Joyce Myers, Beth Moore, etc.; and have seen churches split over it. Oh, that we all could say in truth, "I follow Christ!"
If I am walking closely with You and am in Your Word daily, some of these teachers can be very helpful, and You have given them to the church to instruct and edify in their unique style. However; if I am not searching the scriptures and am not asking for wisdom and discernment; I could very easily be led astray by some of the false teachers in this list. If I follow any blindly so as to split the church with quarrelling over them, that is sin.
On this earth there are no perfect teachers. That's why You gave us Your Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth. Even Paul told his "students" to always check what he said against the scriptures to make sure what he told them was the truth. Satan is the master of deception and destruction. If I go to the scriptures with a pre-conceived idea, I can probably find ways to take verses out of context and "prove" my theory and present it as truth. The right thing I am to do is to go to Your Word to see what You say and adjust my thinking to Yours.
Lord, I never want to be part of creating a faction in Your church by holding to one teacher's instruction. Please help me to glean from the good ones what You would have me learn, and search the scriptures to make sure what I am being taught is right, but to hold fast to the true body of Christ.
Lord, today this might read: "I follow Joel Olstein", "I follow Benny Hin", "I follow Adrien Rogers", I follow Chuck Swindoll", I follow John MacArthur", "I follow John Piper", "I follow Charles and Andy Stanley", or, "I follow Bob Jones". In our time of technological media, the list could go on and on: Chip Ingram, James McDonald, Allister Begg, Woodrow Crowl, Joyce Myers, Beth Moore, etc.; and have seen churches split over it. Oh, that we all could say in truth, "I follow Christ!"
If I am walking closely with You and am in Your Word daily, some of these teachers can be very helpful, and You have given them to the church to instruct and edify in their unique style. However; if I am not searching the scriptures and am not asking for wisdom and discernment; I could very easily be led astray by some of the false teachers in this list. If I follow any blindly so as to split the church with quarrelling over them, that is sin.
On this earth there are no perfect teachers. That's why You gave us Your Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth. Even Paul told his "students" to always check what he said against the scriptures to make sure what he told them was the truth. Satan is the master of deception and destruction. If I go to the scriptures with a pre-conceived idea, I can probably find ways to take verses out of context and "prove" my theory and present it as truth. The right thing I am to do is to go to Your Word to see what You say and adjust my thinking to Yours.
Lord, I never want to be part of creating a faction in Your church by holding to one teacher's instruction. Please help me to glean from the good ones what You would have me learn, and search the scriptures to make sure what I am being taught is right, but to hold fast to the true body of Christ.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Perfectly United in Mind and Thought
1 Corinthians 1:10 "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you
agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you
may be perfectly united in mind and thought."
Sweet Saviour! It must grieve You to see all of the different factions of Your church! All one has to do is to drive around in any town or village that has more than one church to see the splits:
First Baptist, Free Will Baptist, Full Gospel Baptist, Southern Baptist, Northern Baptist, American Baptist, Bible Baptist, Bible Baptist Fundamentalist/ Community Baptist, Libertarian Baptist, Conservative Baptist, Charismatic Baptist...and the list goes on with all of the different Methodist, Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Anglican, Church of God, Church of God in Christ, Assembly of God, Reformed, Dutch Reformed, Christian Missionary Alliance...ad infinitum.
Their beliefs range from the strictest legalism to the most liberal of liberalist!
Our enemy knows that he could never succeed an attack on a united church, so he fragments those who are not biblically literate injecting falsehoods wrapped in piety. Soon even those who have never trusted in You or Your completed work for their salvation call themselves Christians. In our day, we have had to resort to calling true Christians "Christ Followers" as a distinguishing nomenclature.
As much as I hated to hear it, our president said we were not a Christian nation. Oh, we were formed on Christian Judeo principles, but the nation as a whole has defiled the name, prostituting itself with falsehood and depravity. Oh, Lord revive us!
One cannot be a "casual Christian" and not be deceived. Just the term itself tells the mindset of their faith. We must come back to the TRUTH of YOUR WORD, rightly divided, studied and prayed over daily lest we be drawn away. I must never come to Your word with some preconceived idea to prove what we think...Satan loves that! I must come seeking You with an open mind so You can tell me what is true and what is not. I must measure everything I am told by Your word to see if I am being told the truth. I do not ever want to be drawn away.
Sweet Saviour! It must grieve You to see all of the different factions of Your church! All one has to do is to drive around in any town or village that has more than one church to see the splits:
First Baptist, Free Will Baptist, Full Gospel Baptist, Southern Baptist, Northern Baptist, American Baptist, Bible Baptist, Bible Baptist Fundamentalist/ Community Baptist, Libertarian Baptist, Conservative Baptist, Charismatic Baptist...and the list goes on with all of the different Methodist, Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Anglican, Church of God, Church of God in Christ, Assembly of God, Reformed, Dutch Reformed, Christian Missionary Alliance...ad infinitum.
Their beliefs range from the strictest legalism to the most liberal of liberalist!
Our enemy knows that he could never succeed an attack on a united church, so he fragments those who are not biblically literate injecting falsehoods wrapped in piety. Soon even those who have never trusted in You or Your completed work for their salvation call themselves Christians. In our day, we have had to resort to calling true Christians "Christ Followers" as a distinguishing nomenclature.
As much as I hated to hear it, our president said we were not a Christian nation. Oh, we were formed on Christian Judeo principles, but the nation as a whole has defiled the name, prostituting itself with falsehood and depravity. Oh, Lord revive us!
One cannot be a "casual Christian" and not be deceived. Just the term itself tells the mindset of their faith. We must come back to the TRUTH of YOUR WORD, rightly divided, studied and prayed over daily lest we be drawn away. I must never come to Your word with some preconceived idea to prove what we think...Satan loves that! I must come seeking You with an open mind so You can tell me what is true and what is not. I must measure everything I am told by Your word to see if I am being told the truth. I do not ever want to be drawn away.
Friday, May 11, 2012
That You Will Be Blameless
1 Corinthians 1:8 "He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. "
Lord, Sweet Lord, You do not give me all spiritual gifts and keep us strong to the end just so I will bring You glory, but it is so I can be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ!
When You stood before Pilot, he had to tell the crowd would have You crucified, "I find no fault in this man." (Luke 23:4) In the book of Daniel when the satraps (governors) were trying to find fault in him, all they could charge him with was that he was praying to You three times a day. Oh, that if I was standing in front of a judge that would be said of me!
Lord, I praise You today because it is Your precious blood shed on my behalf that even allows me to be before THE judge without condemnation (Romans 8:1), and because of that, I can confess and repent when I do sin and be restored to service! (1 John 1:9-10)
When I was presented to my beloved husband on our wedding day, I was not blameless and spotless. When I stand before You, my Heavenly Bridegroom, along with Your church, we will be blameless without spot or wrinkle! Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Lord, Sweet Lord, You do not give me all spiritual gifts and keep us strong to the end just so I will bring You glory, but it is so I can be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ!
When You stood before Pilot, he had to tell the crowd would have You crucified, "I find no fault in this man." (Luke 23:4) In the book of Daniel when the satraps (governors) were trying to find fault in him, all they could charge him with was that he was praying to You three times a day. Oh, that if I was standing in front of a judge that would be said of me!
Lord, I praise You today because it is Your precious blood shed on my behalf that even allows me to be before THE judge without condemnation (Romans 8:1), and because of that, I can confess and repent when I do sin and be restored to service! (1 John 1:9-10)
When I was presented to my beloved husband on our wedding day, I was not blameless and spotless. When I stand before You, my Heavenly Bridegroom, along with Your church, we will be blameless without spot or wrinkle! Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
We Have All We Need In Him
1 Corinthians 1: 7-8a "Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end,"
Lord, how can Iever say that I have need of anything? You have, and will, give me all I will ever need to serve Your purpose here in this world until You return. I have no excuses for slacking! My spiritual gifts and the strength to carry out Your will are already mine; and not just for today...but to the end!
My Sweet Savior, I long for Your return like a bride awaits the return of her husband from a long military deployment. In her case, however; she knows he may not return to her, so every day she prays and waits in hope. I have the PROMISE that You WILL return! What a blessed hope, Lord! It is so encouraging to know that all of Your promises are true no matter what happens down here. Thank You!
Standing on the promises of Christ my king,
Through the eternal ages may His praises ring!
Glory in the highest I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God!
Lord, how can Iever say that I have need of anything? You have, and will, give me all I will ever need to serve Your purpose here in this world until You return. I have no excuses for slacking! My spiritual gifts and the strength to carry out Your will are already mine; and not just for today...but to the end!
My Sweet Savior, I long for Your return like a bride awaits the return of her husband from a long military deployment. In her case, however; she knows he may not return to her, so every day she prays and waits in hope. I have the PROMISE that You WILL return! What a blessed hope, Lord! It is so encouraging to know that all of Your promises are true no matter what happens down here. Thank You!
Standing on the promises of Christ my king,
Through the eternal ages may His praises ring!
Glory in the highest I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Enriched in Every Way
1 Corinthians 1:5-6 "For in him you have been enriched in every way--in all your speaking and in all
your knowledge--because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you."
O Lord! In You I have been enriched in every way! You have made my life so full that I honestly do not want any more of what this world has to offer, only more of You.
I wish that all of my speaking was enriched in You, but alas Lord, that is one of our unfinished imperfected projects. You have made great strides though, and I thank and praise You for the work done so far. You are still working on the all knowledge part as well, as You teach me more and more each and in every day all day.
Lord, my desire is to be like You in every way:
To have Your heart for people, giving grace and mercy
To give loving exhortation or rebuke when You prompt to encourage others in holiness and godliness
To show them Your unconditional love and holiness through my life
Only through Your power will I be able to accomplish these things. I desperately want Your testimony to be confirmed by You in all areas of my life.
O Lord! In You I have been enriched in every way! You have made my life so full that I honestly do not want any more of what this world has to offer, only more of You.
I wish that all of my speaking was enriched in You, but alas Lord, that is one of our unfinished imperfected projects. You have made great strides though, and I thank and praise You for the work done so far. You are still working on the all knowledge part as well, as You teach me more and more each and in every day all day.
Lord, my desire is to be like You in every way:
To have Your heart for people, giving grace and mercy
To give loving exhortation or rebuke when You prompt to encourage others in holiness and godliness
To show them Your unconditional love and holiness through my life
Only through Your power will I be able to accomplish these things. I desperately want Your testimony to be confirmed by You in all areas of my life.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Because of His Grace
1 Corinthians 1:4 "I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. "
Lord, Dictionary.com defines grace:
Grace:
Lord, Dictionary.com defines grace:
Grace:
elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action: We watched her skate with effortless grace across the ice. Synonyms: attractiveness, charm, gracefulness, comeliness, ease, lissomeness, fluidity. Antonyms: stiffness, ugliness, awkwardness, clumsiness; klutziness.
2. a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment: He lacked the manly graces.
3. favor or goodwill. Synonyms: kindness, kindliness, love, benignity; condescension.
4. a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior: It was only through the dean's grace that I wasn't expelled from school. Synonyms: forgiveness, charity, mercifulness. Antonyms: animosity, enmity, disfavor.
5. mercy; clemency; pardon: He was saved by an act of grace from the governor. Synonyms: lenity, leniency, reprieve. Antonyms: harshness.
favor shown in granting a delay or temporary immunity.
7. an allowance of time after a debt or bill has become payable granted to the debtor before suit can be brought against him or her or a penalty applied: The life insurance premium is due today, but we have 31 days' grace before the policy lapses.
8. Theology:
a. the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.
b. the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.
c. a virtue or excellence of divine origin: the Christian graces.
d. Also called state of grace. the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.
9. moral strength: the grace to perform a duty.
10. a short prayer before or after a meal, in which a blessing is asked and thanks are given: Grandfather will now say grace.
Lord, the definitions I have learned for grace are:
G od's
R iches
A t
C hrist's
E xpense
Grace- God giving us what we do not deserve.
Mercy- God withholding what we do deserve.
Grace- Unmerited favor with God.
Lord, however it is defined, we are unworthy of it. Without You, we are debauched, despicable, selfish, rebellious, Hell bound sinners from birth because of the sin of Adam,whose best works are as filthy rags to You. Without Your sacrificial act of grace on our behalf at Calvary, we have no hope.
That day You, the Spotless Lamb, GAVE Your life to save MINE! You paid MY sin debt so that I might go free. If that is not grace, Dearest, Sweet, Savior and Lord...I don't know what is!
Thank You for Your grace to me and to all. Lord, it is available to all who would truly believe: trust and have a changed life because of what they believe. Hallelujah, what a SAVIOR! I am so glad that the antonyms here are not true of You. May they not be true of me either!
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Grace and Peace: The Twin Towers of Christ Followers
1 Corinthians 1:3 "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. "
Lord, thank You ever so much for Your grace and peace! We all need them both along with Your mercy every moment of every day. I need to speak them into the lives around me when You prompt me to do so.
During finals week at Liberty U, the Student Advocate Office always serves treats to our students. On this past Thursday, it was my turn to do so. I saw many students who were blurry eyed and stressed from too much 5 Hour Energy (TM) or coffee and too little sleep as they crammed for their finals. You prompted me to pray for some of them. As I held them in my arms, I prayed for You to replace their stress with the peace that passes understanding. I could feel the tenseness relax and a couple of them shed tears of relief. You do work mightily in our lives.
I may meet other folks in the store, in the hallway or offices at work, at church, or in parking lots. Lord help me to yeild to Your prompting to pray for them (if they are on the road or out of reach), or with them if they are within my reach so that You can impart these "Twin Towers" into their lives as well.
Lord, You have given so much to me through the trials of my life: Grace, Mercy, Peace, Strength, Wisdom and Patience beyond anything I would have been able to muster on my own and I am still so unworthy or them; but I thank You and bless You for being willing to pour them out in buckets to me when I ask. I love You, Lord!
Lord, thank You ever so much for Your grace and peace! We all need them both along with Your mercy every moment of every day. I need to speak them into the lives around me when You prompt me to do so.
During finals week at Liberty U, the Student Advocate Office always serves treats to our students. On this past Thursday, it was my turn to do so. I saw many students who were blurry eyed and stressed from too much 5 Hour Energy (TM) or coffee and too little sleep as they crammed for their finals. You prompted me to pray for some of them. As I held them in my arms, I prayed for You to replace their stress with the peace that passes understanding. I could feel the tenseness relax and a couple of them shed tears of relief. You do work mightily in our lives.
I may meet other folks in the store, in the hallway or offices at work, at church, or in parking lots. Lord help me to yeild to Your prompting to pray for them (if they are on the road or out of reach), or with them if they are within my reach so that You can impart these "Twin Towers" into their lives as well.
Lord, You have given so much to me through the trials of my life: Grace, Mercy, Peace, Strength, Wisdom and Patience beyond anything I would have been able to muster on my own and I am still so unworthy or them; but I thank You and bless You for being willing to pour them out in buckets to me when I ask. I love You, Lord!
Friday, May 4, 2012
To Those Sanctified in Christ Jesus and Called to Be Holy
1 Corinthians 1:1-2 "Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the
will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God in Corinth,
to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all
those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ--their Lord and
ours:"
Lord, I know that Corinth was the largest and most prosperous city in Greece at the time Paul wrote. It was also the most immoral and corrupt. They worshiped two gods: Poseidon because of the 2 sea ports they had and all of the wealth they produced, but also Aphrodite, the goddess of love. A lot of the wealth came from the female prostitutes in her temple. We could change the names of the gods to "Wealth" and "Sex". It was to this city that You sent Paul to establish a church. He stayed there for eighteen months. Now, he is writing to them to settle some issues he has learned about that plague that church.
Unfortunately, these two false gods have taken precedence in our beloved America that once worshiped You and they are worshiped all day every day everywhere. Satan's "fishing lure" has not changed in all of these years. He uses our human base sins of pride, envy, greed, and lust to defeat and destroy us. He is using these self same lures even in our churches today. One young Christian told me the other day that they were being told by other "Christians" that if they wanted to find a mate and good friends, even within Christianity, she would have to compromise. WHAT EVIL RUBBISH! Right here You tell us that those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus are called to be holy because we call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! There can be no compromise and there are no loopholes for true Christ Followers!
Lord, I bless Your Holy Name this morning! Thank You for Your Word that speaks so plainly to me in 2012 as it did to those in the time that Paul wrote. You and Your Word are eternal and never changing. Hallelujah! It is our guide and our marching orders as Christians!
Lord, I know that Corinth was the largest and most prosperous city in Greece at the time Paul wrote. It was also the most immoral and corrupt. They worshiped two gods: Poseidon because of the 2 sea ports they had and all of the wealth they produced, but also Aphrodite, the goddess of love. A lot of the wealth came from the female prostitutes in her temple. We could change the names of the gods to "Wealth" and "Sex". It was to this city that You sent Paul to establish a church. He stayed there for eighteen months. Now, he is writing to them to settle some issues he has learned about that plague that church.
Unfortunately, these two false gods have taken precedence in our beloved America that once worshiped You and they are worshiped all day every day everywhere. Satan's "fishing lure" has not changed in all of these years. He uses our human base sins of pride, envy, greed, and lust to defeat and destroy us. He is using these self same lures even in our churches today. One young Christian told me the other day that they were being told by other "Christians" that if they wanted to find a mate and good friends, even within Christianity, she would have to compromise. WHAT EVIL RUBBISH! Right here You tell us that those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus are called to be holy because we call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! There can be no compromise and there are no loopholes for true Christ Followers!
Lord, I bless Your Holy Name this morning! Thank You for Your Word that speaks so plainly to me in 2012 as it did to those in the time that Paul wrote. You and Your Word are eternal and never changing. Hallelujah! It is our guide and our marching orders as Christians!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
The Only God, Our Savior!
Jude 25 "All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All
glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the
present, and beyond all time! Amen." NLT
You, O Lord, are the ONLY God and Savior! There are many gods in this world and many will claim to be a savior either politically, economically, socially, educationally, or through a man made religion. NONE can save mankind! All other gods require the man reach up to and appease them by works of good or evil. YOU reached DOWN to US in love! All glory goes to YOU alone because You were the appeasal for our sin, reconciling us with the Father because You LOVE us!
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all! You alone are deserving of all glory, majesty, power, and authority, as well as praise, adoration, service, obedience, and submission in all things,
I praise You for what You did before the ages, for what You are doing in the present, and for what You will do in the immediate future and forevermore! Amen!
You, O Lord, are the ONLY God and Savior! There are many gods in this world and many will claim to be a savior either politically, economically, socially, educationally, or through a man made religion. NONE can save mankind! All other gods require the man reach up to and appease them by works of good or evil. YOU reached DOWN to US in love! All glory goes to YOU alone because You were the appeasal for our sin, reconciling us with the Father because You LOVE us!
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all! You alone are deserving of all glory, majesty, power, and authority, as well as praise, adoration, service, obedience, and submission in all things,
I praise You for what You did before the ages, for what You are doing in the present, and for what You will do in the immediate future and forevermore! Amen!
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