A Simple Thought For the Day

I started to write my daily post but ran out of time. After some consideration I decided to change what I would do something different. There are a number of Psalms that really help me. It is difficult for me at times to be patient and wait upon God. It can be for a need, something I want to change about me, something I want for someone else, or anything. It seems in those times it is not the subject, but me that is the issue. Here is one of those scriptures.

Psalms 103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.

In this scripture we see that our God is on our side because of who He is and not because of what we do. He forgives us for our transgressions and takes them far away. Truly He is worthy to be praised.

Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You. You are our King. We want You kingdom in this earth. Please send now Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us as You have said and remove our sin far from us. Heal us and deliver us. In Yeshua’s (Jesus) name. Amen.

Snow Bound

This post is a day late. Yesterday we were snow bound in the morning and the overall result was a day filled with delay. It wasn’t until after I went to bed that I realized what had happened. My apologies to the readers. We as believers are most blessed. God is with us every day, without fail.

Psalms 68:7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
8 The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
12 Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
13 Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Zalmon.
15 The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.
16 Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the Lord will dwell in it for ever.
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

If we can look to those in the past, like the psalmists, we can see that they knew this, and that they knew that to praise His name was to honor Him and gain access to His kingdom.

Psalms 68:1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah, and rejoice before him.
5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
6 God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

This was what David believed. David was one of the greatest kings of all time, victorious in battle. He knew that our God, Yahuah, responds to us praising his name.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You are our King and You ride in Your majesty in the heavens. Let Your kingdom come among us. Send us Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us when we doubt You. Heal and deliver us from the evil of this world. We love You. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

Timing Of God

Life seems to be set on a certain schedule. We work from 8 to 5, 7 to 3, 3 to 11, etc. The kids have practice after school. The bus arrives at a certain time. We are very much plugged in to this sense of things having a certain time to happen. It is natural for us then to think that there is a certain timing needed for the things of God, right? Well, God’s timig is perfect because He knows everything. But God’s timing may not always be our timing.

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James made it clear that we will have those trials in our life. When they come we need to be prepared to wait upon God. The trying of our faith can be something like being willing to trust that God is on our side even though we have not yet seen the manifestation of our prayer request. There is a perfect answer to our prayers and a perfect timing. When we learn patience, we will never lack because we will be “perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” These things will always work together for our good.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Today, if we can learn patience, we can stand and watch our great God deliver us and our families. He never fails us.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. There is darkness in the land. We need Your kingdom in the earth. Send us Your overwhelming provision today. Forgive us when we miss the mark. Heal us from the hurts in life, both physical and emotional. Deliver us from temptations. Let us be a sign for good. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Between Two Opinions

There is a scripture I have heard referred to frequently by preachers trying to make a point for those that do not believe.

1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

The thing to be noticed about what is taking place here is that the people are not unbelievers. They believe in something, some god other than the One True God. The are deceived believers, one could say. Maybe they believe in a mixture of what Israel believes and what the pagans believe. So here is the question to ponder today. How pure is what we believe. How much of what we believe is a mixture from some other religion, say, I don’t know, maybe a holiday or something? If so, and if Elijah were alive today, which side would what we pay homage to be on, our God or theirs? If we take what we believe and look into the roots of it, what do we find. Since we just had a holiday, there is a good place to start.

See what you find.

If God be God, serve Him.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are worthy of our praise. We need Your kingdom in our lives. Please send us abundant provision. Forgive us when we mix things together. Deliver us from such evil, and heal us. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Thankful For The Messiah

I woke up long before dawn this morning. It was one of those suddenly awake experiences that I have come to know is God reaching out to me to pray. I prayed for a good friend of mine who became very sick yesterday on a day when he was to go in for a scan for another medical issue. In times like these I am thankful that we are never alone. We have a Messiah and His name is Yeshua (Jesus). He is always watching over us and cares for us very deeply. It is He alone that can intervene to the Father on our behalf. When we cry out, He hears us and responds. Always.

1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

We were ransomed from the evils that befall mankind. The price was paid. Yeshua (Jesus) paid it. We are free from the bondage of sin and death. We need only to claim our freedom by calling on His name, asking for forgiveness, and proclaiming Him Lord of our life.

Today, if you have not sought Him, perhaps this would be a good day to so do. Simply say, “Yeshua (Jesus), I am asking for Your forgiveness for the sin in my life. Please come in to my heart and cleanse me. I want You to be my Lord and Savior.”

Prayer
Father, we exalt You as the Most High God. You alone are our King. We need Your kingdom. Send us Your abundant provision. Forgive us our sins, though they be many and varied. Heal us, especially my friend Jim. Deliver us today. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

Separation Is Fragile

When we use the word “holy” it means “set apart”. This may or may not imply a level of purity on its face. The purity that I think of here comes from what we are set apart unto. If we are holy unto God, or set apart unto God, then there is an implied purity because He is pure. What I was thinking about this morning about this set apart status is that when we find a way to be set apart to Him in areas that we have struggled with in the past (read “sin”), these are fragile in the beginning. We are given the power over sin and death, but we can surrender that power in our lives to sin and death again. I was thinking of that for myself in areas of victory that God has given unto me recently. There are these little decision points where we can choose to do the right thing or choose what we once chose in days past. In those moments we need victory. For me, it comes in speaking out loud. This is also mentioned in scripture, actually in several different ways. Here is one.

Deuteronomy 30:11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
16 In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Romans 10:6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

One of the ways we win is with our mouth. It is not easy or simple. It does work. Today, let us speak with God the things which He has said should be in our lives that we may be holy unto Him.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You as the Most High God. You are worthy for us to be set apart unto forever. Your kingdom is needed. We need it today. Send us Your abundant provision today. Forgive us when we get it wrong, and help us to set ourselves apart unto You. We love You. Heal and deliver us. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

God Uses Our Friends

If we watch the world around us, God will show us and teach us things through others. This morning I was thinking of the plight of a friend of mine that is having some challenges. As I thought about his situation and what was going on in his life, I felt that God was showing me the same issues in my own life. For me, I was fortunate to see this. In years gone by I spent time thinking far too much about others and what was going on in their lives. Somehow I would fail to see it in my own. But such is not the case. When we spend time thinking about others and their choices, we are judging them.

Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

It seems that when we judge others, even if not in a wicked way, we set up some type of rules that we say we expect to be the guide posts. The truth is most people have some of the same issues within themselves because we are HUMAN! We are going to have problems that need to be addressed and God will help us with that. We need to better consider ourselves and pray for our own lives. Perhaps the big problem with judging others is we are not focusing on our Messiah where our real attention should be, and we could miss Him and what He is doing.

Luke 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

When we make comparisons to others, we miss the Messiah. We are to focus on ourselves and our relationship with Him, and then we will find our way to God and His works and ways.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You as the Most High God. You alone are worthy to be exalted and praised. We long to spend our lives with You and to be in Your kingdom daily. Send us today overwhelming provision. Forgive us when we judge others and help us to remain focused on You. We need Your healing from within. We need Your deliverance. We need Your loving arms. Hold us, and help us to follow in Your ways. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Breathing Deeply

Sometimes, it just feels so good to take in a deep breath. A few moments ago I found myself doing it without even thinking about it. Life can pull us in to the details of the day so much so that we become unaware we are adrift in the river. At times like these there is hope. We do want to be in a river, but not a river of circumstance. We want to be in the river of life.

JOhn 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

We see here that Jesus was keeping the Feast of Tabernacles and it was the last day of the Feast. This river flows out from the believer. This is the outpouring of the spirit from within each of us. And where does this river originate. Jesus is the source as we see in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

The definition of “word” here is “utterance” and comes from the Greek word rhema. What I see when I read this is the words we speak in the Spirit are the river that cleanses us, and originate from our Messiah. I believe it is this same urge to be cleansed that causes us to release that deep breath, as if God built that into our very being. Even if not completely accurate, if you are struggling today, take a deep breath and then let it out. And pray in the Spirit that God can help. He will.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You as the Most High God. Thank You for Your kingdom, and we ask that it be established here on earth today. Today send us Your overwhelming provision. Forgive us the many mistakes we make, and lift us up. Heal us and deliver us. We need You now. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

Leading Edge

When I hear the phrase, “leading edge”, my first thoughts up till now were that of technology. Today I was thinking about it a bit differently. In our battles with the enemy, there is also a leading edge. Now, that can make us think of a sword, and that is partially true too. But the leading edge is just that – leading. That also includes the first of things, like the first thing someone notices about us, our first words to someone, our actions, and more. Our lives can be the first thing people see about the good news. What then should that message, that leading edge be?

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

If this had been easy to do, as in everyone does it all the time, it is likely that Paul would not have mentioned it. But the fact that he did mention it means that there is a reason to believe we would need to hear it. I know for me that this is certainly true. Our God is good and He will help us to be that leading edge.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are worthy of our praise. We need Your kingdom in our lives. Help us. Send us Your abundant provision. Forgive us when we fail, and please help us to be more like You. Heal us and deliver us. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Right In Front Of Us

Believers like us often ask God to show us the way to go, what we are to do, or even for a particular gift or ministry. Several people I know have been doing that for some time, and I too have been asking God for a particular ministry. At the same time, have you ever felt like God had something for you, as if He was trying to show you something that was right in front of your eyes and you just could not see it? I know I have said those very words for the last few months. Today, suddenly God opened my eyes and I saw exactly what was in front of me that would enable me to work in the ministry of my hearts desire. You see my brethren, our God does truly love us and wants to care for us. And He will do it.

Lamentations 3:21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

Mercy is new every morning. Mercy is new every morning. That is worth repeating. Our God loves us so, and the good stuff supply is renewed to overflowing every morning. Wow. He wants to give us the desires within us deep.

Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Today was amazing for me, which is why the late post. Our God is amazing!

Prayer
Father,we exalt You. Thank You for all You do for us. I am overwhelmed when I think of it. Send us Your kingdom. Give us Your overwhelming provision today, and forgive us our sin. Guide us, keep us, heal us, and deliver us. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.