Today I bring you words and thoughts of encouragement from Psalm 69:1-5
Deliver me, O God,
for the water has reached my neck.
2 I sink into the deep mire
where there is no solid ground;
I am in deep water,
and the current overpowers me.
3 I am exhausted from shouting for help;
my throat is sore;
my eyes grow tired of looking for my God.
4 Those who hate me without cause are more numerous than the hairs of my head.
Those who want to destroy me, my enemies for no reason, outnumber me.
They make me repay what I did not steal!
5 O God, you are aware of my foolish sins;
my guilt is not hidden from you.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ps 69:1-5). Biblical Studies Press.
God's word can bring us encouragement in many ways. Today I bring you text that allows you to grasp on to the fact that others have walked in your shoes and live to put the story down in words.
"Deliver me, O God for the water has reached my neck." I can not remember all the times I have felt like this. Where you walk and there seems to be no solid ground to rest in. These words even set stronger with me as I am not a very good swimmer and deep waters are uncomfortable.
Some times we need to be in the deep water. We need to come to realize that although we can do many things on our own, we still need God to be there to get us through the day. It is in His strength that we see each new morning. And by His blessing that we walk in the light of Jesus.
God promises never to leave us or forsake us. So even when we are exhausted from shouting for help and our throats are sore, we need to trust in Him and walk in the freedom of His freely given grace.
Amen
Music Encouragement: LORD I CAN'T MAKE IT WITHOUT YOU
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Encouragement: Commit your works to the Lord
Today I bring you words and thoughts of encouragement from Proverbs 16:1-9
The intentions of the heart belong to a man,
but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.
2 All a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion,
but the Lord evaluates the motives.
3 Commit your works to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
4 The Lord works everything for its own ends –
even the wicked for the day of disaster.
5 The Lord abhors every arrogant person;
rest assured that they will not go unpunished.
6 Through loyal love and truth iniquity is appeased;
through fearing the Lord one avoids evil.
7 When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,
he even reconciles his enemies to himself.
8 Better to have a little with righteousness
than to have abundant income without justice.
9 A person plans his course,
but the Lord directs his steps.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Pr 16:1-9). Biblical Studies Press.
Proverbs always has good advice. Direct and to the point.
"A person plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps." So often you find this to be the case. You make your plans and you end up taking a path a little different than you planned, still ending up at the destination.
To be aware of God's intervention is so important and then to accept and go with God's ordering. It is not always going to make sense but like I have said before, "We only see a part of the canvas that God is painting, God sees the whole canvas."
Amen
Music Encouragement Steps Are Ordered
The intentions of the heart belong to a man,
but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.
2 All a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion,
but the Lord evaluates the motives.
3 Commit your works to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
4 The Lord works everything for its own ends –
even the wicked for the day of disaster.
5 The Lord abhors every arrogant person;
rest assured that they will not go unpunished.
6 Through loyal love and truth iniquity is appeased;
through fearing the Lord one avoids evil.
7 When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,
he even reconciles his enemies to himself.
8 Better to have a little with righteousness
than to have abundant income without justice.
9 A person plans his course,
but the Lord directs his steps.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Pr 16:1-9). Biblical Studies Press.
Proverbs always has good advice. Direct and to the point.
"A person plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps." So often you find this to be the case. You make your plans and you end up taking a path a little different than you planned, still ending up at the destination.
To be aware of God's intervention is so important and then to accept and go with God's ordering. It is not always going to make sense but like I have said before, "We only see a part of the canvas that God is painting, God sees the whole canvas."
Amen
Music Encouragement Steps Are Ordered
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Encouragement: for the sake of our justification
Today I bring you words and thoughts of encouragement from Romans 4:13-25
13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
14 For if they become heirs by the law, faith is empty and the promise is nullified.
15 For the law brings wrath, because where there is no law there is no transgression either. 16 For this reason it is by faith so that it may be by grace, with the result that the promise may be certain to all the descendants – not only to those who are under the law, but also to those who have the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
17 (as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”). He is our father in the presence of God whom he believed – the God who makes the dead alive and summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do.
18 Against hope Abraham believed in hope with the result that he became the father of many nations according to the pronouncement, “so will your descendants be.”
19 Without being weak in faith, he considered his own body as dead (because he was about one hundred years old) and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
20 He did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.
21 He was fully convinced that what God promised he was also able to do.
22 So indeed it was credited to Abraham as righteousness.
23 But the statement it was credited to him was not written only for Abraham’s sake,
24 but also for our sake, to whom it will be credited, those who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
25 He was given over because of our transgressions and was raised for the sake of our justification.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ro 4:13-25). Biblical Studies Press.
Sometimes we reach the level of faith of Abraham. We step out and believe in what we are called to do and put it into action. This is very much my space right now. Moving forward in my calling, doing what I feel God is asking me to do. When you take that step forward and praise God and trust in His promises there is a peace that floods over you. A peace that takes your faith walk to a whole new level in Him.
We see here in our text that Abraham and Sarah were old. In claiming the promise God gave to them, they were not closing their eyes to what their life state was. They were not ignoring their condition. Their relationship with God had built their trust in God that allowed them to walk forward in the trust that with God all things are possible.
God's promises are fulfilled by our faith. Do not get me wrong here. Our faith is not something we can work on by doing this and denying that and following a prescribed path, but as our test says "For this reason it is by faith so that it may be by grace". The grace factor is very hard to explain. When grace intervenes in our lives it produces faith, which produces trust, which enables us to accept the grace given to us by God, which allows faith to expand and God's word becomes written in our hearts, and filled with the spirit that works well up out of us beyond what we could ever imagine we could do. Bottom line is that grace allows our relationship with Him to grow and our faith to expand. We praise Him and walk in the glory of the grace given to us by Christ's finished work.
Ultimately it is in Jesus Christ, that grace flows through to us. Our text proclaims "He was given over because of our transgressions and was raised for the sake of our justification."
So righteousness is applied to us just like Abraham "through the righteousness that comes by faith." Faith produced by grace.
Walk in the freedom of grace that you may be a shining light to the whole world.
Amen
Music Encouragement Drown In Your Grace (Goyette)
13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.
14 For if they become heirs by the law, faith is empty and the promise is nullified.
15 For the law brings wrath, because where there is no law there is no transgression either. 16 For this reason it is by faith so that it may be by grace, with the result that the promise may be certain to all the descendants – not only to those who are under the law, but also to those who have the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
17 (as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”). He is our father in the presence of God whom he believed – the God who makes the dead alive and summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do.
18 Against hope Abraham believed in hope with the result that he became the father of many nations according to the pronouncement, “so will your descendants be.”
19 Without being weak in faith, he considered his own body as dead (because he was about one hundred years old) and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
20 He did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.
21 He was fully convinced that what God promised he was also able to do.
22 So indeed it was credited to Abraham as righteousness.
23 But the statement it was credited to him was not written only for Abraham’s sake,
24 but also for our sake, to whom it will be credited, those who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
25 He was given over because of our transgressions and was raised for the sake of our justification.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ro 4:13-25). Biblical Studies Press.
Sometimes we reach the level of faith of Abraham. We step out and believe in what we are called to do and put it into action. This is very much my space right now. Moving forward in my calling, doing what I feel God is asking me to do. When you take that step forward and praise God and trust in His promises there is a peace that floods over you. A peace that takes your faith walk to a whole new level in Him.
We see here in our text that Abraham and Sarah were old. In claiming the promise God gave to them, they were not closing their eyes to what their life state was. They were not ignoring their condition. Their relationship with God had built their trust in God that allowed them to walk forward in the trust that with God all things are possible.
God's promises are fulfilled by our faith. Do not get me wrong here. Our faith is not something we can work on by doing this and denying that and following a prescribed path, but as our test says "For this reason it is by faith so that it may be by grace". The grace factor is very hard to explain. When grace intervenes in our lives it produces faith, which produces trust, which enables us to accept the grace given to us by God, which allows faith to expand and God's word becomes written in our hearts, and filled with the spirit that works well up out of us beyond what we could ever imagine we could do. Bottom line is that grace allows our relationship with Him to grow and our faith to expand. We praise Him and walk in the glory of the grace given to us by Christ's finished work.
Ultimately it is in Jesus Christ, that grace flows through to us. Our text proclaims "He was given over because of our transgressions and was raised for the sake of our justification."
So righteousness is applied to us just like Abraham "through the righteousness that comes by faith." Faith produced by grace.
Walk in the freedom of grace that you may be a shining light to the whole world.
Amen
Music Encouragement Drown In Your Grace (Goyette)
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Encouragement like a well-watered garden
Today I bring you words and thoughts of encouragement from Isaiah 58:6-12
No, this is the kind of fast I want.
I want you to remove the sinful chains,
to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke,
to set free the oppressed,
and to break every burdensome yoke.
7 I want you to share your food with the hungry
and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people.
When you see someone naked, clothe him!
Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood!
8 Then your light will shine like the sunrise;
your restoration will quickly arrive;
your godly behavior will go before you,
and the Lord’s splendor will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call out, and the Lord will respond;
you will cry out, and he will reply, ‘Here I am.’
You must remove the burdensome yoke from among you
and stop pointing fingers and speaking sinfully.
10 You must actively help the hungry
and feed the oppressed.
Then your light will dispel the darkness,
and your darkness will be transformed into noonday.
11 The Lord will continually lead you;
he will feed you even in parched regions.
He will give you renewed strength,
and you will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring that continually produces water.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Is 58:6-11). Biblical Studies Press.
In our society today it is so easy to isolate one's self from the world and bring our focus to be totally on ourselves and have the attitude of everyone must look after themselves. This is the message of our me me society.
Isaiah tells us to set free the oppressed, feed the hungry and provide shelter to the homeless. Look after each other. Then you will call out, and the Lord will respond; you will cry out, and He will reply, ‘Here I am.’
Then your light will dispel the darkness, and your darkness will be transformed into noonday.
The Lord will continually lead you; He will feed you even in parched regions. He will give you renewed strength, and you will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring that continually produces water.
What a promise just for looking after each other.
Amen
Music Encouragement You Don't Have to Bear Your Burdens Alone
No, this is the kind of fast I want.
I want you to remove the sinful chains,
to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke,
to set free the oppressed,
and to break every burdensome yoke.
7 I want you to share your food with the hungry
and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people.
When you see someone naked, clothe him!
Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood!
8 Then your light will shine like the sunrise;
your restoration will quickly arrive;
your godly behavior will go before you,
and the Lord’s splendor will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call out, and the Lord will respond;
you will cry out, and he will reply, ‘Here I am.’
You must remove the burdensome yoke from among you
and stop pointing fingers and speaking sinfully.
10 You must actively help the hungry
and feed the oppressed.
Then your light will dispel the darkness,
and your darkness will be transformed into noonday.
11 The Lord will continually lead you;
he will feed you even in parched regions.
He will give you renewed strength,
and you will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring that continually produces water.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Is 58:6-11). Biblical Studies Press.
In our society today it is so easy to isolate one's self from the world and bring our focus to be totally on ourselves and have the attitude of everyone must look after themselves. This is the message of our me me society.
Isaiah tells us to set free the oppressed, feed the hungry and provide shelter to the homeless. Look after each other. Then you will call out, and the Lord will respond; you will cry out, and He will reply, ‘Here I am.’
Then your light will dispel the darkness, and your darkness will be transformed into noonday.
The Lord will continually lead you; He will feed you even in parched regions. He will give you renewed strength, and you will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring that continually produces water.
What a promise just for looking after each other.
Amen
Music Encouragement You Don't Have to Bear Your Burdens Alone
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
Encouragement Fret not.
Here is your daily encouragement words and thoughts. Today I bring you encouragement from Psalm 37 1:7
37:1 By David.
Do not fret when wicked men seem to succeed!
Do not envy evildoers!
2 For they will quickly dry up like grass,
and wither away like plants.
3 Trust in the Lord and do what is right!
Settle in the land and maintain your integrity!
4 Then you will take delight in the Lord,
and he will answer your prayers.
5 Commit your future to the Lord!
Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.
6 He will vindicate you in broad daylight,
and publicly defend your just cause.
7 Wait patiently for the Lord!
Wait confidently for him!
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ps 37:1-7). Biblical Studies Press.
This is one of those "Power Psalms"
How often have you looked around and then gone to the Lord in prayer asking why some people who seem to be evil succeed. You sit and struggle working hard and yet all seem to come so easy for these others.
It is nice to hear that others have faced this same issue. The response that the psalm give sets you on the floor. "Fret not and do not envy them For they will quickly dry up like grass, and wither away like plants." Easy is not always what it is cracked up to be.
So what then are we to do? Our Psalm tells us to "Trust in the Lord and do what is right! Settle in the land and maintain your integrity! Then you will take delight in the Lord, and He will answer your prayers."
This sounds like a good plan, then what? "Commit your future to the Lord! Trust in Him, and He will act on your behalf." Hey wait a minute. What kind of advice is this! I do not seem to be in control in this plan! However it is good advice because ultimately God is in control. This is easy to experience being involved in farming. You can do your best to do all the right things on the farm, but at the end of the day it is still left up to the mercy of the Lord to determine the outcome.
Commit your future to the Lord. In the Hebrew this statement gives the picture of a heavy pack being rolled on to a camel. We are to unload our burdens and roll them onto God to carry. This requires us to let go and let God. When we commit our way to the Lord, we have rolled our burden off onto the Lord. It is now up to Him.
It is so easy to be moved to where you want to take back the burden because you do not like the directions things are heading or things are just taking too long.
But what does our Psalm tell us to do?
"Wait patiently for the Lord! Wait confidently for Him!"
Here is that wait word again. There is so much of this wait theme in our relationship with God.
But how are we to wait?
We are to wait confidently.
Then you will take delight in the Lord, and He will answer your prayers.
So in summary, fret not, do not envy, trust God and maintain your integrity, take delight in the Lord, Commit your future to Him, Trust in Him, and wait confidently for Him!
Amen
Music Encouragement Unfailing Love - Chris Tomlin
37:1 By David.
Do not fret when wicked men seem to succeed!
Do not envy evildoers!
2 For they will quickly dry up like grass,
and wither away like plants.
3 Trust in the Lord and do what is right!
Settle in the land and maintain your integrity!
4 Then you will take delight in the Lord,
and he will answer your prayers.
5 Commit your future to the Lord!
Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.
6 He will vindicate you in broad daylight,
and publicly defend your just cause.
7 Wait patiently for the Lord!
Wait confidently for him!
Biblical Studies Press. (2006; 2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Ps 37:1-7). Biblical Studies Press.
This is one of those "Power Psalms"
How often have you looked around and then gone to the Lord in prayer asking why some people who seem to be evil succeed. You sit and struggle working hard and yet all seem to come so easy for these others.
It is nice to hear that others have faced this same issue. The response that the psalm give sets you on the floor. "Fret not and do not envy them For they will quickly dry up like grass, and wither away like plants." Easy is not always what it is cracked up to be.
So what then are we to do? Our Psalm tells us to "Trust in the Lord and do what is right! Settle in the land and maintain your integrity! Then you will take delight in the Lord, and He will answer your prayers."
This sounds like a good plan, then what? "Commit your future to the Lord! Trust in Him, and He will act on your behalf." Hey wait a minute. What kind of advice is this! I do not seem to be in control in this plan! However it is good advice because ultimately God is in control. This is easy to experience being involved in farming. You can do your best to do all the right things on the farm, but at the end of the day it is still left up to the mercy of the Lord to determine the outcome.
Commit your future to the Lord. In the Hebrew this statement gives the picture of a heavy pack being rolled on to a camel. We are to unload our burdens and roll them onto God to carry. This requires us to let go and let God. When we commit our way to the Lord, we have rolled our burden off onto the Lord. It is now up to Him.
It is so easy to be moved to where you want to take back the burden because you do not like the directions things are heading or things are just taking too long.
But what does our Psalm tell us to do?
"Wait patiently for the Lord! Wait confidently for Him!"
Here is that wait word again. There is so much of this wait theme in our relationship with God.
But how are we to wait?
We are to wait confidently.
Then you will take delight in the Lord, and He will answer your prayers.
So in summary, fret not, do not envy, trust God and maintain your integrity, take delight in the Lord, Commit your future to Him, Trust in Him, and wait confidently for Him!
Amen
Music Encouragement Unfailing Love - Chris Tomlin
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