Proverbs 25:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Often we use what should be beautiful as weapons. Let's use our words today to lift someone up. Let's not make a beautiful thing ugly and hurtful.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Job
We have talked a bit about glorying in our infirmities. This does not mean that you are going to be happy all the way through a trial. Don't get too down on yourself if you are not the happiest person in town when you are struggling. God understands our discouragement when we are hurting. If you read the first few chapters of Job you will see that he got really discouraged. There is suffering involved in trials. Just don't live your life in that state of mind. There should be an inner joy and hope but it is not always going to shine through. Don't feel like a failure and make yourself feel even worse because you are struggling. We all struggle and God understands that. It is when we quit that becomes the problem.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Psalm 95:1
Psalm 95:1
O COME, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Let's sing a song to the Lord today. If you have a hymn book at home go through it and find a song to sing to the Lord (out loud). I am going to add this practice to my devotions. I usually have a song in my heart, but to sit down and sing a song right to the Lord is quite a blessing.
O COME, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Let's sing a song to the Lord today. If you have a hymn book at home go through it and find a song to sing to the Lord (out loud). I am going to add this practice to my devotions. I usually have a song in my heart, but to sit down and sing a song right to the Lord is quite a blessing.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Mexican Rice
Mexican Rice
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup tomato sauce
2 cups chicken broth
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and add rice. Cook, stirring constantly until the rice is browned slightly. While rice is cooking, sprinkle with salt and cumin.
Stir in onions and cook until tender. Stir in tomato sauce and chicken broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup tomato sauce
2 cups chicken broth
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and add rice. Cook, stirring constantly until the rice is browned slightly. While rice is cooking, sprinkle with salt and cumin.
Stir in onions and cook until tender. Stir in tomato sauce and chicken broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.
Job 1:20-22
Job 1:20-22
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped.
And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Job had just lost all his animals which would have been his livelihood and all his children in a mater of minutes. I cannot imagine losing all my children. Look at Job's immediate reaction? He worshipped God. It also says he did not charge God foolishly. What petty things do we get all bent out of shape about and start loosing our faith in God? Let's trust that God is in control and he knows what is best.
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped.
And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Job had just lost all his animals which would have been his livelihood and all his children in a mater of minutes. I cannot imagine losing all my children. Look at Job's immediate reaction? He worshipped God. It also says he did not charge God foolishly. What petty things do we get all bent out of shape about and start loosing our faith in God? Let's trust that God is in control and he knows what is best.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Romans 5:3
Romans 5:3
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience hope:
We have talked several times about the different benefits of tribulations. Here is another one, actually several. This is another time we are told to glory in tribulations. I guess God is serious about that. I learned from my dad that when God repeats things you really need to pay attention. We really need to change our attitude about trials. When we see them as a help to us instead of a hinderance it will help us get through them and learn more from them.
Jesus tribulation brought us hope. Thank God he was patient and willing to go through all that he had to suffer.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience hope:
We have talked several times about the different benefits of tribulations. Here is another one, actually several. This is another time we are told to glory in tribulations. I guess God is serious about that. I learned from my dad that when God repeats things you really need to pay attention. We really need to change our attitude about trials. When we see them as a help to us instead of a hinderance it will help us get through them and learn more from them.
Jesus tribulation brought us hope. Thank God he was patient and willing to go through all that he had to suffer.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Romans 4:20-21
Romans 4:20-21
He staggered not at he promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
And being fully persuaded, that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Abraham trusted that what God said he would do would come to pass. God cannot lie so we can trust with full assurance that God will follow through on his promises to us. I think some of the trouble we have is that things don't go OUR way so we think God is abandoning us. God knows what we need, it is usually not what we think we need. God will not fail you, just trust Him.
He staggered not at he promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
And being fully persuaded, that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Abraham trusted that what God said he would do would come to pass. God cannot lie so we can trust with full assurance that God will follow through on his promises to us. I think some of the trouble we have is that things don't go OUR way so we think God is abandoning us. God knows what we need, it is usually not what we think we need. God will not fail you, just trust Him.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Psalm 62:7-8
Psalm 62:7-8
In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us; Selah.
God wants to be our refuge. Let him be your rock. You need him more than you realize.
In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us; Selah.
God wants to be our refuge. Let him be your rock. You need him more than you realize.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Proverbs 13:10
Prov. 13:10
Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
Here is just a little reminder that most things are not worth fighting over. If there is contention with someone it stems from pride. Let go and move on. Even if you are right, it is not worth hurt feelings.
Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
Here is just a little reminder that most things are not worth fighting over. If there is contention with someone it stems from pride. Let go and move on. Even if you are right, it is not worth hurt feelings.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Zephaniah 3:17
Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
What a wonderful thought. The God of Heaven singing joyfully about us. Wow!
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
What a wonderful thought. The God of Heaven singing joyfully about us. Wow!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Devotion - II Cor. 12:6-10
II Corinthians 12:6-10
For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Paul was a very humble man. He tells us here one way that he is kept humble. Our trials, as we have discussed, have many purposes. Here is another one. Paul tells us that he has a "thorn in the flesh". I have been taught that this was possibly an eye problem. I do not believe that. When are referring to someone or something in the middle of a sentence you surround it with commas. Take a look at verse 7 "...a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure." The messenger of Satan to buffet me, I believe, is the thorn that Paul is talking about. Paul pretty much prayed for the Devil to leave him a lone. God's answer was no. God's grace would carry him through. People could see God's perfect strength through Paul's life. I am not to the point of Paul, who took pleasure in infirmities, but I do pray that God will be glorified through them.
Back to humility, Paul said his thorn in the flesh humbles him. He says that we are made fools when we boast of ourselves. If we went through life and ministry with no problems and accomplished everything we set out to do we would get pretty full of ourselves. It is human nature. This is just another way that trials are for our good.
For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Paul was a very humble man. He tells us here one way that he is kept humble. Our trials, as we have discussed, have many purposes. Here is another one. Paul tells us that he has a "thorn in the flesh". I have been taught that this was possibly an eye problem. I do not believe that. When are referring to someone or something in the middle of a sentence you surround it with commas. Take a look at verse 7 "...a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure." The messenger of Satan to buffet me, I believe, is the thorn that Paul is talking about. Paul pretty much prayed for the Devil to leave him a lone. God's answer was no. God's grace would carry him through. People could see God's perfect strength through Paul's life. I am not to the point of Paul, who took pleasure in infirmities, but I do pray that God will be glorified through them.
Back to humility, Paul said his thorn in the flesh humbles him. He says that we are made fools when we boast of ourselves. If we went through life and ministry with no problems and accomplished everything we set out to do we would get pretty full of ourselves. It is human nature. This is just another way that trials are for our good.
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