In the Morning

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord!  In the morning I will direct it to You.  And I will look up.

--Psalm 5:3  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 5, 2013 of Psalm 5; Matthew 5:1-20; Genesis 9-10.

I've never been a "morning person", being stronger, better, more alert, more focused in the evenings.  But I have been trying to remember to thank the Lord when I awaken, or shortly thereafter, to praise Him and rejoice in the new day, another fresh start He has given me.  Just as God gave us all a fresh start when He sent His Son to us, that if we only believe in Him we will have eternal life.  Just as He gives us a new chance each time we confess our sins, seek His forgiveness, and turn from that wicked way, each new day offer a chance for a new beginning, another step in our walk with Jesus.

Just as David knew, if I lift my voice of thanksgiving and praise to the Lord each day, He fills me anew with His Holy Spirit until I overflow, allowing me to share God's gift to others.  If I look up, I lift my face to the Lord, and my voice will be directed to Him, just as David says.  Good things come from starting off the day right!  Praise the Lord!

Father God and Jesus His Son, thank You so much for giving us second chance after second chance.  Thank You for each new day and the opportunity to praise You, to lift our faces and our voices to You, to speak Your holy name and proclaim You to all the nations.  In the blessed name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Fishers of Men

And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.  Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."  They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

--Matthew 4:18-20  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 4, 2013 of Psalm 4; Matthew 4; Genesis 7-8.

Imagine:  You're on the job, working at your chosen profession, doing what you're good at, what you've been trained for.  And this perfect stranger walks up and says, "Follow me.  I have a new job for you."  What would you do?

This is pretty much what happened to Peter and Andrew, as they toiled at their chosen profession.  Their reaction was to immediately drop everything and follow Jesus, even though, by what we know, they had no clue who He was.  So did James and John.  So did Matthew.  "Follow Me", Jesus said, and they did just that.  Why can't we show that much faith, that much trust, that much commitment?  Why did I personally wait so long before answering His call and following Jesus, to become a fisher of men?  Why do I, and other I know, still have trouble dropping everything?  Satan has a firm grip on the natural world, and is tightening it daily.  If we follow Jesus, we can better resist the evil one.

Dear Jesus, Son of Man, You know our every weakness.  You know how easily we are tempted.  Deliver us from temptation, O Lord; deliver us from the ways of evil.  Make us fishers of men.  In Your name, Lord Jesus, we pray.  Amen.

Earth Corrupted

The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.  So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.  And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth."

--Genesis 6:11-13  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 3, 2013 of Psalm 3; Matthew 3; Genesis 5-6.

The world is again filled with violence and corruption.  Will God again raise His hand against mankind?  The rainbow is His promise not to destroy the earth by water again, but there are many other ways to destroy a world.  Many of my fellow preachers and I feel a building sense of urgency to reach the lost.  Signs foretold by Isaiah and Daniel and Jeremiah and described in Revelations seem to be appearing in greater frequency.  Could Christ's return be nigh?

Almighty God, we know You could easily destroy all which You created, including mankind and all his works.  We know that when Jesus comes again, He will take His church home to heaven and that great trials and punishments will be meted out upon the earth and its inhabitants.  Lord we pray that we remain faithful and true in our belief so that we might be spared those final, fateful days.  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

Breaking Bonds

Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, "Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us."

--Psalm 2:1-3  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 2, 2013 of Psalm 2; Matthew 2; Genesis 3-4.

The United States, its leaders and its people, once truly worshiped and honored the Lord and were blessed for it.  Now more and more scorn God and Jesus, thinking themselves superior to those who still offer themselves subservient to God.  They pride themselves on their own accomplishments, giving no credit to Him who created all and gives all.  How long will even our most benevolent Father ignore this behavior?  How long will He continue to smile upon the US?  Please, dear Father, don't destroy us just yet.  There are still righteous people here.  Please don't turn Your back on this once great nation.

Father God, we humbly fall before You and beg Your forgiveness, as a nation and as a people.  We have turned our backs on You.  Please do not treat us as we treat You, but be merciful in Your dealings with Your misbehaving children.  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

A New Year

Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years."

--Genesis 1:14  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on January 1, 2013 of Psalm 1; Matthew 1; Genesis 1-2.

It has been quite a while since I last posted to this blog.  The demands of life and trying to do too many things at once have kept me away.  Since I last posted I have retired from the full-time workforce to give more of myself to Jesus and pursue the ministry with greater vigor.  I have applied with two churches and have given trial sermons and done interviews at each.  I know God has something good in store for me although I don't know exactly what that might be.  So I keep on the path He showed me and await His continued wonders in my life, trying to follow the personal instruction He gave me to, preach His word.  I have full confidence, trust, and faith in our Lord.

I want to revive this little devotional blog, as much as possible, and will post to it as time permits.  Sometimes I will post thoughts from my daily Bible reading.  Other times, just as scripture is laid on my heart.  We'll see how it goes.  The first series of posts will be for January of 2013, covering my daily readings and thoughts that are not included in "The Power of His Word" (http://tpohw.blogspot.com).  So let's begin in the beginning, with Genesis 1:14.

God gives us each new year, a fresh beginning, another chance to grow in our relationship with Him.  It is interesting that, at least in the northern hemisphere where I live, the new year begins just before the coldest, the harshest weather of the seasons.  But once we get through that period, and are strengthened by it, we come to Spring, the earth's renewal, and the celebration of Christ's death and resurrection.  In a way, Spring is our reward for surviving winter.  What wondrous rewards await us for our faith and belief in Christ while surviving the winter of this mortal world!

Gracious Creator, thank You for giving us a fresh start every time we fail.  Thank You for giving us another chance when we displease You.  Thank You for offering us a rich reward if we only maintain our faith and our belief in Your one true Son.  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.