Author Archives: lrbartel

Apr 26 2018
Leave a comment
Devos

Psalm 65: A Song of Spring and Harvest

 

If you love the beauty of spring and the bounty of harvest, you’ll relish what Psalm 65 has to say! I’m an ol’ farm boy and had a wonderful time just reflecting on the rich imagery and delightful description of Psalmist David this morning. I paused with my cup of coffee during “coffee with the Lord” a couple of times and had a wonderful thanksgiving and worship session! … I hope it has the same effect on you! (You might want to pause a time or two as you read what David had to say, close your eyes, and imagine the scenery… and if you’ve got a really good imagination and you breathe deep you might even say that you smell the scents of spring and harvest). I’ve labeled this portion of Psalm 65 “A Song of Spring and Harvest”…

“By awesome deeds You answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation…the hope of all the ends of the earth! … You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy! You visit the earth and water it – You greatly enrich it! You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth! You crown the year with Your bounty! Your wagon tracks overflow with abundance [at harvest time]! The pastures of the wilderness overflow! The hills gird themselves with joy! The meadows clothe themselves with flocks! The valleys deck themselves with grain! They shout and sing together for joy!” (From Psalm 65:5-13 ESV)

Enjoy! Just was wonderful worship therapy for an ol’ farm boy! But really, ANYONE who loves nature and God’s wonderful creation can enjoy that!

Apr 26 2018
Leave a comment
Devos

Life transformation through Christ! Powerful stuff, I tell you!

It’s almost like a page out of a science fiction novel or a scene from a sci-fi movie… the grotesque creature steps into a chamber and someone adjusts a few dials and flips a switch… there is a whirling sound and what appears to be arches of electricity that fill the chamber with static… and presto, in a few moments out steps a transformed person from grotesque to stunning beauty! TRANSFORMATION!!!

But no! This is not the stuff of sci-fi … it’s Spiritual reality described in the Bible! It’s what the gospel can do! It’s the consequence of embracing the Savior, spending time in His presence, soaking up the Truth of His word, and experiencing the Holy Spirit – the power of God – transforming a life!

Here’s how Apostle Paul described the process – the miracle of life transformation through the gospel…

“When a person turns to the Lord, the veil is removed! Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another , for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (II Corinthians 3:16-18)

So you see, a better analogy is NOT what happens in an imaginary sci-fi “force chamber” – The better analogy is probably a fledgling, delicate sapling that springs up from a seed in the soil of the forest, and because of the moisture and nutrients of the soil, and the warmth of the sun becomes a strong, beautiful, fruitful tree! Another image is that of the caterpillar, rather grotesque in appearance, who climbs the stalk of a bush, enters a cocoon, and emerges later transformed into a majestic butterfly. (After all, the Greek word used in this passage and translated “being transformed,” is “metamorpheo” … what does that tell you?)

The good news! God is in the business of transforming lives through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit working within! The change is dramatic! From the ugliness of sin to the image of Christ produced in our lives. It’s progressive! It begins with what the Bible calls “new birth.” Then transformation begins, and day-by-day, week-by-week, year-by-year our lives are changed so we are more and more like Christ! And one day the process ends in heaven, when “we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him and He is!” (1 John 3:1-4)

Powerful stuff I tell you… Powerful stuff!

Apr 23 2018
Leave a comment
Devos

10 Really big things to me as a follower of Christ… as of this morning!

Christ follower
I was spending some time this morning reflecting during my 2nd cup of coffee during “coffee with the Lord” and came up with this “beta list” of important things to me as a Christ follower (a “Christian”) (NOTE: I don’t claim it is exhaustive… just representative of things I value as I follow Christ… as of this morning!)
The dependable love (“steadfast love” – ”Hesed”) of God
Salvation through “Christ alone, faith alone, and grace alone”
The empowering and character producing power of the Holy Spirit
Faith as complete confidence in God’s character and promises
The inspiration and authority of the Bible
My relationship (“fellowship”) with fellow Christians
The “Church” – called to re-present Christ without distortion in the power of the Holy Spirit
The Christian life as a daily “walk” (not a sprint)
Miracles as daily possibilities
Christian service as a “stewardship” of God’s gifts
← Older posts
Newer posts →