Author Archives: lrbartel

Jun 07 2017
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Devos

“Yust don’t get cocky!” My father, Ewalt W. Bartel

Ewalt and Vera BartelAs we approach Father’s day… So many great lessons learned from my father, Ewalt Walter Bartel… Full-blooded German, tough as nails, hard-working farmer, deeply committed to following Jesus faithfully… and loved – just loved – the Bible! I learned so many important life-lessons and Spiritual lessons from Him! I remember him speaking to me in his heavy German accent and saying, “Vell, LeRoy, Yust don’t get cocky! Yust about the da time ya tink ya got it all under control and got da answers for eberbody else… wham ya go down yourself! Yust don’t get cocky!”
 
During “coffee with the Lord” this morning I read something from Apostle Paul that sounded a lot like that, and in it I thought I heard the echo of my father’s German accent…
 
“If someone is caught in a sin, you who are Spiritual should restore him (or her) gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” (Galatians 6:1-3 ESV)
 
Hey, I want to be prepared to help those who have stumbled and fallen out of a heart of Christian concern and love (and never in a judgmental way or out of a sense of mistaken superiority)! I want to remain humbly alert to my own vulnerability! “Yust don’t get cocky!”
Jun 06 2017
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Devos

On turning a “house” into a “home” – a Christian perspective

Our new home - 106 Pleiade CircleMany of you are aware that Sharon and I have built a new home in Waxahachie, Texas… Downsizing actually – smaller home on a smaller lot – our “retirement home.” We sold the home we had built in the Midlothian/Ovilla area a number of years ago.

A new home is always an exciting (and challenging) endeavor. We’ve discovered, over the years, that it takes just a little while for a new “house” to feel like “home.” In fact, just a time or two, I’ve found myself driving to the old house by default and had to turn around and make my way to the new house that we were now calling “home.” (Com’on it’s happened to you too… Right?)

In our old home we did something that I liked after building it… we had some friends over one evening and “dedicated” it to the Lord, for His purposes, inviting His presence there, and asking for His protection and blessing. It was a powerful experience. I think we’re going to do it with this new house… Oops… “home.”

This morning during “coffee with the Lord” I read a passage that I think I’d like to use in our dedicatory ceremony – a passage that both Sharon and I want to express the values we intend to follow in our new home. Here it is… (What do you think of it?)

”We will sing of steadfast love and justice; to You, O LORD, will we make music! We will ponder the way that is blameless… We will walk with integrity of heart within our house! We will not set before our eyes anything that is worthless! A perverse heart shall be far from us! We will know nothing of evil… We will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with us! He who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to us there.” (Adapted from Psalm 101 ESV)

We want our new home to be a place where worship is experienced! Where God’s presence is felt! Where ministry to others (and to us) can occur! Where integrity and truth reign supreme! Where faithfulness, peace, love and joy – the authentic kind – the kind that comes from the Lord can be experienced! That what we want for our new home! Isn’t that what you want for your “home” as well?

Jun 05 2017
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Devos

How to start your work-week and have a great day…

Have a great day!Well, it’s Monday and we begin another work-week.  The question I asked myself this morning during “coffee with the Lord” was, how should a person begin a week… or a day for that matter?

I’m convinced I began the week right… I worshipped with fellow Christians on Sunday, the Lord’s Day!  (You do realize, don’t you, that Monday is the second day, not the first day of the week?)  So, starting the week with fellow Christians in worship at Church is a good beginning to any week!

But how about any other days of the week?  What’s a good beginning?  I think I read about it this morning in Psalm 100!  I’ll give you my personal restatement of it that I put in the margin of my Bible this morning… Then I’ll give you the actual words of the Psalm from the Bible…

Here’s my personal restatement of it…

Start your week, or any day of the week, with… 1)  A joyful sound; 2)  Glad service for the Lord; 3)  and then sing!  Be aware of Who God is and conscience of who you are.  Approach Him with a thankful heart, authentic praise and worship!  Focus on His character throughout the day… He is good!  His love is steadfast!  And His faithfulness endures to you, your children, your grandchildren, their children… in fac, It reaches back as far as creation itself and can be depended on throughout all eternity!  Praise the Lord!!!

Oh, the way the Bible says it is much better than my feeble attempt at paraphrasing!  Here it is…

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

Serve the Lord with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!

“Know that the Lord, He is God!

It is he who made us, and we are His!

We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving,

And His courts with praise!

Give thanks to Him; bless his name!

“For the Lord is good!

His steadfast love endures forever!

And his faithfulness to all generations!”

(Psalm 100 ESV)

Hey, have a great week… and a wonderful day!

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