Author Archives: lrbartel

Jun 04 2017
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Devos

Holy! Holy!! Holy!!! LORD God, Almighty!

Holy! Holy!! Holy!!!

It’s Sunday! Christians call it “the Lord’s Day” – it should be a day set apart as “holy to the Lord” – a day for worship, a day for honoring Him, a day for remembering Who the Lord is and what He has accomplished! It is appropriate to remember (and sing) some of the great hymns of the Church on “the Lord’s day!” This one came to mind this morning during “coffee with the Lord” as I finished my Bible reading…

“Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord God almighty
Early in the morning my song shall rise to thee
Holy. holy, holy
Merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessed Trinity

“Holy, Holy, Holy
All the saints adore Thee
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea
All the cherubim and seraphim are falling down before Thee
Which wert and art and evermore shalt be [i.e. eternal!]

“Holy, Holy, Holy
Though the darkness hide Thee
Though the eyes of sinful man Thy glory may not see
Lord, only Thou art holy and there is none beside Thee
Perfect in power, in love and purity”
-Reginald Heber, 1826

And the Scripture that brought that old hymn to mind?

“The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! The LORD is great in Zion; He is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise His great and awesome name! Holy is He! … Exalt the LORD our God; worship at His footstool! Holy is he! Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy!” (From Psalm 99)

Remembering and reverencing His awesome holiness this Lord’s day morning! Just seems appropriate, don’t you think?

Jun 03 2017
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Devos

Does God still work miracles today?

Miracles todayWhen Jesus walked the earth He developed quite a reputation! His teaching was profound and life transforming! His power to heal and deliver was incredible and brought hope and help to needy people! Ponder these words I read this morning in the Bible during my time of “coffee with the Lord”…
 
“And He came down and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all over Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. They came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.” (From Luke 6:17–19)
 
I am one who believes that nothing has changed! Jesus is still alive and active! He died, but rose again from the dead! “He is the same, yesterday, today and forever!” (Hebrews 13:8) We can still expect Him to work miracles today through the power of the Holy Spirit!
 
He told His followers, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (From John 14:12–14)
 
Wow! That blows me away!! I don’t know about you, but I’m going to claim that promise and believe He will fulfill it!
Jun 02 2017
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Devos

A periodic lesson in leadership from the Bible

Leadership lessonsHere is a core principle for God-fearing leaders who face the challenge of selecting top-tier leaders for the organizations they lead… A principle that secular leadership theorists will NOT emphasize, but none-the-less is essential!… “Spend the time necessary before you select top-tier leaders in your organization with prayer!  Bathe the choice in prayerful consideration, seeking God’s guidance!

Here the principle illustrated right out of the Bible… “In those days He [Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray, and all night He continued in prayer to God.  And when day came, He called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom He named apostles.” (From Luke 6:12-16)

It should be noted, however, that following that principle does not mean that there won’t be a periodic deep disappointment in a particular leadership choice – a problem choice that a leader will not have to manage and deal with… Named among those Jesus chose was “Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.”  But when choices are made in prayerful consideration, the traitor – the defector – does not have to destroy the success of the mission of the organization.

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