Author Archives: lrbartel

Mar 26 2017
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Devos

Reading Psalm 36… Prompted a couple of scenes and worship song!

I guess I’m just a visually oriented guy! I read the Bible and what it says often prompts mental images that I relish and enjoy! Psalm 36 prompted that in my mind and imagination this morning… A passage that presents a vivid picture of God’s wonderful “steadfast love” – His reliable, awe-inspiring, rich and faithful “covenant love!” The Hebrew word? His “hesed!”

Here’s what the Psalm has to say about it…

“Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds! Your righteousness is like the mountains of God! Your judgments are like the great deep! Man and beast you save, O LORD. How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights! For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!” (From Psalm 36:5–10 ESV)

Glance at the pics of a mountain scene near the ocean, and the table setting prepared for a feast in the mountains.

There’s even a wonderful worship song that’s been written about for you that respond to auditory stimulation – great worship music! I encourage you to access it at this YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP_Q4z0x_Fw

All I can say is ENJOY! (And if you’ve not experienced his “steadfast love” isn’t it time? He offers it freely to those who turn from self and sin to Him… and NOTHING can separate you from it! (Check out Romans 8:31-39)

Mar 24 2017
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Devos

Doing a little bragging today… on God!

bragging

In most cases, we dislike a braggart – a self-occupied, self-assured, arrogant and boastful person who flaunts his perceived successes, abilities, and sense of superiority to everyone who will listen (and even to those who won’t).

Having said that, I’m going to do a little “boasting” today! Not the self-absorbed kind though… I’m going to “boast in the Lord!”

I just finished reading Psalm 34 this morning and if I were to describe its contents, I’d say David was “boasting in the Lord!” He was trying to tell us, his readers, “It pays to trust in the Lord! It pays to serve Him!” That’s really the whole psalm… In fact, David comes right out and says that in the first three verses…

“I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. MY SOUL will MAKE ITS BOAST IN THE LORD! Let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!” (Psalm 34:1–3 ESV)

Did you notice the infectious, communicable, influential nature of that “boasting”? There is power in a decision to personally praise the Lord. It starts with one person resolving to bless, praise, magnify and exalt the Lord… regardless of circumstances or situation! And before long others are joining in, the atmosphere around the “praise-er” changes, the humble or afflicted “hear it and are gladdened,” and a lot of other people end up “exalting His name together!” It’s the power of a positive influence!

So… I’m going to “boast in the Lord” today! I’m going to tell others what He has done, how faithful He is, how completely good He is! I’m going to tell them that He answers prayer (He’s answered mine, after all, over and over again!) He’s forgiven my sin and transformed my life! He’s rescued me when I’ve cried out to Him (and even sometimes when I haven’t). He’s kept His promises! He’s never failed me! I’ve faced all kinds of problems and gone through great trials (I could tell you about some of them) but He’s never forsaken or failed me – “He’s delivered me out of all of them!”

Yes, I know I’m boasting! I hope it isn’t offensive to you – I’m boasting in the Lord! I hope it encourages you today! I’m telling you from the bottom of my heart, it pays to trust the Lord and serve Him!”

Oh yes, and let me encourage you to read the entire psalm that provoked this little boasting tirade today… Psalm 34!

Mar 22 2017
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Devos

Be careful how you exercise your freedom in Christ!

Self-centered and selfishI never want my “freedom in Christ” to be used as an excuse for doing what “I fair well please” without regard for the welfare of others! I think Apostle Paul had it right on this issue (and I embrace his viewpoint completely)! Here’s my paraphrase of what he said (check it out)…
 
“’All things may be lawful’ – but not all things are helpful or build others up! Don’t seek your own good, but the good of your neighbor… So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything to the glory of God! Try not to offend anyone! … Instead, try to please everyone in everything you do, not seeking your own advantage, but that of the many, so that they may be saved! Above all else Imitate Christ!” (A paraphrase and adaptation of 1 Corinthians 10:23-33)
 
Yes, Paul… You got it right! I want to live like that in order to glorify God and win others to Christ! Above all, I want to do my best to imitate my Savior, Jesus Christ!
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