Author Archives: lrbartel

Mar 05 2017
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Devos

Who is important in your life?

Who is important in your life? My wife is incredibly important to me – I love her dearly! My children (and grandchildren) are important to me – how I love each one of them! My brothers are dear to me! So were my parents – I honor them highly! And then there are mentors and friends… I could go on!

But this morning during “coffee with the Lord” I was reminded of Who is most important to me – The Lord! It was the words of Psalm 16 that brought it to mind and expressed my feelings perfectly…

“Preserve me, O God, for in You I take refuge! I say to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from You!’ … The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply… The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure… You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (From Psalm 16 ESV)

If you’re like me there are some very dear and important people in my life. I appreciate and love every one of them! But I’ve got to tell you, the Lord is number 1 and I want to keep it that way!

Feb 28 2017
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Devos

Live, work, or attend school in a “hell hole?” There’s a Psalm about that…

I don’t know where you work… It may be a “hell-hole of iniquity.” I don’t know who your neighbor is… your problems with them may not simply be their dog! The school where you teach or attend may be a “secularist stronghold” filled with practicing atheists. Your family members may be pagan persecutors. And the community where you live… Well I could go on.

The Psalmist, David, would have identified with you! He even wrote a Psalm about it… Read his words over and think about them…

Save us, O LORD, for the godly are gone; the faithful have vanished from among the children of man! Everyone utters lies to his neighbor! With flattering lips and a double heart they speak… ‘Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,’ says the LORD! I will place them in the safety for which they long!’ The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. You, O LORD, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever. On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man.” (From Psalm 12 ESV)

Ever feel that way? Ever cry out to the Lord with words like that? You’re not alone! The Psalm declares, however, that God is aware of the situation! He hears everything they say! He proclaims that He will arise! He will protect and preserve! Treasuring up his word in your heart is like an antidote to the cultural poison around you! He will guard His own from the pollution of this generation! And I believe He will keep his word!

Feb 27 2017
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Devos

Before we “shoot off our mouth” about how we think things ought to be, it might be a good idea to get God’s perspective

shooting-off-your-mouth
I’m no different from you (or Apostle Peter, for that matter)! Sometimes we just don’t get it – God’s ways, God’s purposes, God’s plan, or God’s perspective! And before we “shoot off our mouth” and declare how we think things ought to be, it might be a good idea to pause, pray, ponder and gain the Lord’s perspective on things!
 
Have I ever been guilty… Yes, I have! I’m ashamed of the times!
 
Here’s the passage that provoked these thoughts this morning during “coffee with the Lord”…
 
“Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised…”
 
That message – that information – did not sit well with Peter. He couldn’t figure out in his mind how that fit the plan – his concept and confession of “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!” (Matthew 16:16)
 
So “Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from you, Lord! This shall NEVER happen to you!”
 
“But Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man!”
 
Ouch! What a stinging rebuke! You see God’s redemptive purpose and perspective was different from Peter’s! Jesus understood that. Jesus had a “not my will but Thine be done perspective” (Luke 22:41-42)
 
Very next verse…
 
“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.’” (From Matthew 16:21-25)
 
Oh, Lord, help me to embrace Your perspective and plan! Help me to say what Jesus said when things that just don’t seem to make sense, but they’re part of your plan, “Not my will, but Thine be done!”
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