Author Archives: lrbartel

Jun 29 2015
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Devos

Ever been in deep trouble, in part, of your own making? The Lord will help you if you ask Him!

Big purchase… didn’t seek the Lord’s guidance… just barged ahead, signed the papers and did it. A BIG mistake… a crisis of my own making! THEN I prayed!! And prayed!! And prayed!! I’m convinced the Lord let me reap the consequences of my bad decision as discipline. He spoke to my heart when I was ready to listen (through wise Christian friends and Scriptural guidance) and He helped me find a solution. I had to humble myself, ask for mercy, and payed off the bill over time (no miracle of “money in the mail” – just had to learn what “stewardship” meant – the wise management of the resources God supplies). Difficult experience – but an important lesson learned! The Lord came through and helped me!

Ever been in deep trouble in part of your own making – a crisis that is frankly is terrifying … Yet in the middle of it all you know that you are a child of God… You love the Lord! You trust Him! You want to please Him! Yet, because of your own foolishness, you know you don’t deserve God’s help, mercy and grace, but you desperately need it! You cry out… appealing to God’s character and asking for His assistance. If you ever were depending on God’s faithfulness and covenant love it is in that very situation! Then the Lord came alongside and assisted you and delivered you! You survived! He enabled you to find a solution! Whew!! Praise the Lord!

Apparently that is the kind of situation the writer of Psalm 118 found himself in… (I read about it this morning during “coffee with the Lord.” Here’s some of what he had to say…)

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His steadfast love endures forever! … Let those who fear the Lord say, ‘His steadfast love endures forever!’ Out of my distress I called on the Lord and He answered me and set me free… It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man! It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes! (i.e. mere human solutions – my comment) … I was pushed hard, so that I was falling but the Lord helped me! The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation… The Lord has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death… I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation! … Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! … You are my God, and I will give thanks to you! You are my God; I will extol you! Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good! His steadfast love endures forever!” (Selections from Psalm 118)

Jun 27 2015
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Devos

God’s grand vision in Psalm 117 can be one day fulfilled… “all nations – all peoples” praising the Lord for all eternity!

All Nations Praising the LordRed and Yellow, black and white

Psalm 117… Shortest chapter in the Bible… But O, what a grand, world encompassing vision!

“Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us! And the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever! Praise the LORD!”

We live in a culture that urges us, as Christians, to leave those from other religions alone. “Don’t try to ‘convert’ them!” they say. “They’re entitled to believe whatever they want! One belief is as good as another – each ‘faith’ has equal value! The important thing is that they have a belief in a God of some kind. And if they choose not to believe in a ‘god’ at all – if they are atheists – leave them alone! That is their choice.”

The problem is, that is not “the Lord’s” view of things! His vision is “all nations – all peoples” praising Him and extoling him for His “steadfast love” (Hebrew ,“hesed” or covenant keeping love) and his “forever enduring faithfulness!”

The sad reality is, without the redemptive love and provision of the Lord embraced by faith, the eternal consequences of “everyone doing their own thing” is tragic and terrible. The Lord has made a provision to deal with the eternally destructive consequences of sin, however! That provision is the Lord Jesus Christ… His sacrificial death for our sin on the cross and His resurrection and ascension into heaven, where he pleads our case before the Heavenly Father… Here’s the “good news” – the “gospel” – of all of that in a couple of verses… “God SO LOVED the WORLD that he gave His only Son (Jesus) that WHOEVER believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life! God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that THE WORLD might be save through Him!” (John 3:16-17)

So, I guess I’m going to have to say, “Sorry, I’m not willing to stand idly by and let everyone go on ‘doing their own thing!’ I’m going to do my best to reach them with the gospel so that God’s grand vision in Psalm 117 can be one day fulfilled… “all nations – all peoples” of the world praising the Lord and extolling Him for all eternity!

Jun 26 2015
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Devos

“Christians Superheroes” – Really… Is it possible?

The Incredible Hulk morphing

Superheroes! As a kid growing up I loved ‘em! One of my favorites was “the Hulk.” Apart from a challenge he was just an ordinary guy… then something would happen – an emergency, a challenge, a crisis – and wow! His clothes would pop, he’d morph, and turn into an green, and become an invincible, muscle-packed being, doing incredible feats!

Who was your favorite superhero?

Usually they were just ordinary people in day-to-day life. There was nothing really unique or special about them… they had a job, wore glasses, and were kinda non-descript and ordinary… then a challenge – a crisis – and WOW!

I read about something similar to that in the Bible during “coffee with the Lord” this morning… You might call them “Christian Superheroes!” They’re very ordinary people in everyday life… Husbands, housewives, singles, young professionals, students, pimple-faced teens and growing kids. But they know the Lord! His power has transformed their lives, and His word is an important part of their daily lives. You see them on the street and you’d never guess they were “superheroes” … until a challenge comes – a temptation, crisis, or attack of their “adversary, the Devil… Then something awesome transpires! They become “empowered overcomers” – “Christian Superheroes!”

Here’s how the Bible describes it… To ordinary Christian’s Apostle Paul said…

“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might! Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” (Ephesians 6:10–18 ESV)

Without the Lord I’m just a very ordinary (even flawed) person … But with Him I believe I can be a “Christian Superhero” – so can you! Empowered! Fully armed! Prayerful! Able to overcome our Spiritual enemy and accomplish great exploits in Jesus’ Name through the power of the Holy Spirit! Gotta tell you…I want to be a “Christian Superhero!”

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