Category Archives: Devos

Mar 13 2018
Leave a comment
Devos

“The Lord is my Shepherd” – How good is that!?

“The Lord is my shepherd!” – What a wonderful, comforting affirmation and declaration! I’ve been relishing it – tasting every delicious significance of it that I can, rolling it over and over on my spiritual palate – ever since I read it this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord.” (Psalm 23)

He is MY shepherd personally, but He also shepherds a flock for which He cares deeply… but He knows each one of those He shepherds by name (and they respond to His voice when He calls their name – check out John 10:1-16). He’s the “good shepherd” and He lays down His life for His sheep (also declared by Jesus in John 10)! In fact, if I have the Lord as my Shepherd (and I do) “I shall not want” – in other words I have everything I need! … And then Psalm 23 gets specific about what that involves…

He provides all the nourishment I need – I “lie down in green pastures!”

He leads me to the refreshment my soul craves – “beside still waters”

He “restores my soul” – when I am spent and ready to give up!

He leads and guides me in the “right paths” that He wants me to take

He comforts and reassures me when I’m afraid – when I face frightening “valleys as dark as death!”

Even when surrounded by enemies and adversaries He provides and protects me – He “prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies!”

When wounded, He cares for my pain and hurts – He “anoints my head with oil”

Everything I need! – everything I could want! – everything my soul craves for! … “My cup overflows! Goodness and mercy follow me every day (every step) of my life” with the Lord as my Shepherd!

Oh, and when this life is over? “I will dwell in the house of the Lord FOREVER!” (Read Revelation 21-22 it will blow you mind! John 14:1-6a is awesome too… This is what our “Good Shepherd declared: “I am the way, and the truth and the life!”

I gotta tell you… I’m following Him! “The Lord is my Shepherd!”

 

 

Mar 11 2018
Leave a comment
Devos

My personal, heartfelt expression of gratitude and praise! (An adaption of Psalm 21)

Worship

I know and realize Psalm 21 is the personal heartfelt expression of gratitude and praise by David, as king of Israel… It is uniquely his Psalm of thanksgiving for all the Lord has done for him as the leader of God’s people.  But after having read it today during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I decided to personalize it as a common man for all the Lord has done for me!!!  Here it is rephrased as my personal expression of praise…

“Oh Lord, in Your strength I rejoice, in Your salvation I greatly exult!  So many times You have given me my heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of my lips!  You meet me with rich blessings and have crowned my life with so many things that are precious and valuable.  I asked life of You and You’ve given it to me – length of days that reach from now into forever!  I glory in Your salvation!  You’ve bestowed splendor and majesty upon me?  I am most blessed now and forever!  You make me glad with the joy of Your presence!  I trust in You, and through Your steadfast love I will not me moved!  Be exalted, Oh Lord in Your strength!  I will sing and praise You for you are powerful!” (Psalm 21 1-7 and 13 adapted for personal worship)

I don’t know if it captures your heart as it did mine, but if it does, I encourage you to use it to offer your heartfelt thanksgiving and praise to the Lord for all He has done – and does for you!

Mar 09 2018
Leave a comment
Devos

Needed: A Theology of the Body

Clean mind - Pure heaartCommitted Christians – devoted followers of Jesus – live in a culture steeped in sexual promiscuity. Anything goes… and it floods television, dominates the movie industry, the printed page does not escape it, and it is expressed openly on social media. Tragically this moral pollution influences the thinking and values of Christian adults, influences our youth, and contaminates the minds of our children. What to do? It’s everywhere!

I’ve long argued, that a desperate need within the church is a Biblical understanding of the human body – if you please, a “theology of the body”! This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read again a passage that provides a good starting point for that kind of theology! Here it is (and worth embracing as a part of our value system)…

“The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord – and the Lord for the body! … Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? … Flee from sexual immorality! Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sin against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you? You are not your own! You were bought with a price, so glorify God in your body!” (From 1 Corinthians 6:12-20)

Oh, and here’s another one… “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body to make you obey its passions. Do not present your member to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.” (From Romans 6:12-14)

Personally, I intend to “present my body, a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is my spiritual act of worship – I purpose not to be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind, so that I may be able to discern and demonstrate the good, and acceptable and perfect will of God!” (A devotional paraphrase of Romans 12:1-2)

And our children and youth? How’s this one…. “How can a young man (or woman) keep their way pure? By guarding it according to Your word!” (Psalm 119:9). Let’s do everything we can as parents and the Church to build a tall, impenetrable fence around the minds of our youth and children with the clear, healthy teaching of God’s Word.

← Older posts
Newer posts →