Category Archives: Devos

Mar 10 2016
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Devos

A blessing is a wonderful thing! Blessings that matter ultimately come from God!

Laying on of hands 1A blessing is a wonderful thing… Blessings that matter – blessings that make a difference – ultimately come from God, only secondarily through a human agent!  One of my absolute favorites is found in Psalm 20:1-5.  For years now I’ve shared it with friends on their birthday, with couples on their anniversaries, and on other special occasions.  Today it was a part of my Bible reading during “coffee with the Lord.”  I just felt like sending it out to you, my Facebook friends who are a part of the “coffee with the Lord” group today… Relish its message and receive what it provides in faith… May God grant it in your life!  Here it is…

“May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!  May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!  May He send you help from His sanctuary and give you support from Zion!  May He remember all your offerings and regard with favor your sacrifices!  May He grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!  May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up banners!  May the Lord fulfill are your petitions!” (From Psalm 20:1-5)

Blessings, my friend!  God’s blessing be upon you!

Mar 09 2016
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Devos

Remembering W. H. Kesler … A godly leader who influenced my life profoundly

Godly leaders serve as examples! They show us how to live. They teach not only by their words – they teach us by their lives.
As a young man preparing for ministry I had the privilege of having such a leader. His impact on my life and ministry were profound. He wasn’t a perfect person (none of us are) – but with sincerity and devotion he sought to follow the Lord and serve others with all his heart. That person was Rev. W. H. Kesler who back then led Trinity Bible Institute (earlier named Hub City Bible Institute and today the school goes by the name Trinity Bible College and is located in Ellendale, North Dakota).
Back in those days, W. H. Kesler not only led the school which trained young men and women for ministry; several of the young men who were students had the privilege of living in the basement of the Kesler’s home. We would wake up in the morning to hear the sounds of this godly man and his wife in prayer. The Kesler’s passion for prayer deeply influenced my life.
Those who were students at the school at the time will recall that W. H. Kesler started every chapel service by leading the students in the following prayer taken directly from Scripture…
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (From Psalm 139:23-24)
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer!” (From Psalm 19:14)
And then W. H. Kessler would lead us in this final affirmation from the Bible: “I am crucified with Christ! I live – yet not I, but Christ lives in me! And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me!” (From Galatians 2:20)
Yes, today I’m remembering – remembering a godly leader with appreciation! This morning as I read Psalm 19 in my Bible I was reminded of what W. H. Kesler taught me as a young man preparing for ministry… A wonderful daily prayer, a wise practice, and a godly life… Thank you W. H. Kesler! (Wish I had a picture of him to honor him with… perhaps one of the former students from the school have one that they could scan and send me.)
Mar 08 2016
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Devos

“Straight talk” right out of the Bible + Hope!

Guilty
It seems during this election cycle there is a premium placed upon “telling it like it is” – “straight talk” if you please. (I’ve got another characterization for it personally… rude, crude, and certainly not “Christ-like!” … the tragedy is, that some who are engaged in it claim to be “Christians” … even in their own words, “good Christians.”) Well, enough political commentary…
 
You want “straight talk?” Here’s some inspired “straight talk” right out of the mouth of Apostle Paul – “straight talk” in the Bible…
 
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived [i.e. don’t let anyone fool you]: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers [those whose mouths spew mean, character destroying, vitriol], nor swindlers [those who cheat others and “rip them off”] will inherit the Kingdom of God!” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
 
Pretty straight, wouldn’t you say? And it’s God’s word! His warning goes with it – if you practice those things you won’t make heaven! Don’t let anyone deceive you otherwise…
 
But there is hope for those who have been guilty (and the Bible declares “all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory!” (Romans 3:23) The very next verse declares…
 
But you were washed [1 John 1:8-9 needs to be read right after that one!], you were sanctified [made holy and set apart by God for Himself], you were justified [declared righteous – acquitted by the Divine Judge, though guilty] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God!” (1 Corinthians 6:11 – bracketed words, my comments)
 
Praise God! Makes me want to shout “Hallelujah!” and proclaim the good news of what God does for guilty sinners who turn from their sin to Jesus Christ to EVERYONE… EVERYWHERE! How do I know? He did it for ME and for a lot of friends of mine!
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