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 Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 1:28 pm
God day
I don't know if this is something that any of you would care to read. But if so.. stop by and check it out. If not, that's ok to.
God Bless Your Day!
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Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 1:31 pm
Sunday November 4th
The Cherished Word
As for you, continue in what you have learned . . . [knowing] how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:14–15
A Chinese missionary told how the scarcity of Bibles in China makes them far more precious. Unlike Christians lured into complacency by easy access to Bibles, Chinese Christians regard the Bible as a precious commodity.
Why is the Bible so special? Every page is God’s holy Word. It teaches God’s infallible Law and man’s inability to keep it. Scripture reveals Christ’s saving work to redeem the sinful world. It tells of Christ’s victory over death by His resurrection, and it leads us to eternal life. The Bible equips us to love and serve God and man. It corrects our failures, warns us of danger, and leads us to obedience. It brings us to faith and offers forgiveness without good works on our part. Scripture foretells of Christ’s second coming to judge the living and the dead. All things will pass away, but His Word is everlasting.
Between two covers, within reach, lie God’s gifts of wisdom, forgiveness, and eternal life in Christ. Daily He tenderly invites us to open the Bible, read His Word, and thank Him for His truth.
Heavenly Father, enable us to cherish and learn from Your holy Word. Amen.
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Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:22 am
Monday November 5th
Powerful Stuff
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18
The power of nature can demolish a mountain, destroy a city, or drown a community. Man’s power can drop skyscrapers, down planes, and deliver nuclear bombs. Frightening? Yes! But there is no greater danger than Satan, the keeper of death. Nevertheless, Christ has broken the power of death and holds the power of life.
God alone has the power to create, regenerate, and sustain life. From eternity, God is life. In the beginning, God created life. Man fell into sin and lost life. Jesus led a perfect life and suffered bitter death to win life for us. Through Word and Sacrament, the Holy Spirit gives us new life in Christ. He leads us to believe and trust in Christ’s living Gospel. Jesus promises to raise our lifeless bodies from the grave unto eternal life.
The world’s power may mesmerize us. The devil’s power may weary us. But God’s power revealed in Christ creates, regenerates, and sustains everlasting physical and spiritual life. God made Christ our life, that He may be our confidence. This is powerful stuff!
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Son, who died that we might live. Send forth the word of the cross, that its powerful message may give life to this dying world. Amen.
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Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:37 am
Tuesday November 6th
Hear, See, and Believe
These [signs] are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. John 20:31
We often say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Thoughtful instructors teach using both oral and visual methods.
God revealed His commands and promises through words, objects, and ceremonies. The Law was invisibly etched on the hearts of men, but given to Moses on stone tablets. God spoke His promise to Noah and provided a rainbow. The Lord promised Abraham a nation and the Messiah, then sealed His covenant with circumcision.
Christ preached the Good News of salvation. He also showed His redemptive work through His miracles and His life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
Today we read how Thomas needed more than words to persuade him that Jesus was alive. After Christ’s resurrection, Thomas said, “Unless I see . . . , I will never believe” (v. 25). Then Jesus offered him His hands, feet, and side. And Thomas believed.
Later Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (v. 29). Yet He also lets us hear and see His saving power in Baptism through the Word and water. Christ’s mystery in the Lord’s Supper is heard and seen through the Word and bread and wine. In Christ, we hear, see, and believe.
Lord Jesus, give us Your grace in Word and deed, and enable us to believe You fully. Amen.
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Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:18 am
Wednesday November 7th
What a Trade!
Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
Go to work, pay the bills, fix the meals, tend the children, clean the house—the list goes on. Our hectic lives burden us. But this is not the labor that Christ speaks of. He speaks of an even greater burden: the burden of pleasing God.
Those who work to placate God with good deeds experience fear and despair. They worship, witness, pray, and help others to gain God’s favor, earn God’s love, and obtain salvation. But Scripture says no one is justified by the Law. Our efforts are doomed to failure.
Christ says, “I will give you rest.” How can He lift this burden from us? Christ’s perfect love redeems us. Jesus willingly came from heaven, became man, and lived under God’s Law for us. In perfect love He obeyed flawlessly in thought, word, and deed. He lifts our burdens and gives us His record of perfection. Labor exchanged for rest. What a trade!
Scripture says, “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4). I have sinned. I must die. Justice demands it. But Jesus exchanges our sin and guilt for His perfection. Christ suffered our death in our place. Justice is done. God died, yet we live. Death is exchanged for life. What a trade!
Lord Jesus, thank You for removing our sins and guilt and giving us Your comforting rest. Amen.
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Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2007 4:32 am
Thursday November 8th
Come, Lord Jesus
The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 1 Thessalonians 4:16
Christ’s first coming was humble and quite unnoticed. Few witnessed the babe in a manger. His earthly life was modest, giving, and self-sacrificing. He came to serve and die. He came to seek and save. He came to reconcile us to God.
Christ’s second coming will be exalted, conspicuous, and heard by all. Multitudes of angels and archangels, trumpets and shouts will accompany our Lord. All of heaven and earth will be His stage. No quiet, lowly entrance this time. The Son of Man will come in all power and majesty to condemn the wicked and redeem the faithful.
No one will miss that eminent day. Even the dead will be raised. On that day, prophets, apostles, Old and New Testament believers, redeemed souls through the ages, and faithful family and friends will rise first. Our bodies will be redeemed and renewed, made glorious like His. With new spiritual and physical life, we will live forever with our Lord and Savior.
As Old Testament believers waited for the Messiah to come, we wait for His return. Come, Lord Jesus; come quickly.
Heavenly Father, keep us faithful that we may rejoice at our Lord’s second coming. Amen.
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 3:38 am
Friday November 9th
What a Treasure!
We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:7–9
Would a priceless jewel be kept in a fragile clay pot? Not likely. Museums secure such treasures in bulletproof containers surrounded by laser beams. But Paul says that the greatest treasure is contained in common clay jars of little value that break easily.
What treasure? The treasure is the knowledge and faith in Christ’s atoning work, God’s living grace within the hearts of men, especially in the hearts of faithful ministers who share this astounding gift.
Shouldn’t such messengers be treated with honor and dignity? And yet, Paul says they will be hard-pressed, confused, tormented, and attacked. The hatred that chased Jesus until His crucifixion also pursues His faithful. The world hopes to put an end to Jesus by destroying His shepherds and their flocks.
They may destroy earthly bodies, but not faithful ministries and the untouchable grace of our Savior. The Gospel gives life because of God. What a treasure!
Lord Jesus, bless the work of our faithful pastors and teachers, and enable us to grow in faith and wisdom under their care. Amen.
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 3:26 pm
heart I LOVE THESE! heart
Thank you for posting them. I will read them everyday I'm on!
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 5:34 am
twomorefortheroad heart I LOVE THESE! heart Thank you for posting them. I will read them everyday I'm on! I'm glad you like to read devotions Two. God bless you sweetie. biggrin
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 5:46 am
Saturday November 10th
Jesus: Offensive?
Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me. Luke 7:23
The world willingly admits that Jesus was a great leader, prophet, and teacher. It acknowledges that He was humble, kind, gentle, peaceful, and forgiving. Jesus is never accused of being proud, hateful, coarse, or mean. How could anyone be offended by Jesus?
Yet many are. Christ’s contemporaries were offended by Him even though He made the deaf to hear, the blind to see, the lame to walk, and the dead to rise. Today’s world is offended when His name is mentioned in public places, His moral code displayed, His birth proclaimed, His death and resurrection declared, and His work of salvation revealed.
People of every age have been offended by Jesus. They stumble over the stumbling stone (1 Peter 2:6– cool . But Jesus said, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me.”
Blessed? Yes, beyond measure. Only Christ lifts us from the depths of sin and conquers Satan, the father of lies. Our Savior feeds us His holy, precious Word and rejuvenates us with living waters. Our Lord humbles us unto salvation and removes from us our pride and guilt. Our King promises to raise our mortal bodies unto life eternal and to dwell with us forever. Offended by Jesus? Never!
Almighty and everlasting God, have mercy on us, keep us in the faith, and never let us be offended by You. Amen.
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Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 9:36 am
Sunday November 11th - Veterans Day (U.S.) Remembrance Day (Canada)
Under God: Under Freedom
When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of under-standing and knowledge, its stability will long continue. . . . Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them. Proverbs 28:2, 4
In 1938, Veterans Day (then called Armistice Day) became a national holiday. It’s the day we publicly thank our veterans who defended life and liberty. We honor those who swore allegiance and obedience to God and country, even unto death. We rightly pay tribute to those who brought freedom to the world and protected liberty at home and abroad.
In honoring our veterans, we acknowledge the lawful use of force to protect our citizens from the wickedness of our own people and from hostility outside our borders. At times, members of our armed forces have assisted local law enforcement. Most often, our armed forces have opposed evil regimes that endangered our citizens in times of war. God calls government to curb evil and vice and to uphold peace and liberty.
Yet true liberty comes only from Christ. Christ’s Gospel instills faith, generates new life, awakens conscience, and enables obedience to the Lord. God bless our nation, that it may be a nation under God, a nation under freedom.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for those who guard and protect our liberty. Amen.
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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 4:29 am
Monday November 12th
Cup of Wrath or Cup of Blessing
Again, for the second time, He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, Your will be done.” Matthew 26:42
It is said that optimistic people see the cup half-full, while pessimistic people see the cup half-empty. We regard sayings like this with good humor. But it would be wise to contemplate soberly God’s Word concerning His cup of wrath. It is neither half-full nor half-empty. It is filled to the brim with His wrath and justice, and God says that sinners must drink of it (Jeremiah 25:15–16).
But Christ drank the bitter cup of wrath for us. He consumed it all when He suffered hell and died on the cross. Suffered hell? Yes, God the Father forsook His Son and completely withdrew from Him. Christ bore the punishment for every sin of the entire world from the beginning of time until the Last Day.
Because He loves us, Christ swallowed the cup of wrath for us. Jesus now offers us His cup of blessing, His cup of salvation, His cup of life, His cup of the New Testament (Matthew 26:2 cool . This cup is not half-full, half-empty, or even filled to the brim. It is as the psalmist says: “My cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5).
Heavenly Father, have mercy on me. Forgive my sinful thoughts, words, and deeds. Enable me to believe and trust that You forgive all my sins through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 3:32 am
Tuesday November 13th
Life of the Party
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Lively people laugh, joke, and enjoy life. They are so full of life. They are the life of the party. They know how to live it up. But it’s possible that such lively people aren’t what they seem. They really may be full of death.
God created man and woman to have eternal life. Death was not part of His agenda. Man and woman brought death into the world. Because of mankind’s disobedience, not just man but even the plants and animals must succumb to death.
But God is life. He is the living God. All life comes from God. He wills that everyone should not perish but have life and have it abundantly. Man’s eternal life can come only from that same divine source.
How? God the Father sent His Son, Jesus, to suffer and die for all mankind (John 10:11). His Son rescued us from eternal death so that we may inherit the gift of everlasting life. Yes, it is true. The God of life created life and gives us eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ. Instead of us being the life of the party, Christ brings us to the party of eternal life in Him.
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to live and die for our transgressions that we may not perish but live eternally with You in heaven. Amen.
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Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 6:56 pm
this is like church in gaia why dont we make a church biggrin
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motermouthkea Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:44 pm
Jamesie-Kun this is like church in gaia why dont we make a church biggrin Great idea Crus!! This could be our church. Or we could make a church thread. A thread to go with your troubles and pray for each other. Or to celibrate our joys, and praise God for them. Any thoughts Crus?
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