Click on the video above or this link: https://youtu.be/fcgbmtMERo4
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
4/23-4/26 Devo Two
This is the second devotional for the week of April 23-26. We're going
to look at a couple of testimonies this week on how God has influenced a
person's life. This video is look at Christian Leyden's life and faith
in God. From a difficult past, he now puts Jesus in the center of life.
What do you
think?
4/23-4/26 Devo One
This is the first devotional for the week of April 23-26. We're going to look at a couple of testimonies this week on how God has influenced a person's life. This video is short look at Tim Allen's life and faith in God. From a rough past, he believes there is a Builder over his life. What do you
think?
Click on the video above or this link: https://youtu.be/lPLbd_HnvK0
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
4/16-4/20 Devo Two
This is the second devotional for the week of April 16-20. This video is
a reflection on the topic of Humility? What do you
think?
Click on the video above or this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OjYNsfut4Y
4/16-4/20 Devo One
This is the first devotional for the week of April 16-20. This video is
a reflection on the topic of Humility? What do you
think?
Click on the video above or this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8Nt6N1el2I
Monday, April 9, 2018
4/9-4/13 Devo Two
The
devotional for today is from Chuck Swindall. This is the second
devotional for the week of April 9-13. You can find this devotional
online at https://www.insight.org/resources/daily-devotional/individual/cultivate-relationship-with-god or read it below. I hope it is encouraging in your Christian walk. Leave a comment below for CBU credits.
Cultivate Relationship with God
Psalm 100
is an extended command to worship the Lord, giving specific
instructions to follow. The first three commands in 100:1–2 are directly
related to
cultivating a spirit of joy. The next four call for our response to the
Lord's identity and character. We'll examine the first two of these
commands.
Know that the LORD Himself is God
(100:3).At first glance, this seems like an odd command. A close
examination of the Hebrew terms will help clarify what the psalmist
intends.
The Hebrew word rendered "know" is yada. When used in reference to a person, it denotes a personal, experiential knowledge, not mere recognition.
It's the same term biblical writers used as a euphemism for sexual intercourse (see Genesis 4:1; 19:8; Numbers 31:17, 35; Judges 11:39; 21:11; 1 Kings 1:4;
1 Samuel 1:19). Our knowledge of God should be personal and experiential, not merely theological.
The word "LORD" translates God's personal name,
represented in Hebrew by the four consonants YHWH, and considered too
holy to pronounce audibly. You may
recall it's based on the verb "to be," identifying Him as the deity who
actually exists. The late Christian philosopher Francis Schaeffer called
Him "the
God who is there" (as opposed to all the gods who are not!).
"Himself " serves to single out YHWH as the subject of the verb,
emphasizing that no other name qualifies for this distinction. The
sentence might just as
well be rendered, "Know that YHWH, He is God" or "He alone is God." I like the additional qualification tacked on by one contemporary
songwriter: "He is God (and I am not!)"
The English word "God" at the end of the verse translates the Hebrew term elohim,
which emphasizes the grandeur of God, much like calling a king
"His Royal Highness." So, when you put the entire command together, it
could be paraphrased, "Know by personal experience that YHWH alone is
the sovereign
God of all."
I see two implications of practical importance here. First, God is
sovereign over each of us, individually. He's not merely the ruler of
the universe,
having dominion over galaxies and able to command the forces of nature.
He's my sovereign. He's your king. He's the boss; we answer to
Him. When we surrender to that fact, life becomes much easier to understand and joy takes the place of frustration.
Second, our knowledge of God as our sovereign Lord must be gained
through personal experience. That implies a personal relationship in
which He leads and
we follow. And through that ongoing interchange, the decision to trust
Him becomes a settled, unshakable confidence. Confident people are
joyful people.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise
(100:4).What was in the psalmist's mind? To what do the "gates" and
"courts" refer? There are two possibilities. First, it could refer to
the
stronghold of a ruler, where he holds court, deciding cases and granting
favors. If so, the invitation is to enter the great hall with praises
and
thanksgiving rather than seeking something from the Ruler.
The second possibility is a reference to the temple, the place where the
people of God approached the Lord. In the Old Testament, the
otherworldly glow of
His glory—called the shekinah by the Hebrews—filled the Most Holy Place in the temple (2 Chronicles 5:14 and 1 Kings 8:10–11). The temple had
gates and courts, both of which gave access to the presence of God.
Because Jesus Christ satisfied all the requirements of the temple
rituals, we no longer go to a specific place to meet God. Today, we
worship "in spirit
and truth" (John 4:23). So, how do we enter His gates and His courts? What is our access to His presence today? The answer is prayer. Hebrews 4:16
invites
us to "draw near" to God's throne. Through prayer we come into the very
presence of God. This psalm tells us to approach the Lord with
thanksgiving and
praise. Sometimes it's good to save our petitions and requests for
another time and seek an audience for the sole purpose of praise.
Sometimes it's good to save our petitions for later and approach God for the sole purpose of praise.
— Charles R. Swindoll
Adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, Living the Psalms: Encouragement for the Daily Grind
(Brentwood, Tenn.: Worthy Publishing, a division of Worthy Media, Inc.,
2012). Copyright © 2012 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights are
reserved. Used by permission.
Cultivate Relationship with God
Cultivate Relationship with God
Know that the LORD Himself is God (100:3).At first glance, this seems like an odd command. A close examination of the Hebrew terms will help clarify what the psalmist intends.
The Hebrew word rendered "know" is yada. When used in reference to a person, it denotes a personal, experiential knowledge, not mere recognition. It's the same term biblical writers used as a euphemism for sexual intercourse (see Genesis 4:1; 19:8; Numbers 31:17, 35; Judges 11:39; 21:11; 1 Kings 1:4; 1 Samuel 1:19). Our knowledge of God should be personal and experiential, not merely theological.
The word "LORD" translates God's personal name, represented in Hebrew by the four consonants YHWH, and considered too holy to pronounce audibly. You may recall it's based on the verb "to be," identifying Him as the deity who actually exists. The late Christian philosopher Francis Schaeffer called Him "the God who is there" (as opposed to all the gods who are not!).
"Himself " serves to single out YHWH as the subject of the verb, emphasizing that no other name qualifies for this distinction. The sentence might just as well be rendered, "Know that YHWH, He is God" or "He alone is God." I like the additional qualification tacked on by one contemporary songwriter: "He is God (and I am not!)"
The English word "God" at the end of the verse translates the Hebrew term elohim, which emphasizes the grandeur of God, much like calling a king "His Royal Highness." So, when you put the entire command together, it could be paraphrased, "Know by personal experience that YHWH alone is the sovereign God of all."
I see two implications of practical importance here. First, God is sovereign over each of us, individually. He's not merely the ruler of the universe, having dominion over galaxies and able to command the forces of nature. He's my sovereign. He's your king. He's the boss; we answer to Him. When we surrender to that fact, life becomes much easier to understand and joy takes the place of frustration.
Second, our knowledge of God as our sovereign Lord must be gained through personal experience. That implies a personal relationship in which He leads and we follow. And through that ongoing interchange, the decision to trust Him becomes a settled, unshakable confidence. Confident people are joyful people.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise (100:4).What was in the psalmist's mind? To what do the "gates" and "courts" refer? There are two possibilities. First, it could refer to the stronghold of a ruler, where he holds court, deciding cases and granting favors. If so, the invitation is to enter the great hall with praises and thanksgiving rather than seeking something from the Ruler.
The second possibility is a reference to the temple, the place where the people of God approached the Lord. In the Old Testament, the otherworldly glow of His glory—called the shekinah by the Hebrews—filled the Most Holy Place in the temple (2 Chronicles 5:14 and 1 Kings 8:10–11). The temple had gates and courts, both of which gave access to the presence of God.
Because Jesus Christ satisfied all the requirements of the temple rituals, we no longer go to a specific place to meet God. Today, we worship "in spirit and truth" (John 4:23). So, how do we enter His gates and His courts? What is our access to His presence today? The answer is prayer. Hebrews 4:16 invites us to "draw near" to God's throne. Through prayer we come into the very presence of God. This psalm tells us to approach the Lord with thanksgiving and praise. Sometimes it's good to save our petitions and requests for another time and seek an audience for the sole purpose of praise.
Sometimes it's good to save our petitions for later and approach God for the sole purpose of praise.
— Charles R. Swindoll
— Charles R. Swindoll
Adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, Living the Psalms: Encouragement for the Daily Grind
(Brentwood, Tenn.: Worthy Publishing, a division of Worthy Media, Inc.,
2012). Copyright © 2012 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights are
reserved. Used by permission.
4/9-4/13 Devo One
The devotional for today is from Chuck Swindall. This is the first devotional for the week of April 9-13. You can find this devotional online at https://www.insight.org/resources/daily-devotional/individual/hope-beyond-failure1 or read it below. I hope it is encouraging in your Christian walk. Leave a comment below for CBU credits.
Hope Beyond Failure
The devotional for today is from Chuck Swindall. This is the first devotional for the week of April 9-13. You can find this devotional online at https://www.insight.org/resources/daily-devotional/individual/hope-beyond-failure1 or read it below. I hope it is encouraging in your Christian walk. Leave a comment below for CBU credits.
Hope Beyond Failure
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.Rarely will one of God's heroes show up in the Scriptures having lived a life free of failure. Take Peter, for example. As soon as you read the name, you remember his story. Peter experienced the extreme highs and lows of life—from days spent in blessed fellowship with Christ . . . to the heart-wrenching erosion of loyalty when he denied the Lord. Not once. Not twice. Three times. Once he realized his failure, the Bible says, "he went out and wept bitterly" (Luke 22:62).(1 Peter 1:3, emphasis added)
Can you remember a failure that was so dramatic and so tearful for you that you hardly need to be reminded of the feelings? I remember Betsie ten Boom's words, "There is no pit so deep but that He is not deeper still." As dark and as deep and as tragic as your failure may be, He is willing to go to the depths of it with you.
This was true of Peter too. Look back at Luke 22. After the surprising warning of Satan's attack, Jesus gave Peter a statement of fact: "I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail." Then there was a veiled reassurance: "And you, when once you have turned again . . ." Then a final command: "Strengthen your brothers" (22:32).
What does that suggest? It suggests that Peter was going to fall. "Once you have turned again." "Retraced your steps" is another way someone else has put it. "Once you have turned again," Jesus said, "then use it to strengthen your brothers." Jesus knew Peter to the core. He knew Peter would fall, but He prayed for him that he would not remain fallen. Jesus loved Peter—even at his point of deepest weakness.
How did He prove that love? Mark 16:6–7 answers that question. After the Resurrection, while the women were standing at the tomb, an angel told them:
Isn't that great? "Don't forget Peter. He's the last one who thinks that I'll ever want to talk to him again. Tell Peter!" What grace!"Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter."(emphasis added)
Somewhere between the time Peter fell and this angelic announcement there was a process during which Peter wallowed in remorse, wishing he could, if possible, correct his error . . . but he couldn't. And somewhere in the midst of it he heard the Lord say to him, "Peter, I forgive you. I understand. Use it to strengthen your brothers."
That's why Peter later was able to write the following words to early Christians:
Why did this mean so much to Peter? Because it was at the Resurrection Peter's name was called, and the Lord in tender mercy said, "Tell him I've come back."May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection. (1 Peter 1:2–3, emphasis added)
First Peter is a letter of great hope written by a man who experienced it! By the time he wrote this letter, Peter had come to the place where he was not only back on the scene, he was aggressively engaged in the formation of the early church.
It can happen to you too. Just like fallen and forgiven Peter, you can find new hope despite your failures. If you are a believer, you are born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3).
What tender mercy! What triumphant grace! Failure is not forever. God specializes in forgiveness and hope. He can use even your worst failures in a mighty way.
Today I celebrate that I’ve been born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
— Charles R. Swindoll
— Charles R. Swindoll
Taken from Charles R. Swindoll, "Hope beyond Failure," Insights (August 2002): 1-2. Copyright © 2002 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.
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