Thank You – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl
Today’s Reading – 2 Chronicles 6 – 8 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – Acts 7 – 9; Psalms 86 – 90; Proverbs 18)
Scripture Memorization for May – Romans 10
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 119:105
Read a great article by Pastor Paul Chappell– “Launch Out“
Read the “0518 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Read previous posts from this morning’s passage – “Forgive” & “The Fire Came Down From Heaven“
“I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell. O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them. But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” (Psalm 86:12-15)
I had just finished doing some work around the house, and sat down outside on the deck to take a break. I got notified a few days before this, that my work was out of work so I was out of work. I had submitted a claim to Unemployment, and was considering a plan of action in my hunt for another job. So, I’m sitting there, and my eye catches a squirrel coming over to the deck. He made his way to the top of the railing, about 7 feet away from me, and started to eat an acorn. Did you know that squirrels have fairly large claws? I could see his clearly as I watched him devour the last bit of nut. Then he stared at me with his black beady eyes. Oh great! He’s going to jump and dig his claws into my leg, bite me, and then I’ll have to go to the hospital and get rabies shots. The squirrel started to scamper across the railing, stopping every yard or so to check on me: eying up his target. He didn’t jump on me, but made his way to the end of the railing where we have this large river rock with a hollow in it. It was almost like a bowl. And the squirrel started drinking the rainwater out of it. The more I thought about what just happened, the more I rejoiced in my heart. The Lord led this squirrel to a hidden acorn to eat. The Lord supplied the rain the night before, filling the hollow, and giving the squirrel water to drink. He will supply all my needs also. When the right job comes along, it will come from God, and in His timing.
“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.” (Psalm 103).
Thank You, Lord, for everything that You have given us.
Peace. (Psalm 69:30).
Posted in Guest Posts by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.
We Thank Thee, and Praise Thy Glorious Name
Today’s Reading – 1 Chronicles 28 – 29 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – Acts 1 – 3; Psalms 76 – 80; Proverbs 16)
Scripture Memorization for May – Romans 10
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 92:1
Read a great article by Pastor Cary Schmidt – “Unbelieving Believers“
Read the “0516 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Read a previous post from this passage – “Preparing for the Next Generation“
“Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.” (1 Chronicles 29:10-13)
“But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. … O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.” (1 Chronicles 29:14, 16)
In our reading today, we see King David making all of the final preparations for the building of the temple and for the transition of power to his son, Solomon. David wanted to build the temple himself, but because of the blood that he had shed through the many battles he fought for Israel, God would not permit it. It was God’s will for Solomon to build the House of God. However, this did not stop David from doing everything he could to prepare for the construction. David prepared for it, planned it, and provided all of the materials and manpower that would be necessary for Solomon to finish it.
Notice, however, in the verses above, David’s prayer to God. Though David had been very busy doing the work necessary for the preparation of the Temple, he still gave all of the glory to the Lord, and did not attempt to steal any of the praise that was due to the Lord. David was willing and faithful to obey and serve the Lord, but in the end it was God who worked through David. Notice that David said that all of the materials that were given to build the temple had been given to them in the first place by the Lord.
Everything we have, we were given by the Lord. Everything we do, we do because the Lord has equipped us, and enabled us to do it. Everything we are, we are because of the Lord. He deserves all of the praise, honor, and glory. I often tell our church, when we mess up it’s our fault; but when we get things right, it is simply because we got out of God’s way, and let Him work through us.
“Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” (Psalms 29:2)
“Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.” (Psalms 66:2)
“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” (Isaiah 42:8)
Posted in Thoughts from 1 Chronicles by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.
Many Members, Working Together as One Body
Today’s Reading – 1 Chronicles 26 – 27 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – John 21, Psalm 71 – 75; Proverbs 15)
Scripture Memorization for May – Romans 10
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 89:1
Read a great article by Pastor Cary Schmidt – “Unbelieving Believers“
Read the “0515 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
“Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the LORD.“ (1 Chronicles 26:12)
In today’s passage we see the list of countless names of people who labored behind the scenes in the temple, and in the kingdom during the reign of David. When we think of the temple, we think of Solomon primarily, because it was he whom God chose to assemble it; or we may think of David, because he was the one who made most of the preparations for it. However, we can see from these passages that there were literally thousands of people laboring behind the scenes that made the ministry that went on in the temple possible, as well as in the rest of the kingdom.
In a local church, we sometimes think that it is primarily the pastor who makes everything happen. While the office of the pastor is an important position, he is just one member of a body made up of many. He may be the most visible, but there are so many other people whose participation is necessary in order to accomplish the work of God. Our church is small in number, but even in a church our size, there are many people laboring, some completely behind the scenes, who are vital parts of the ministry. Think with me for a moment about all of the different duties that must be performed in order for our church to function as it should. There are soul winners who get the message of the gospel to the community; disciplers who mentor and instruct those who have trusted Christ; there are Sunday School teachers, ushers, greeters, audio/vidio people, choir members, song leaders, musicians, bus drivers and workers, maintenance people, and administrators. These people and the work that they do are all important to the cause of Christ.
Romans 12 talks about some of the gifts given to us by the Lord that are to be used by us in His service:
“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:4-8)
1 Corinthians 12 also instructs regarding the different members of the body, though many of the individual gifts spoken of in this chapter were sign gifts that were given to believers during the transitional period in the first century, and are no longer available today:
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)
” For the body is not one member, but many.” (1 Corinthians 12:14)
“But now are they many members, yet but one body.” (1 Corinthians 12:20)
“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” (1 Corinthians 12:27)
God has something to do for everyone in the local church. I was recently criticized for preaching too much about what we need to do for the Lord, but as I see it, there is a lot that needs to be done. Yes, it is God which works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure, but we still need to be submissive and obedient to His plan for our life. We often quote from Ephesians 2:8 & 9 regarding the fact that it is solely through the grace of God that we are saved, but the next verse teaches us that we are saved and equipped to work.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
Christian, let me encourage you to find out what your unique gifts are, and also admonish you to use those gifts for the glory of the Lord Jesus, in the service of the local church.
“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;” (Philippians 1:27)
Posted in Thoughts from 1 Chronicles by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.
JUST FOR LADIES – BY CAMILLE STAHL
Today’s Reading – 1 Chronicles 23 – 25 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – John 19 – 20; Psalms 66 – 70; Proverbs 14)
Scripture Memorization for May – Romans 10
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 61:1 – 3
Read a great article by Pastor Cary Schmidt – “Unbelieving Believers“
Read the “0514 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Read a previous post from this passage – “The Hope for the Future“
A Study Of Women In The Bible
Dorcas, A Woman Who Used Her Talent For God.
“Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.” (Acts 9:36)
” Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.” (Act 9:39)
Dorcas was just a regular woman, who had a talent for making clothing. We know she was a Godly lady because she was the only woman who was called a disciple, a follower of Jesus. Dorcas not only wanted to follow Christ, she also wanted to serve him. So, she did that which came naturally to her, she made clothing and gave it to the poor. Dorcas knew what made her Lord happy, and that was to take care of this group of people. She served the Lord with all of her heart by serving people.
With this in mind, I would like to take time to talk about “Warm Weather Dressing.” It alway amazes me that the hotter the weather becomes, the less clothing we wear. As Christian ladies, we should always dress modestly. We are responsible, not only for dressing ourselves in modest clothing, but also for dressing our children. Hot weather does not give us an open invation to expose all that we have.
The following is a look at the downfall of women’s clothing in America. WARNING: You may not like what your about to read!
THE DOWNFALL OF DRESSING MODESTLY
Women were content with the role God had given them. Keepers of the home, submitted to their husbands and had no desire to be unfeminine in any way.
They wore their hair long, covered neck-lines, arms and legs.
This outward appearance was a reflection of their inner feeling of modesty, femininity and submission to God.
1900 to 1910:
Before the turn of the century, women generally made their own clothes.
Then the styles changed. 1907 the peek-a-boo shirt was introduced.
Eyelet embroidery on sleeves showed the flesh of the arms.
The length of the skirt got shorter.
Women were now taking jobs, and that demanded simpler clothing.
Many women were now more concerned about their jobs then the home and family.
1910 to 1920:
Now woman were enjoying their new roles in the work place. Birth control was the new best thing.
Smoking, drinking and shorter hair was the new fad for many woman.
Until 1910, swimsuits of both men and women were very modest. It covered most of the arms and legs, and all of the shoulders. They were also non-clinging.
Then in Milwaukee, a woman’s swimming team wore their revealingly swimsuits.
A cartoonist in the a newspaper depicted a woman of 1615 sitting in a chair reading her Bible and another in a suit from 1915 slouched in a chair smoking a cigarette reading a fashion magazine.
1920 to 1930:
More and more woman were cutting their hair short.
The V-neck shirt and dresses above the knee were becoming popular.
Women were now in bars, alongside of the men, smoking, drinking, and dancing.
The younger generation were questioning the older.
There was a moral decline on the college campuses. College became a place to party, get drunk, and have sex.
Young people were imitating what they saw in the Hollywood movies. The actors became idols.
The motto was “ EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY”
1930 to 1940:
Brenda Frazier started the fad of penciled eyebrows, bright colored lipstick and strapless gowns.
Marlene Dietrich, in her movies, made pants wearing popular. She also wore men’s trousers, shirts, ties and hats.
“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God. ” (Deuteronomy 22:5)
By the end of the 30’s, halter tops and shorts were the fashion, which reflected the low moral standards.
Divorce and remarriage swept the country.
When we go to the public restrooms, what door do we go in? The figure wearing the dress!
Examples Of Modesty
Sitting:
Always sit with legs together – Cross feet
Dresses should cover you knees completely or the dress is too short
Slits in dress should be no more than 1 in. If it is, pin it or don’t buy it
Bust Line:
A top should not emphasize your bust
Neck Line:
Opening in front should be no lower than two finger below the collar bone
Bra straps should not show on your shoulders
What about swimsuits?
I have not yet found a swimsuit that can be considered modest by Scriptural standards. Many of the so-called modest swimsuits today barely cover what our undergarments cover. Surely if we were caught by brothers or any man besides our husband in our undergarments we would shriek with utter mortification and run for the nearest hiding place. Do we feel the same about being seen by men in our swimsuits? Is there a difference? It may be that any bathing suit you can buy today shows portions of a woman’s body that only her husband should be allowed to see. I don’t think Dorcas sewed any, do you?
Would you be embarrassed if you were standing before Jesus?
Around the late 1960’s and early 1970’s the unisex look was introduced. Through the last 30 years the unisex look has not only become fashionable but also acceptable.
Can pants, shorts or jeans which show a woman’s form, and hips (and even the outline of her undergarments) be considered modest apparel? That is a question for each sister to consider.
Whatever we choose to wear, we must make our choices with the intention of upholding and establishing the clearest possible distinction between men and women that God set in order from creation.
A Woman’s Most Important Clothing: Righteousness and Humility
Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: (1 Peter 3:3)
A sister’s dress should be an expression of a meek and quiet spirit, intended more to please the sight of God than the sight of men.
Some do not apply the scriptures to this “modern day.” But God’s view of modesty is not variable. It does not depend on the cultures that men create. It does not depend on the weather. We read of no special circumstances in the Scriptures which set aside this teaching and gives liberty for women to display their nakedness. Therefore, we must assume that even in this evil and perverse generation, God still expects us to maintain His standards of modesty.
Posted in Just for Ladies by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.
Check With God First
Today’s Reading – 1 Chronicles 16 – 18 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – John 15 – 16;Psalms 56 – 60; Proverbs 12)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 51
Read the “0512 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
“Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains. Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee. And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,” – (1 Chronicles 17:1-3)
In our text this morning, in chapter 17, we read about King David’s desire to build a permanent temple for the Lord in Jerusalem. Up until this point the ark of the Lord, and the corporate worship of God by the nation of Israel took place in a tabernacle, which was basically a tent. The tabernacle was built during the time of the wilderness wanderings of Israel after God brought them out of Egypt. The tabernacle dwelt in Shiloh for a while, and then it was eventually moved to Jerusalem. David’s desire was to build the temple, and this was a good desire. His heart was right; he wanted to do something to please the Lord. He inquired with Nathan the prophet in order to find out if it was the will of God. Nathan thought that building the temple was a good idea too, so he told David to “Do all that is in thine heart”. However, we see that God had a different plan.
My thought this morning is that we ought to check with God first before we make big decisions. In our story Nathan gives David the green light for building without having asked God about it. Nathan never would have done this if what David was asking was a bad thing or even a questionable thing, but because it was a good thing, he didn’t feel the need to go to God. What happens? God has to go to him, and tell him to go back to David and tell him that he will not be building a temple for him. God did want a temple built eventually, but he didn’t want David to do it. Solomon, his son, would be the one to build the temple for the Lord.
The bottom line to my thought this morning is to challenge us to ask before we act. If you have a decision to make, and the thing that you want to do is not against the revealed will of God (the Bible), check with Him before you do it, just to be sure it is His perfect will. If after you ask Him He doesn’t stop you, then you can go ahead with your plan; but be willing to let Him close the door whenever He wishes. It has been my experience here at Jersey Shore Baptist Church, that I have gotten myself into more trouble because I have done “good” things that were not God’s perfect will.
Posted in Thoughts from 1 Chronicles by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.
He That Winneth Souls Is Wise – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl
Today’s Reading – 1 Chronicles 13 – 15 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – John 13 – 14; Psalms 51 – 55; Proverbs 11)
Scripture Memorization for May – Romans 10
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 48:1 & 2
Read a great article by Pastor Pastor Paul Chappell – “How to Choose an Accountibility Partner“
Read the “0511 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Read a previous post from this passage – “God’s Will, God’s Way“
Good morning. Proverbs 11:30 tells us that,
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”
Why are these two statements in the Bible? They go together hand in hand. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. According to Isaiah 64:6, our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. The only one who was ever righteous, is the Lord Jesus Christ. When we got saved, God gave us the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. We, those who are saved are the righteous. Not of our own righteousness, but Christ’s. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life: the righteous will tell others about the salvation they received through the Lord Jesus Christ: giving life to others: bearing fruit. Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
And Jesus commands us to go out into the world and preach the Gospel: he that winneth souls is wise…
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” [They have a choice!] (Mark 16:15-16)
“Then opened he [Jesus] their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:45-49)
“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” (John 20:21)
Jesus gave us the power to go. Acts 1:8 says, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
We need to go! We must go! God made it easy for a person to get saved. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:13-17)
Do it. He that winneth souls is wise. Do it for Jesus. Do it because you love the Lord, and want to obey His command. Do it to keep people from joining the devil in Hell. Do it for yourself: Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
The whole problem is the doctrine of predestination which is found in Romans chapter 8. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:26-31)
I believe in predestination. But I had to choose. And here is what Hyper-Calvinists do not understand: because God is all-knowing, He knew that I would receive the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour, and He sent people throughout my life to tell me about Jesus. But I still had to choose.
Let me ask my Hyper-Calvinist friends out there in cyberspace, how do you know if someone is predestined to go to Heaven unless you ask them: tell them about Jesus: give them a chance to choose? And let me ask you, Christian, how are your feet: are they beautiful, or are they ugly and stink? He that winneth souls is wise.
Peace! (Romans 10:13-15)
Posted in Guest Posts by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.
Valiant Men
Today’s Reading – 1 Chronicles 7 – 8 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – John 7 – 8; Psalms 36 – 40; Proverbs 8)
Scripture Memorization for May – Romans 10
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 34
Read a great article by Pastor Pastor Cary Schmidt – “Stop Worrying“
Read the “0508 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
“And the sons of Tola; Uzzi, and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Jibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their father’s house, to wit, of Tola: they were valiant men of might in their generations; whose number was in the days of David two and twenty thousand and six hundred.” – (1 Chronicles 7:2)
1 Chronicles 7 contains the genealogies of several of the tribes of Israel, and lists many of the heads of the families that were alive when the Israelites were moving into the Promised Land during and after the time of Joshua. As you will recall, this land was full of the enemies of God’s people, and they all had to be removed from the land. In addition to the above verse, four times in this passage of Scripture the phrase “men of valour” is used to describe these men. I looked up the word “valour” in the dictionary, and it defines it as great courage in the face of danger. Some of the synonyms listed in the thesaurus for the word “valour” are bravery, courage, pluck, nerve, and fearlessness. I admire men who rise to the challenge and are willing to risk their lives for a greater cause than their own personal safety. God raised up these “men of valour” in Israel at a time when the people of God were facing incredible obstacles while claiming the inheritance that God had given them.
I remember the daring assault by the US Navy Seals in Pakistan which resulted in the removal of Usama bin Laden. These Seals are incredibly brave men, who are often asked to put their lives in great danger for the cause of liberty. I am very thankful for men who will lay their own safety on the line so that my family is kept safe. In a few weeks we will be observing Memorial Day. For many years this holiday meant little to me. For the most part it was a day for hamburgers, hot dogs, and potato salad; and a time to have barbecues or picnics with friends and family. But as I get older, and I look at my children and the opportunities they have here in this great nation, my mind is forced to think about the brave men and women who made it all possible for us. I would like to thank all of you who might be reading this thought this morning, who may have served our nation in the armed forces. You are truly men and women of valour.
As I was reflecting on my admiration of the men from this passage, and my appreciation for the men and women in America who keep us free, I was also challenged to consider what my contributions have been to make our country a better place. What sacrifices have I been willing to make so that life could be better for my family and neighbors? I want my life to make a difference as well. I don’t think that I will ever be called upon to go into a physical battle against some opposing army, but perhaps I can do some spiritual battle with the forces of darkness. I can also sacrifice some of my time, talent, and treasures to help people in a tangible way. Maybe there is something that you can do as well.
Posted in Thoughts from 1 Chronicles by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.
JUST FOR LADIES – BY CAMILLE STAHL
Today’s Reading – 1 Chronicles 6 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – John 5 – 6; Psalms 31 – 35; Proverbs 7)
Scripture Memorization for May – Romans 10
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 25
Read a great article by Pastor Pastor Cary Schmidt – “Stop Worrying“
Read the “0507 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Read a previous post from this passage – “A Large Family of Ministers“
A Study Of Women In The Bible
The Proverbs 31 Woman
“Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” (Proverbs 31:28)
I know, I know. Your saying to yourself, “Oh no! Not the Proverbs 31 woman!! How can we live up to her standards? She’s perfect.” Well lets take a look at her verse by verse and I think you’ll see that it’s not as hard as you think.
I want to start with verse 28. “Her children arise up and call her blessed, her husband also..” This verse is the goal. This is where we want to be. With Mother’s Day coming this Sunday, we, as mothers, want to strive to do our best in raising our children. We want to keep that close relationship with our children throughout our lives. If we are not moms yet, this is a good place to start.
“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” (Proverbs 31:10-12)
Here we see that a virtuous woman is priceless. She is compared to a fine jewel. When owning something of great value, it’s greatly taken care of. In return, it always shines and looks it’s best. Remember, one person’s best is not anothers. Her husband trusts her. She doesn’t waste his money and takes care of the things they have. “She will do him good”. She doen’t speak evil of him but builds him up. She cares for him as an example to her daughters or other young ladies. She is proud of what he does, even if it’s not up to her standards. There you go. Three verses down. Not hard. Did you pass?
“She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.” (Proverbs 31:13-14)
In Bible times, most women made clothing for their family. There were no JC Pennys or Walmarts. But even if you don’t make your clothing, (and I don’t know many who do) we still are thrifty in what we do buy. I know many women: Pastors’ wives, Missionary wives, myself and others, who go to Good Will and other second hand clothing stores. Many women exchange clothing, especially for the children. And how many of us will go to more than one food store to save on our food bill. And what about COUPONS!! How ya doin? Two more verses gone. Not as bad as you thought, right?
“She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.” (Proverbs 31:15)
Now don’t throw tomatoes yet. This woman got up early and made her family breakfast and lunch. We get too busy in life that we find ourselves getting to bed late. Because of this, we are running out the door with coffee in hand and a piece of toast in our mouth. Our kids are rushing around and grab whatever, if anything. Life is like a zoo in the morning. God never intended us to be so busy that we negelect our family. If you have a tomato in your hand about now, why not examine your busy life, and get rid of things that are keeping you too busy. I do understand about women having to work. I was a single and a married working mom and I know about the mistakes of being too busy for my family. Are you still with me? Put your tomato back in the refrigerator and have it with your lunch.
“She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.” (Proverbs 31:16)
The Proverbs 31 woman, bought a home and took care of it. Buying the land and planting on it, made it useable and more valuable. Even if you don’t “own” it, you’re still paying for it. You thought about the cost and made sure you could afford it. She fixes and takes care of it herself, so not to go into debt. Not bad. This one was easy.
“She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.” (Proverbs 31:17)
Though women are known as the weaker vessel, she is made strong by wisdom and grace, and the fear of God. A woman should control her own spirit and know how to manage other people. She should also be a help meet for her husband. We too can get wisdom by the reading and obeying God’s word. Do you read your Bible? We manage our family members everyday. As far as controlling our spirit, that is where the wisdom of God comes in. Life can get out of hand. Something can go wrong, we get caught up in the moment and we react the wrong way. Keeping our Christian spirit can only come when we stop, think and then react. The more we learn recognize temptations of Satan, the easier it is to keep ourselves in control.
Still doing ok?
“She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.” (Proverbs 31:18-22)
These five verses have a lot to do with taking care of her family. She makes sure the things she buys are good. It doesn’t matter if your rich or not. If you buy the items you and your family needs from the best of stores or from the flea market, we all do our best. She goes to bed after the family. She makes sure all is well before she lays her head down at night. Easy. We all check on the kids. We make sure the “night lights” are on before we go to bed. I don’t think I know anyone who wouldn’t help someone in a time of need. And like the ant, we prepare for winter. We make sure everyone has their hats and gloves. We take out the heavy blanks for those cold nights. See, we really aren’t much different then the Proverbs woman are we?
“Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.” (Proverbs 31:23)
“She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” (Proverbs 31:26)
I like this verse. She speaks kindness. Again I’ll say, Satan wants to keep our lives in spinning to the point that we can’t tell which side is up. When this happens we, tend to make mistakes and unkind words can find their way out of our mouths. Beware of satan. He is like a lion wanting to destroy us. Our tounges are like a knife. They can cut and destroy a person. OK. Hang in there. One more verse to go and you’ve made it. You can do it!
“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30)
This verse sums it all up. Fear the Lord. You can’t go wrong. No matter what anyone say or thinks, fear the Lord. Follow Him.
Well I know you all passed the test. You all got an A. Now we know we’re all Proverbs 31 Women. A daugther of the King of Kings.
Thank You, And I Pray You All Have A Blessed Mother’s Day. Enjoy Your Family.
1 John 5:13
Posted in Just for Ladies by Phil Erickson with 4 comments.
His name is “Mudd”
Today’s Reading – 1 Chronicles 1 – 2 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – John 1 – 2; Psalms 21 – 25; Proverbs 5)
Scripture Memorization for May – Romans 10
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 18:3 & 46
Read a great article by Pastor Pastor Cary Schmidt – “Stop Worrying“
Read the “0505 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
I must be completely honest with you and tell you that it was a little bit challenging finding a thought to write about from today’s portion of Scripture. The first few chapters of 1 Chronicles contain some very necessary information regarding the genealogical record of Israel. Though this information is important, it can also be very tedious to wade through; but we must not skip over passages of Scripture such as these. If you are searching for a nugget of truth, God will always get one to you, even in passages like this. So hang in there. By the way, eventually 1 Chronicles will become a very exciting book to read.
My thought this morning comes from chapter 2 and verse 7. In the middle of the genealogical record, there is a comment made about one of the listed men, Achar. He is called here “the troubler of Israel”. The story behind this man can be found in Johsua 7. He is called Achan there; and we find that he is the man that stole some gold and silver and a “goodly Babylonish garment” from the city of Jericho during Israel’s invasion of that city. The problem was that God told the Israelites that they were not supposed to touch anything in that city, but Achan could not resist. As a result, God’s judgment fell upon the whole nation of Israel, and they lost the next military battle with many innocent men being killed in the battle. Later, when Achan’s sin was discovered, he and his family were all put to death. The bottom line to this whole story is that Achan was probably a good man who yielded to a temptation, and the result was death and sorrow for a lot of people, and a reputation that will follow him for all eternity. His name will forever be “Mud”.
I want to challenge all of us to consider for a moment our own reputation, and the affect that our reputation will have on our family members. I understand that none of us is without sin, and I am not trying to rub salt on old wounds; but I am trying to get us to carefully consider the affect that some future sin will have on our reputations. When people here your name in the future what will they say about you? Will they say that you were a moral, honest, hard-working individual; or will their be negative thoughts that surround your reputation? By the way, if your reputation is less than perfect today, you still have time to change it.
Interesting side note on the expression “his name is mud”. It seems to have become popular as a result of a doctor named Samuel Mudd (pictured above) who treated and helped John Wilkes Booth after he broke his leg jumping down from the balcony in the Ford’s Theater, after his assassination of President Lincoln. Mudd was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, though he was later parolled by President Andrew Johnson.
Posted in Thoughts from 1 Chronicles by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.
Tolerance – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl
Good morning. In reading Luke 23 and 24 today, we see the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Pharisees would not tolerate Jesus anymore. They wanted people to look at them and see how spiritual they were. Jesus had come out, and called them sinners, the same as we all are. They were not going to stand for that. They took Jesus to Pilate, and Pilate had Him crucified.
They were not going to tolerate any other way to heaven except by keeping the Law. They were not going to tolerate the truth that they were hypocrites. They were not going to tolerate the new life that Jesus had for all believers. And I’m sure, if they had a bumper on their chariot, it would have a “tolerance” bumper sticker. I’m seeing more and more of these bumper stickers on cars. I want to get one. Then underneath it I’ll place another bumper sticker that says, “BUT…JOHN 14:6!” John 14:6 says, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Because we live in the United States of America, the land of the free, you are free to worship whoever you like. You can worship the moon god, Allah; but Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life, and no man cometh unto the Father but by Him. You can bow down to statues of Mary, and the saints, but Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life, and no man cometh unto the Father but by Him. You can worship a fat bald guy, but Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life, and no man cometh unto the Father but by Him. Or some multi-armed figment of someone’s imagination; but Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life, and no man cometh unto the Father but by Him. You can be a Mormon, and worship a Jesus who is satan’s brother, or for that matter you can even worship satan himself; but Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life, and no man cometh unto the Father but by Him. You can worship plants, trees, and shrubbery; but Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life, and no man cometh unto the Father but by Him. Why you are so free that you can even bow down before a mirror and worship yourself! But Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life, and no man cometh unto the Father but by Him.
As Christians, we tolerate other religions, why is it that they do not tolerate us? Because Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life, and no man cometh unto the Father but by Him. Hebrews 4:12 says: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Romans 12: 1 says to make your bodies a living sacrifice, so why blow yourself up? How about those statues you bow down to? Leviticus 26:1-9 tells us: “Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God. Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD. If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.”
HMMmmmm…. could that be why we are having so many problems in America? Maybe we should put the Real God first, and stop worshiping everything but Him, including ourselves. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6).
Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life, and it’s amazing how much He has tolerated us.
Peace. (1John 5:12-13)
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.