Not For Ladies Only – by Camille Stahl
Today’s Reading – Psalms 1 – 8 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers also read – Philemon – Hebrews 4; Psalms 81 – 85; Proverbs 17)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Proverbs 3:5 & 6
Read the “0617 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Read previous posts from this passage – “A Recipe for Success” and “Kiss the Son“
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” (Psalms 1:1-2)
King David, the writer of the majority of Psalms, was a talented poet. His writings were bold and personal with God.
In verse one and two we see David talking about getting counsel. And his counsel comes from the Word of God.
In life we have many trials and testing. There are so many self-help books, TV and radio shows, and other worldly advisors. Verse one warns us about this kind of counsel. My friend, the best self-help book is the Bible, and the best group session to attend is church.
How should I dress?
It seems like women are showing more and more skin. But the Bible says,
“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” (1Timothy 2:9-10)
How should I treat my husband?
Just watch most TV programs. The wife will put her husband down and try to take his place as the head of the house. She shows no love or respect towards him. The Bible says,
“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:22)
Men, this is for you.
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” (Ephesians 5:25)
Who should I marry?
The world would tell you that you don’t need to marry. Or you can marry anyone you want. If it does not work out, leave. The Bible says,
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)
I could never forgive ….. for what they did.
The way of the world would tell you to spend all your time and energy on getting even. The Bible says,
“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” (Col0ssians 3:13)
God loves you. He is your Heavenly Father. He will guide you in all things. His counsel is the only truth. Together, let’s follow David’s advice and seek God’s counsel.
Thank You
1 John 5:13
Posted in Just for Ladies by admin with no comments yet.
HIS Righteousness – The Saturday Morning Post
Today’s Reading – Job 33 – 35 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – 1 Timothy 4 – 6; Psalms 66 – 70; Proverbs 14)
Read the “0614 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Read previous posts from this passage – “That Which I See Not“ and “Multiplying Words“
“He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.” (Job 33:26)
“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20)
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2Corinthians 5:18-21)
Good morning. How are your works going? Are they good or are they bad? Are they drudgery or a labor of love? Why do I ask? Because, by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified (Galatians 2:16): because the good we do, our own righteousnesses, are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Unless our righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, we cannot enter Heaven. So what can we do? God provided a way: the Way: The Lord Jesus Christ…
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2Corinthians 5:21)
How do we get God’s righteousness? It is the free gift for us to ask God for: Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved .”
We will have righteousness that is greater than that of the Pharisees because it is the righteousness of God…
“He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.” (Job 33:26)
Not only did Jesus give us His righteousness while bearing our sins on the cross, but He made us this promise…
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:37-40)
Peace. (Psalm 4)
Posted in The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl with no comments yet.
Hush, Listen and Pray – by Camille Stahl
Today’s Reading – Job 19 – 21 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – Colossians 1 – 4; Psalms 46 – 50; Proverbs 10)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 55:17
Read the “0610 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Read a previous post from this passage – “The Words of My Mouth“
“They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?” (Job 21:13-15)
After several conversations with his friends, Job seems to be getting angry. Jobs tells his friends if they want to help him just listen and then they could mock him.
Job had lived a good life. He had many animals, and many children. He was a good man. But thieves had taken his animals, and his children were dead. In the middle of it all, his wife told him to curse God and die. But Job stayed faithful to his God. He knew the advice his friends were giving, was not true.
Job described the good life of some evil people, and knew they enjoyed their lives. Their power, they believe, came from their own doings. These people did not want to serve anyone, especially God. They only cared about their own pleasure. They didn’t pray because they said, ‘We will not benefit if we pray. Prayer is a waste of time.’
Job did not behave like they did. He was glad to serve God. He would pray even if he didn’t received benefits from it. He didn’t care if evil people lived a better life than him. He would not listen to wicked people’s advice. Job respected God, and Job loved God. God mattered more to Job than Job’s wealth.
Throughout the Bible we read about so many people whose lives changed because of seemingly bad times in their life. When Noah, who was mocked by the people for building a boat on dry land, was saved, him and his family, from the flood. When the male children were to be drowned in the Nile, God had His hand on Moses. Moses later freed the children of Israel out of Egypt. Joseph’s brothers sold him to be a slave. Later in life, Joseph saved his people from the famine. There are so many other examples. But they all had one thing in common, they relied on God when the times got ruff. Jesus himself, in His darkest hour, was praying and drawing closer to our Heavenly Father.
Testing will come to all believers. If God is allowing it, we must remember it’s for our good and He is in control over everything. We must trust. If we know someone going through a trial, let’s remember to be a great friend and listen and pray.
Like Job, God may be saying to Satan, “Have you considered my servant,” and put your name there.
Thank You
1 John 5:13
Posted in Just for Ladies by admin with 1 comment.
With Friends Like These… – The Saturday Morning Post
Today’s Reading – Job 8 – 11 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – Ephesians 1 – 3; Psalms 31 – 35; Proverbs 7)
“Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind? Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?” (Job 8:1-3)
“Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?” (Job 11:1-3)
Loosely translated, Bildad the Shuhite said, “Job, you’re full of hot air.”; and Zophar the Naamathite said, “Job, you’re a liar.” With friends like these, who needs enemies?
Good morning. They were just trying to help their friend Job, weren’t they? Of course the truth will make you free, Job, so admit you messed up and sinned. For the Lord to take away everything you had, you must have really screwed up. You can trust us: we’re your friends. Come clean Job! Give us the dirt!
King David found himself in a similar situation…
“False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.” (Psalm 35:11-14)
Sometimes it’s best not to know what the situation is. God knows exactly what the situation is. We should all take David’s example and go to God in prayer. That’s being a friend.
Peace. (Job 42:10)
Posted in Guest Posts, Thoughts from Job by Pastor Ted Stahl with 2 comments.
Vashti, A Woman Who Stood For Right
Today’s Reading – Esther 1 – 5 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – 2 Corinthians 5 – 8; Psalms 11 – 15; Proverbs 3)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 19
Read the “0603 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
t’s Read previous posts from this passage – “Obsession” and “It’s a God Thing“
“On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.” (Esther 1:10-12)
The King and his men were drinking for several days. Ahasuerus the king, demanded that Vashti, his wife, come to him so he could show her off. But she refused. This was a dangerous thing to do because it looked like the king had no control over his wife. So all the counselors came together to give their opinion. They wanted Vashti to be stripped of her rank and never allowed to see the king.
The Bible doesn’t tell why Vashti took this stand, but it caused action to push her off the throne. Later in scripture we find God used her again when her son became king.
God is in control of all our lives, even when things look bad. We’re facing hopeless situations. We don’t think we can be pushed anymore. We feel that we are being punished for our faith and are suffering for no reason. God has not deserted us. We may not see His purpose or justice until the end, but we can be certain He will prevail, just as He did for Vashti, a Gentile woman.
Thank You
1 John 5:13
Posted in Just for Ladies by admin with no comments yet.
How To Be A Success – The Saturday Morning Post
Today’s Reading – Nehemiah 6 – 7 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read –1 Corinthians 9 – 12; Psalms 146 – 150; Proverbs 31)
“Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee. And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me. My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear. So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.” (Nehemiah 6:10-15)
Good morning. Under orders of King Artaxerxes in Babylon, Nehemiah had come back to Jerusalem to rebuild it…
“Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.” (Nehemiah 2:9-10)
Does it seem strange to you, that when your church does something to help someone in need there is a force that doesn’t like it? Nehemiah had Sanballat and Tobiah; we have the devil. In today’s passage, Sanballat and Tobiah tried to get Nehemiah to stop the work on the wall of Jerusalem by trying to scare Nehemiah into the temple to save his life: without Nehemiah, the others doing the work would have been easy prey for the enemies of God. But God opened Nehemiah’s eyes to the plot. Nehemiah prayed that God would remember Sanballat and Tobiah’s evil deeds, and also that of the prophetess and prophets hired to cause Nehemiah and his workers to fear. The wall was completed in 52 days.
When the devil attacks the work being done for God, we have four weapons that will keep us going…
The first is KNOWLEDGE.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour…” (1Peter 5:8)
“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44)
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1John 4:4)
We have knowledge of our enemy’s tactics, and also that our God is greater than anything the devil tries to throw at us. Knowledge is our first weapon against the devil, the second is UNDERSTANDING,
“He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” (1John 3:8)
Understand this, that the devil is already a defeated foe. Jesus said…
“…Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” (Revelation 1:17-18)
Our third weapon is WISDOM.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” (James 4:7-8)
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5)
Whatever the devil throws at you, God has the wisdom you need to deal with it; all you have to do is ask Him for it. He gives us knowledge, understanding and wisdom. The fourth weapon He gives us binds all of these together. The fourth weapon is FAITH. Faith is the most important weapon, without faith, none of the other weapons will work.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
“…for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matthew 17:20)
“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)
KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, WISDOM, and FAITH: God did not leave us to fend for ourselves. He defeated the devil on the cross, when He died, and when He walked out of the tomb.
Peace! (Revelation 20:10)
Posted in Devotions by Pastor Ted Stahl with 1 comment.
Sanctify Yourselves – The Saturday Morning Post
Today’s Reading – 2 Chronicles 29 – 31(Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – Acts 25 – 28; Psalms 116 – 118; Proverbs 24)
“Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them. And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street, And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs. Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel. Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes. For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.” (2Chronicles 29:1-9)
Good morning. King Hezekiah wanted to do what was right in the sight of the LORD. He put God first and told the Levites and the priests to sanctify (make holy, purify) themselves and God’s house. Their fathers before them had turned their backs on God and His house. There was nothing happening at their church: the porch was boarded up, the lamps were extinguished…
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.” (Leviticus 24:1-2)
…they should have burned continually. There was no incense or offerings being burnt: no offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
Hezekiah’s orders: sanctify yourself, and the house of God. It took eight days to sanctify themselves, and eight days to sanctify God’s house…
“And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD. And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron. Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the LORD: so they sanctified the house of the LORD in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.” (2Chronicles 29:15-17)
The Levites and the priests sanctified the house of the LORD by removing all the uncleanness that they found in the temple…
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1Corinthians 6:19-20)
Being too close to the world can cause us not to put God first. Sometimes we need to examine ourselves: are the lamps still burning; is there a sweet smell making it’s way to the LORD? Sometimes it may be time for Spring cleaning. We need to carry out all the uncleanness and throw it into the brook and don’t even wave goodbye.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.” (1Peter 3:15-17)
Here are three ways to sanctify yourself, and the first is the most important: are you saved?
“Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.” (Hebrews 13:12)
“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” (Colossians 1:20-29)
We are all sinners in need of a Saviour. There is only one Saviour: Jesus Christ, who shed His blood to pay for our sins. If you call on Him to save you, He will, and His blood will sanctify you.
The second is through the Word of God. Jesus prayed…
“I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word…” (John 17:14-20)
And also in Ephesians chapter 5…
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:25-27)
Read your Bible daily allowing God to wash you by His Word. His truth that is contained in the Bible is the only truth we can stand on.
And thirdly is what you must do…
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” (2Timothy 2:15-21)
It doesn’t matter if a vessel is made of gold, silver, wood, or earth. It can be large or small; rich or poor; healthy or sickly; great or humble: there are vessels of honour and vessels of dishonour. Stay away from the ones who are not following the Word of God: the vessels of dishonour.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2Corinthians 6:14-18)
Be saved: sanctified through the blood of Jesus.
Be studying: sanctified by being washed in the Word.
Be separate: sanctified by keeping yourself from the vessels of dishonour.
Peace. (Leviticus 11:44)
Posted in Devotions by Pastor Ted Stahl with 1 comment.
Searching or Forsaking by Camille Stahl
Today’s Reading – 2 Chronicles 13 – 17 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – Acts 13 – 15; Psalms 96 – 100; Proverbs 20)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Proverbs 3:5 & 6
Read the “0520 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Read previous posts from this passage – “Asa – He Started Well But Finished Poorly“; “Trust in the Lord“, and “Don’t Shoot the Messenger”
“And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.” (2 Chronicles 15:2)
God desires fellowship with us. But He will never push himself on us. As much as we allow Him, He will bless us. This is a glorious promise. We need to fear nothing because with Him we can face any problem. The Lord was with Adam until he sinned. The Lord was with Samson until he broke his vow. In every case, man makes the break. He could exist completely independent of us but we cannot live without Him.
Unlike other ‘gods’, if we seek Him, we will find Him. The prophets and priests sought for Baal before Elijah.
“And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.” (1 Kings 18:28-29)
No matter how loud they cried or how deep they cut themselves, they had no power to call down their powerless god. Hannah, the mother of Samuel, sought and found Him with just moving her lips with no sound.
The warning is not to forsake Him.
“But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:33)
People blame God for tragedies that they themselves are responsible for. They don’t want to have to answer or be accountable to anyone. As a result, there is no reading of the bible or praying. No one wants to go to church. When things go wrong, and they will, no matter if you’re in the will of God or not. That’s when people throw their fists at God.
Whose team are you on? Searching or forsaking.
Thank You
1 John 5:13
Posted in Just for Ladies by admin with 1 comment.
Others – The Saturday Morning Post
Today’s Reading – 2 Chronicles 1 – 5 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – Acts 4 – 6; Psalms 81 – 85; Proverbs 17)
“And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it. In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead. Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?” (2Chronicles 1:6-10)
Good morning. If God came to you and asked you the same thing He asked Solomon, “Ask what I shall give thee.”, what would you ask for? Riches? A new car? A new house? Long life? What would you ask for? Remember, God created everything out of nothing: He is totally able to give you whatever it is you want. What would you ask God for?
When I was in college, I found it somewhat difficult. I was an electronics technician: I could use various pieces of test equipment, and troubleshoot down to the failed component on a circuit board. Of spiritual matters though, I was a novice. When the going got rough, I would ask the Lord to keep me going for the sake of others. The others, at that time, were Susan B., Al S., and our preacher, Phil Erickson. If I were to quit, what would happen to them? Would they quit too? “Lord, help me to keep going for their sakes.”, I would ask the Lord.
There may have been others watching me also. What affect would I have on them if I quit? The Lord kept me going for the sake of others, and He helped me cram 4 years of college into 5. Solomon asked the Lord for wisdom and knowledge for the sake of the people God had given him. Jesus came for the sake of others…
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)
If Jesus, and Solomon, were concerned about others, shouldn’t you be also? We all should.
Peace! (John 3:16)
Posted in Devotions by Pastor Ted Stahl with 1 comment.
What Have They Done?
Today’s Passage – 1 Chronicles 19 – 22 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
Second Milers also read – John 17 – 18; Psalms 61 – 65; Proverbs 13
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 34:6
Read the “0513 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Read previous posts from today’s passage in 1 Chronicles – “Get Busy” and “The Threshingfloor of Ornan“
“And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it…. And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.” (1 Chronicles 21:1 – 2. 7)
“Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Choose thee: Either three years’ famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me. And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.” (1 Chronicles 21:10 – 13)
“And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father’s house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.” (1 Chronicles 21:17)
In our reading passage today from 1 Chronicles 21, we see that David made a very bad leadership decision to number the people of Israel. His purpose for doing this was to determine the strength of his army. God was very displeased with this decision because David was not supposed to trust in the strength of his numbers and the size of his military force; he was supposed to trust in God. David should have known better. He had already seen many miraculous victories wrought by God even when Israel was facing substantially superior forces. David should have known that it didn’t matter how many people he had on his side, because if God was with him, he had all that he needed.
David’s decision resulted in the deaths of 70,000 people. My thought from this is that the decisions made by leaders affect many people and therefore ought to be taken very seriously. David was even warned by Joab not to number the people, but he did it anyway. He yielded to Satan (v. 1), instead of listening to wise counsel and submitting to God. People who are given a position of leadership must not take their responsibility lightly. They need to make sure that every decision they make is according to the will of God. It would do leaders well to stop and pray before making any major decisions, and wait until they are sure that they have the mind of God.
You and I are all leaders in some respect. I lead a church, and a family. Nearly everybody will be called upon to lead others in some capacity. We need to be very careful about the decisions that we make. I have already made many bad decisions in my ministry that have hurt people, but I don’t want to hurt anybody else. I need to heed my own advice here and take very seriously my position, and very prayerfully make decisions that will be a blessing to the people I love and minister to.
By the way. If the decisions of our leaders are so important, and can affect our lives in such tangible ways, it would certainly be good for us to pray for our leaders, and encourage them to follow God in everything they do. We have many people that lead us in all areas of our lives. There are leaders in the family, in the church, and in our government. These folks will decide things that will either help us or hinder us, so we had better help them by praying for them, and supporting them as they follow the Lord.
Posted in Thoughts from 1 Chronicles by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.