Jesus, My Lord: February 2016

Monday, February 29, 2016

Daily Worship Guide

This post is my online daily worship guide that is organized and provides focus for my daily worship efforts. My goal is to invest at least 60 to 90 minutes daily among the seven areas specified below. I need the structure that this guide provides for me.

Father GOD I pray that you will grant me Godly wisdom for today, and that your SPIRIT will enable me to pursue holiness, godliness, and to pray without ceasing today. Open the eyes of my heart that I will see spiritual truths from your WORD, and create a clean heart in me. Thank you for loving me and for sending your only SON to take the punishment for my sins and for the SPIRIT of life that has set me free from the law of sin and death. What GOD Is Like

Walking By The Holy Spirit

The Love of Christ Compels Us!

Christ-followers in the US live in a secular culture that seems to increasingly turn away from God and the principles upon which this country was founded. Given this environment, believers need to have a firm grasp of biblical worldview truths, and the two links below spell out biblical truths in a brief, but substantially complete way.

101 Biblical Worldview Truths

Biblical Worldview Truths - With Scriptures

How To Live Your Life Free From Sin

The Key To Overcoming for the Christ-follower

Spiritual Blessings in Christ Jesus

Even though as believers we are not under the Law but under Grace, we still have the effects of our old life under the Law imprinted in our minds---A Law mindset is an old way of thinking that causes us to rely on our performance to make things happen.

Heaven Is Beyond Your Wildest Expectations

The Spiritual Discipline of Prayer

Nine Characteristics of Biblical Prayer

Conditions to Answered Prayer

Right Now Media

Attacks on Christians in US Double in 3 Years

Jihad Watch

Few Extremists in Islam--That's a Myth!

144000 American Muslims Not Peaceful:Franklin Graham

Forget Too Big To Fail--The Government Is Too Big To Work

Americans, Your Government Is At War With You!

The Illusion of Freedom in America

I: Songs of Praise

I am not gifted with music, but I love good music, and the songs below speak to me and move me closer to God, my heavenly Father. As you will notice below, The Gaither Vocal Band is my style for gospel music.

II: Psalms of Praise & Favorite Proverbs

Praising God using the Psalms is very helpful, and the prayer Psalms come right from the hearts of men.

III: Bible Readings and Study

I need to feast on God's word for the food for my spirit, just as my body needs food to live. For too long I have ignored my need for spiritual food.

IV: Renewing My Mind

I need to be transformed by the renewing my mind with God's truth and wisdom to minimize my reliance on the wisdom of this world.

V: Prayer

Prayer is my communications link with God, where I can praise Him, and bring my needs to Him.

Daily Fellowship With GOD

Father God, I pray that You will once again equip me with the full armor of God so that when evil comes, I may be able to stand my ground (v. 13).

Equip me, Lord:

With the belt of truth (v. 14). May Your truth rule in my heart and be in my mind and on my lips today.

With the breastplate of righteousness (v. 14). Apart from You there is no righteousness, but through Jesus I have been “born again” and made righteous in Your sight. May I live as a righteous person.

With feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace (v. 15). May I reflect the Gospel in my words and actions, that through me, with my every encounter, others may be drawn one step closer to You.

With the shield of faith (v.16). May I take You at Your word concerning promises about the present and future—promises of everlasting love, abundant life, and so much more.

With the helmet of salvation (v. 17). Remind me that nothing can separate me from Your love and that by grace I’ve been saved. In Your grace, help me to say “no” to all ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live a self-controlled, upright, and godly life (Titus 2:12,13).

And with the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (v. 17). May Your Holy Spirit reign in my life and bring to my mind just the right Bible verses to be in my heart and on my lips. May I be “filled with the Spirit” and ready with Scripture as You were, Jesus, when the devil tempted You.

Finally, keep me in an attitude of prayer (v. 18). Remind me to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions.” Cause me to be alert and always praying for the saints; to be joyful and to give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Thank You that You hear the prayers of Your people, and that I am Your child. Help me to be Your person in this world to-day—salt and light, moment by moment.daily

The New Testament teaches us that we are to pray:

With faith: "All things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." (Mt. 21:22)
According to God's will: "This is the confidence we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." (I John 5:14-15)
In the Holy Spirit: "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit." (Jude 20)
With devotion: "rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer" (Rom. 12:12)
With thanksgiving: "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving." (Col. 4:2)
Ernestly: "As we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith" (I Thess 3:10)
Being on the alert for all the saints: "With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints" (Ephes. 6:18)

The prayer links below are very helpful.

VI: Meditation and Bible Verse Memorization

Meditating on God's Word helps to transform my thinking to conform to God's will. It is easier for me to meditate than it is to memorize God's Word.

VII: Christian eBooks for Edification and Encouragement

The books below are ones that I have read numerous times, and will continue to reread, because they reveal the nature of God, and help me to grow spiritually.

Monday, February 22, 2016

The Call to Pray

What I need is an unapologetic attempt to motivate...ME! Yes, me. Because if anybody needs help in getting motivated to pray, it's yours truly. I know prayer is important. There's enough of it in the Bible, and one can find tons of books on prayer.

Well, let me be honest. Sometimes (often?) prayer is hard and even confusing to me. As Tim Downs asks, "Is it hard to pray to an unseen, infinite, omniscient being? You bet!"

Seven Reasons To Pray

It builds our relationship with Jesus
Helps us overcome temptation
Helps us determine God's will
Prayer accomplishes God's work
A weapon of Spiritual warfare
A requisite to Spiritual awakening
Prayer is valuable to God

Link to above article.

The Prayer of Jesus - Kevin Jackson

5 Reasons Real Prayer is Hard

Nine Characteristics of Biblical Prayer

Conditions To Answered Prayer

How To Develop a Dynamic Prayer Life

Hard To Pray

Why Is It So Hard For Christians To Pray?

How To Talk To GOD

Talking to God and Hearing God Talk to You

Posted February 22, 2016

Sunday, February 21, 2016

GOD Hates 'Religion'

"A survey of the Scriptures reveals that there is one category that God hates above all others. God hates religion! Many will be confused, if not offended by such a statement, for they have identified God with religion. Religion, therefore, needs to be defined and differentiated from the Christian gospel."

"The English word 'religion' is etymologically derived from the Latin word religo, meaning to 'bind up'. Religion binds people up in rules and regulations or ritualistic patterns of devotion."

God Hates Religion!

God Hates Religion - You Tube Video

The 'Seven' Woes of Matthew 23

Why Christianity Is Not A Religion

9 Reasons God Hates Religion (and why you should too)

Why I Hate People Hating Religion!

Someone may be thinking 'I thought God invented religion!' Sorry, but God created man, and man invented religion.

Yes, God Hates Religion!

Christianity, on the other hand, was never meant to be a religion. Christianity is the dynamic spiritual life of the risen Lord Jesus indwelling the spirit of man so as to create functional behavior to the glory of God.

I Have Decided To Follow Jesus!

Posted February 21, 2016

Friday, February 19, 2016

Christ-followers Seek Godly Wisdom

In the Biblical sense, wisdom is the "ability to judge correctly and to follow the best course of action, based on knowledge and understanding." James 3:17

Eight Characteristics of Godly Wisdom

How Do Christians Acquire Godly Wisdom

Ecclesiastes, Chapter 7

Commentary - Ecclesiastes Chapter 7

Proverbs Chapter 8

Commentary - Proverbs Chapter 8

Jesus and Wisdom

Discerning Wisdom From Above - You Tube

The Wisdom of God and the Wisdom of Man

Godly Wisdom versus Human Knowledge

Six Steps to Godly Wisdom

The Wisdom of God Solves Problems

Godly Wisdom for Living Well in Marriage and Relationships

The Nature and Source of Godly Wisdom

The Wisdom of the Christian Message

The 7 Pillars of Wisdom

Updated September 21, 2016

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Understanding the Book of Revelation

This is the only book in the Bible that promises a blessing for reading it. It is a difficult book to understand for many Christ-followers. The links in this post will help one understand in a deeper way what this book is communicating to believers.

No Other Name But Jesus!

Revelation Song

The Hallelujah Side

ESV Study Bible

Since Revelation is "The Revelation of Jesus Christ" it demonstrates His glory, wisdom and power and portrays His authority over the church and His power and right to judge the world. But as the revelation of Christ, it is loaded with descriptive titles. It describes Jesus Christ as-

The faithful witness (1:5)
The firstborn from the dead (1:5)
The ruler over the kings of the earth (1:5)
The Son of Man (1:13)
The first and the last (1:17)
The living One (1:18)
The Son of God (2:18)
He who is holy, who is true (3:17)
The Amen (3:14)
The Beginning of the creation of God (3:14)
The Lion that is from the tribe of Judah (5:5)
The Root of David (19:13)
A Lamb (5:6)
The Word of God (19:13)
King of Kings and Lord of Lords (19:16)
The Alpha and the Omega (22:13)
The beginning and the end (22:13)
The bright morning Star (22:16)
The Lord Jesus (22:12)

Saturday, February 13, 2016

The Seven Laws of Love

This post reviews an excellent book, which I highly recommend, entitled "The Seven Laws Of Love" written by Dave Willis. The link to purchase this book at Amazon is listed below.

The Seven Laws Of Love

Dave is a pastor and enjoys teaching the Bible, marrying couples and helping people discover the beautiful life Jesus makes possible. I also want to link this post to the love chapter of the Bible. First Corinthians Chapter 13 Verses 4-8 of this chapter gives the following-

Love is patient
Love is kind
It does not envy
It does not boast
It is not proud
It does not dishonor others
It is not self-seeking
It is not easily angered
It keeps no record of wrongs
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres
Love never fails

I just purchased this book today to read on my Kindle Fire and was so inspired just a short way into the book, I had to buy three more paperbacks, one each for my wife Linda, and for Kevin and Angie my two adult children married with families of their own, raising my five precious grandchildren.

The Seven Laws in the book are listed below-

Love requires commitment
Love selflessly sacrifices
Love speaks truth
Love conquers fear
Love offers grace
Love brings healing
Love lives forever

The above laws are covered in the first part of the book. Part two, also seven chapters, covers love in action.

7 Things God Wants You To Know About Yourself

A quote early in the book by Dave Willis is one I have to share with everyone.

"After studying all that the Bible has to teach us about love, I've boiled down hundreds of love-related passages of Scripture into the following definition-

"Love is an unconditional commitment to selflessly serve, truthfully communicate, fearlessly protect, gracefully forgive, compassionately heal, and enduringly remain in relationship with and for the sake of another."

"The Seven Laws of Love are wrapped up in this single definition."

12 Causes of Stress in Marriage

Additional quotes from Dave's book can be accessed here.

Some quotes by Shaunti Feldahn in the forward are below-

"You don't have to trust someone in order to forgive, but you have to forgive someone in order to make trust possible again.'

"Your character should always be stronger than your circumstances."

"A husband and wife must operate like two wings on the same bird; if they don't work together in full partnership, the marriage will never get off the ground.'

"Time is the currency of relationships, so consistently invest time in your marriage."

"Being nice to people isn't a personality trait, it's a choice."

"When you step from this life into eternity, love will be all that matters."

The Love of God

Loving God, Loving Each Other

Love is Like a River!

Posted on February 13, 2016

Friday, February 12, 2016

The Truth About "Hell"

Is Hell Real? Do Christians really believe in Hell? Why would a loving GOD send people to Hell forever?

Theology Dictionary: Definition of Hell

Is Hell Real? Focus On The Family

Sin Is Real and Hell Is Real!

24 Reasons Why Hell is Real

Is Hell Real? People Who Went There Say Yes

The Truth About Hell

What Happens When We Die

Posted February 12, 2016

Thursday, February 4, 2016

The 'Beatitudes'

The word "beatitude" comes from the Latin beatitudo, meaning "blessedness." The Phrase "blessed are" in each of the beatitudes implies a current state of happiness or well-being. The expression held powerful meaning of "divine joy and perfect happiness" to the people of the day. In other words, Jesus was saying "divinely happy and fortunate are" those who possess these inward qualities.

Matthew 5:3-12 - The Beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Each one is a proverb-like saying packed with meaning and worthy of thorough study. Still most Bible scholars would agree that the beatitudes give us a clear picture of the true disciple of God.

The Sermon on the Mount

A Different View of the Beatitudes

The Eight Beatitudes of Jesus

The Beatitudes - Bible.Org

The Beatitudes: A Path to a New Life

The Beatitudes in Revelation

The Beatitudes by A.W. Pink

Study Guide for The Sermon on the Mount

The Lord is Your Shepherd

At The Cross!