Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Meditation on John 17

Meditation on John 17

Lord Jesus, Heavenly Father, and Holy Spirit; the one true triune God give eternal life to our children and grandchildren.  Make of them true believers and regenerated in their deepest hearts.  Fully convert them to the truth of the gospel.  Please, we beg you, save your covenant children.

Lord, convert us as well in truth.  Help us lay aside the "faith games" we make up in our heads and the church routine that takes up a little of our time.

Instead, we want to personally and really have a deep relationship with you.  We want to know you Triune God through the sacrifice and resurrection of the Messiah Jesus who accomplished the work of salvation.  Let all the world see clearly the wonder and awe of the great compassion, grace, and courage of the Messiah Jesus.  LORD JESUS, may you be exalted in all the earth.

LORD JESUS,  you have taken us out of our rebellious and unbelieving culture and separated us to WORD.  We are now defined not by the lies of the doubt but by the TRUTH of the faith.   Help us remember who we are and who you have made us.

Great High Priest Jesus, remember your people in prayer this day.  Keep us from the lies of the world, the attitude of rebellion, and the insanity of self-righteousness.  Pour out the COMFORTER and COUNSELOR upon us in renewed power and presence.  Revive us this day.  Guard us against the plots and plans of the devil today.

Master Jesus, set up apart in your TRUTH.  Send us now out to the world who needs TRUTH, not in pride and self-righteousness,but in humble love.

Great Savior and Lord, to our shame we have become divided with every wind of doctrine.  Your sheep are scattered due to our not listening to your voice.  Now, manifest the oneness you have created in us and allow us to manifest this unity of truth and love so that the nations might believe that YOU, LORD JESUS,  was sent from the FATHER to be the anointed Savior, King, and Hope.

Holy Spirit you have baptized us into the LORD Jesus.  We are in HIM and HE is in us.  This union and communion now exist so allow this deep spiritual unity manifest itself.  Bring your people to full spiritual maturity.  Fill us with YOUR divine love that we might shine as your LIGHT AND LOVE in this generation.

Lord may your prayer be fully completed in our lives and in the lives of our children in this generation.  LORD, be glorified by pouring out your mercy and grace in this time.  Lord have mercy, Messiah have mercy, Lord have mercy.  Amen


True Patriotism: Can a Christian be a patriot?

True Patriotism

"(1) Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? (2) The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, (3) "Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!" (4) He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. (5) Then He will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury, saying, (6) "But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain." (7) "I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. (8) 'Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession. (9) 'You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.'" (10) Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth. (11) Worship the LORD with reverence And rejoice with trembling. (12) Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!" [Psalm 2:1-12 NASB]

I.  What is Memorial Day?

“Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces. The holiday, which is observed every year on the last Monday of May, originated as Decoration Day after the American Civil War in 1868, when the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans founded in Decatur, Illinois, established it as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. By the 20th century, competing Union and Confederate holiday traditions, celebrated on different days, had merged, and Memorial Day eventually extended to honor all Americans who died while in the military service.[1]  It became an official holiday in 1971. 

So we remember American who have paid the ultimate price of giving their lives in what they believed to be just wars.   As Christians this does raise for us the theological question of what does make a war just.  [2]  We will discus this on Wednesday night.

Meditation: Gettysburg Address; List of the deaths in the wars of the USA, suggested movies Gettysburg & God & Generals.



II.  What is Patriotism? – Love of my nation

In fact, 94.5% of Americans think of themselves as at least somewhat patriotic, and 72.2% say they are either very or extremely patriotic, according to a new USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll of 1,009 adults. Only 5% of those polled said they were "not especially patriotic."[3]

III.  How Should Christians Think of Patriotism

Creation:  God has ordained us to live in the political and social context into which we have been born.  So appropriate loyalty and love to our family, community, and social groups is part of accepting those God ordained relationships in our lives.  

However, all of our relationships must be seen within the context of being under God’s rule and part of God’s kingdom.   Our ultimate loyalty must be to the Creator and not to our human connections.

Rebellion:  We have made ultimate our nation and culture, putting them ahead of God’s will and way.  We want God to serve our nation instead of our nation serving God.   This is the “spirit of the beast” found in the book of Revelation.   It is also an attitude of revolution against God’s kingdom and righteousness. All nations will persecute God’s people eventually. 

Redemption:  The chosen KING MESSIAH JESUS,  has come to pay for the sins of his people, destroy the works of the devil, and bring back the full manifestation of the KINGDOM to the earth through HIS death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and return in glory. 

The disciples of Jesus (Christians) are now first of all citizens of the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, ambassadors of that KINGDOM, and children of the KING.  Our primary citizenship is to the eternal KINGDOM and only secondary to the United States (or any other nation).  Our first love is for the KINGDOM and a secondary love would be for the United States of America.  [4]

We should use Memorial Day to remember all the martyrs of the church who gave their lives for the kingdom of God. [5]

Restoration:  Recognize that all earthly kingdoms will pass away and that the only eternal kingdom is that of the Lord Jesus Christ.

IV.  Closing Thoughts – From faith to service – Give to the Voice of the Martyrs http://www.persecution.com/ and  Operation Heal Our Patriots  http://video.samaritanspurse.org/a-heart-for-veterans/






War: Four Christian Views  by Robert G. Clouse; editor (Editor), Herman A. Hoyt (Contributor), Myron S. Ausburger (Contributor), Arthur F. Holmes (Contributor), Harold O.J. Brown (Contributor)

[4] See the movie Chariots of Fire is a 1981 British historical drama film.   

Monday, May 30, 2016

Prayer based on Psalm 14

Lord Jesus, help my heart not be filled with trouble and concerns this day. Help me to trust and rely on the FATHER and YOU. Provide me confidence that there is a new world being created for us and that I will be part of that restored Eden.

Messiah LORD Jesus, help me to see clearly that you are the only way back to the FATHER. YOU are the one way of redemption and reconciliation. YOU, LORD JESUS are salvation. Help me to see the FATHER in YOU.

LORD, do greater works through your people. Manifest your love through us that the heavenly FATHER will be glorified through the victory and power of the SON.

Messiah KING JESUS, show me how to guard and practice your commandments. Pour out the HOLY SPIRIT upon us and bring to us the truth and the power to live consistently by the truth.

Help me not feel orphaned and alone today. Help us to feel your presence around us and in us. Manifest yourself to us. Increase our love for you LORD JESUS and from this love bring the fruit of obedience.

HOLY SPIRIT, help us today. Remind us of the great love of God for us in the sacrifice of the Messiah Jesus for our sins. Teach us! Flood us with YOUR peace. Help us not live in fear in light of the times we live in.


Save us from being troubled and fearful this day. Help us walk by faith in YOU. Amen

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Meditation on John 3

Meditation On John 3

Lord, let me seek YOU with my questions.  Let me listen to YOUR answers.  Let me now be without questions because I do not care or think I already have the answers.  

Lord, send your regenerating SPIRiT out in great power and raise the spiritually dead.  Without you giving us spiritual life we are dead and blind.  Come now and give us true and transforming new birth.  

Nothing we do in our own strength will matter.  Blow on us Wind of Heaven.  Bring to us a spiritual hurricane!  

Lord, let me understand what you are revealing.  Let us look to YOUR cross of sacrifice and suffering and be saved from the deadly poison of our sins.  

LORD, let every nation, people, and tribe hear of YOUR great love.  Save the people's of the world, the clans of the nations bring to faith, that all my escape just condemnation and know YOU in an intimate and close way.  Provide for us life eternal.   

Provide for us true faith in YOU LORD JESUS!  Messiah, Son of God, anointed prophet, priest, and king, the Word made flesh, take from us our love of darkness and help us come to YOUR light confessing and repenting of our sins.  Shine your light upon us and take us out of darkness.

  Lord, be our bridegroom and let us see the great love you have for us.  Help us see YOUR desire to become one with us and have an intimate relationship with you.   Grow greater and greater in our lives.   

Son of God; be leading us to take refuge in only you, give to us true and deep devotion to you.  There is no life outside of YOU.  No hope of salvation or escape from just wrath on our sins.  Good Savior, now save us!   Our hope and trust are in you alone.  Amen

Friday, May 27, 2016

Prayer based on Luke 15

Prayer based on Luke 15

Lord, keep me from thinking I am better and brighter than others.  Keep me from the attitude of self-righteousness.   

Lord, I take joy over anything that goes my way,  Whenever, my will is done I am happy.  If I lose some small thing and then find it I take joy in it.  I will pray to find it and you in your grace answer these small simple non-significant petitions.  

Yet, I do not pray for the lost souls to be reconciled to you as I should.  I don't cry out for your kingdom to come and will to be done on earth as in heaven.  I have no great joy over those who do come to faith.  

Lord, forgive my hard heart. 

Lord, remember today the prodigal children.  Those who have been raised in homes where they had bibles, prayer, church, and faith.  Where the hope from when they were first born was that they would know you, love you, and serve you.  

But now so many have strayed.  They live in far countries.  No longer involved with bibles, prayer, church, or faith.  They have become secular and hard.  Some are still involved in a time of success and parties.  Others are with the pigs eating pods.  

Rebellious children all. 

Just like me.  

Holy Spirit, come now awaken the prodigals who are far off.  Break the hearts of stone and give them hearts of flesh.  Give to them a change of mind and heart.  Open their eyes to see your grace, forgiveness, and love.

Give answers to their doubts. 

Heal their church wounds.

Heal the wounds we caused.

Give them, the gift of faith.  

Don't let them perish in the far country.   

The dream we had for them all their lives was that they would have lives of faith, love, and hope.  We would have sacrificed our lives for their lives.  We did sacrifice our lives for their lives.  They were supposed to follow you better than we have.  Suppose to be stronger and smarter.  

But we could not make their choices for them.  Had to let them grow.  But now could they go so far away from you?  

Forgive us for our failures in being better examples of faith to them.  

Good Father, who takes joy in having prodigals come home.  Bring them back to us by the millions.  Let the baptized children be awakened in their hearts to come back to YOU this day.  Let the dedicated children, set apart like Samuel, be awakened and be brought back to you today.  

Stir the faith given in childhood and break into the dark places with your light and love.  

Lord, please act now to bring the prodigal children home.   Amen

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Meditation on Matthew 6

Meditation on Matthew 6

Lord, save me from self-righteousness and pride.  Help me not do good, be generous or religious just to be thought well of by other people.  Help me to have a private life of piety before you that no one else knows about.

In my prayers help fervency and sincerity be the greatest principles of my petitions and praise.

Heavenly Father, may the whole world see you for who you really are and reveal to all cultures the truth of your love for them in Messiah Jesus.  

Lord, rule over the rulers of every land.  Have them bend their knees to your word and will.  Let your  righteousness come to the earth.  

Lord, help us now at a physical level.  Give the sick new health, the distressed new hope, and the hungry ways to get bread.

In your great grace found in the sacrifice on the cross, now provide for us deep and real forgiveness of our sins.   Transform us into a forgiving and graceful people who can love our enemies.

Don't take us to places where we may be tested to fail to love people as we should love them.  Keep us from failing to love YOU.   Defeat the plans of the devil for our lives.

Help our hearts be filled with mercy and not bitterness.  Grant that in our attitudes we would be controlled by mercy and grace.   Help us know we have been given grace by our giving grace.

Provide for us a hunger to fast.  Help us become weak that we can become strong.

Keep us from the greed that turns money and objects into idols.  Help us to value righteousness and your rule in our lives more than success in our careers and wealth.

Lord, help our vision to be your vision.  Take our blindness from us.  Grant us to see things from your perspective.  Save us from our illusions and blindness.

Lord Jesus, be our MASTER.  Create in us a pure devotion to you.  Take away those things in our heart that would come lure us into making them our ultimate concern of life.  Lord, save us!

Help us trust that you provide all we need to do your will.  Help us make of first priority your rule and right living.   Don't allow our appetites control our decisions and actions.

Free us from the fear of the future and grant we might live today in true faith.  Help us to overcome the challenges of this day.  Amen

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Mini-Seminar - Wednesday Night at 7 PM, March 25th - Learning How To Have Effective Fellowship!

Learning How To Have Effective Fellowship
Mini-Seminar

I.  God believes in Christian fellowship

"(23) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; (24) and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, (25) not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." [Hebrews 10:23-25 NASB)

"(34) "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (35) "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."" [John 13:34-35 NASB]

II.  Share your faith stories with one another.  This is God’s gift.

"(11) For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; (12) that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine." [Romans 1:11-12 NASB]

III.  Listen to each other.

"(19) This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; (20) for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God." [James 1:19-20 NASB]

IV.  We are to share with each other our help and lives

"(6) The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him." [Galatians 6:6 NASB]

"(28) He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need." [Ephesians 4:28 NASB]

"(17) But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all." [Philippians 2:17 NASB]

"(14) Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction." [Philippians 4:14 NASB]

"(12) giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light." [Colossians 1:12 NASB]




V.  Kindle the Fire in Corporate singing

"(18) I will give You thanks in the great congregation; I will praise You among a mighty throng." [Psalm 35:18 NASB]

"(9) I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation; Behold, I will not restrain my lips LORD, You know." [Psalm 40:9 NASB]\

"(32) Let them extol Him also in the congregation of the people, And praise Him at the seat of the elders." [Psalm 107:32 NASB]

"(1) Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise in the congregation of the godly ones." [Psalm 149:1 NASB]

VI.  Listen to the Word, be the house of prayer, and seek the presence of Jesus at the table.

"(4) The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples, That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple." [Isaiah 50:4 NASB]

"(17) And He began to teach and say to them, "Is it not written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS'? But you have made it a ROBBERS' DEN."" [Mark 11:17 NASB]

"(23) For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; (24) and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me." (25) In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." (26) For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes." [1 Corinthians 11:23-26 NASB]

VII.  No gossip but loving rebuke

"(20) For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances;" [2 Corinthians 12:20 NASB]

"(3) "Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him." [Luke 17:3 NASB]


Final Thoughts

Monday, May 23, 2016

Meditation on Psalm 25

Meditation on Psalm 25

Lord, YOU are what I rely on so let me not suffer defeat before the enemies of my soul.  Help be patient and trust you at the darkest hour.  Defeat the dark lord, the lies of the world, and the unbelief of my own heart.  

Open  my mind, heart, and soul to your truth.  Make clear to me a lifestyle that would be the way of right living.  YOU are my Savior Lord Jesus so now show me how to follow you this day.  

Lord, pour out your faithful and promises love upon me.  Cleanse me of my past sins and remember me today as a child of your grace and mercy.  

Lord, you are good, great, giving, and full of grace.  YOU LORD, are the faithful and loving teacher to the loss.  Ready to instruct those ready to hear.  Grant me the willingness to know that I need to learn.  All your ways are filled with your unconditional and faithful compassion.  

Save me from the traps that have been set before me.  Lead me not into temptation.  Deliver me from the evil one.  For the glory of your name save me.  My sins are great and many.  Only your grace can save me at the great price of your blood upon the cross.  I look to YOU alone to save me.  Heavenly friend, come now , and help me, least I perish.  

Good, great, God of grace; turn to me and pour your mercy and unconditional love towards me.  Be on my side though I don't deserve it.  I am overwhelmed with my troubles, distresses, afflictions, and troubles.  LORD, turn to me or I have no hope.  I am weak and small, without you, I can do nothing.  

Protect my soul.  Defeat the dark lord and the evil that pursues. me.  Help me to trust you in the middle of things that make no sense to me.  

Renew, revive and restore me and all your people.  Shake the nations and act in a mighty way in our generation.  Now is the time.  Come Lord.  Amen



Thursday, May 19, 2016

Meditation on Ezekiel 36:22-27

Ezekiel 36:22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. 23 And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. 24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. (ESV)
Lord, for your glory, do us good. There is nothing in us that would require God to restore us to HIS plan and purpose.
Let all nations see your glory and grace. YOUR goodness and power. manifest them before all humanity,
Let me remember my baptism and the vows of the covenant that were taken. Let me see myself as cleansed from past rebellions and transgressions.
Allow me to experience a new heart within me. Allow your Spirit to replace my, rebellious attitude. Increase my sensitivity to the pain of others and the great sinfulness in my heart.
Holy Spirit, demonstrate your presence in my life, by developing a lifestyle, that promotes the giving you glory and show your wise love>
Lord, let me experience all of this passage today. Amen

Monday, May 16, 2016

Meditation on Psalm 119:76,77

(76) O may Your lovingkindness comfort me,According to Your word to Your servant. (77) May Your compassion come to me that I may live,For Your law is my delight. [Psa 119:76-77 NASB]

Lord, help me see and understand the depth of your commitment to me.  YOUR sacrifice for my sins.  The suffering of hell fires for my soul.  Salvation bought with your blood.  All these words meaning so much more.  Open my eyes that I might see and understand what they all mean.   

Comfort me today in the light of your love for me.  Let me know that nothing I face today can separate me from your eternal passion for me.  YOU have chosen to love me.  I am safe in your love.  All my struggles, wounds and sins cannot separate me from your love.  

Thank you for have compassion on me.  Caring for my sorrows and sadness.  Being with me in my fears.  Never forsaking me when I feel lost and bewildered.  YOU, my LORD, are a true, loyal, caring, friend who has empathy for me on my worst days.   

Help me see YOUR word and in that word let me see the truth.  Lord have mercy.  Capture my heart and help me live this day in a manner worthy of the gospel of your grace.  Amen

Friday, May 13, 2016

Lord our helper

(11) Be not far from me, for trouble is near;For there is none to help. ... (19) But You, O LORD, be not far off;O You, my help, hasten to my assistance. ... (24) For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;Nor has He hidden His face from him;But when he cried to Him for help, He heard. [Psa 22:11, 19, 24 NASB] (20) Our soul waits for the LORD;He is our help and our shield. [Psa 33:20 NASB]
Lord, I need you to help me now.
Be not far from me. Trouble is near me on every side. Complex and with multiple layers . There is none beside you to be of help. Come quickly now and hold me up. Do not despise my affliction. Have empathy for my sorrow, fear, and pain. Do not hide your face from me in my weakness. Hear me now as I beg for your help.
LORD, Messiah Jesus you are my help and shield. I will wait to see YOU deliver me from this time of struggle. Help me endure. Help me give you praise for you are my helper, friend, and Savior. You are my trust. Amen