Monthly Archives: May 2021

Devotions- Psalms 91

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Special Note: I know that I cannot post the entire chapter here out of legal reasons (the version of the bible that I use), so I will try my best to sort of paraphrase or say things in a certain way.

Other Note; I believe this is the servant David (If I’m wrong I will correct it later, haha! It’s not exactly important to know here at the moment).

First verse begins below, until final verse of chapter 91:

A person who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall belong in location of the Almighty. He will say of Him the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I (choose to) trust.”

He shall surely deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from peril, pestilence. He shall cover you with feathers, under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth be your shield your buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror that comes at night, Nor of the

arrow that flies in air by day, Nor of the pestilence which walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that destroys at noonday.

A thousand may die at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But this shall not come near you. Only with your eyes you shall look, And see the reward of the wicked or evil.

Because you have made the Lord, who’s my refuge, Even Most High, your place you dwell, No evil shall take you down, Nor shall any plague come close to your dwelling;

He will give His angels charge over you, To keep you guided in all of Your ways. In their hands they bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against stone. You should tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you should trample underfoot.

“Because He has set His love upon Me, therefore I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows My name. He should call upon me, I will answer in response; I will be with him in trouble; I’ll deliver and honor him. With a very long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”

Devotions Psalms 2:4-7 5/24/21

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I got “stuck” on the last three verses. I’m examining them personally so instead of just being devotions, I’m doing more than that with that section of the bible. Context seems to refer to King Saul but I could be wrong…

From the Bible, NKJV:

He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.” Psa. 2:4-7

They say that God is slow to anger so if He is this way in this part of the bible something might be wrong.

Then again the writer could just be referring to God being sick of the sin of the people during this time. Specific uses of words like “Shall” here are interesting. Usually they imply something specific that could help a reader understand the text by its usage.

But I also am interested by some other things here as well. There is a word I want to seek out the definition for. “Derision.”

Here it is found through the ‘net:

derision- contemptuous ridicule or mockery.

If this means God has turned His anger on Israel then the people who are deserving His wrath here should watch out!

God cannot stand sin. He cannot stand dark hearts that refuse to worship Him. If this kind of thing goes on long, things will not last.

I hope you today have the “light” heart today. God’s wrath might be coming even now!

—–

Are you ready? If not read this.

Father God, I am afraid of what I am seeing and hearing about in the news. I don’t know what is going on all I know that there is a lot of bad stuff! I have heard of a person named Jesus. Is it true He can take away all my sin?

I heard that one day He chose to die on the cross not just because of everyone’s sin but because of just mine too!

(Note to You: There is a song that says “even to the (cross) You’d come if I were the only one. If you were the only one on earth He had to die for, He would have. That is how deep the father’s love through His son is)

Also that He took the wrath of the world’s sin upon Himself. Thank You Father for giving me Your son. That He died, stayed dead, then was restored and lived again, bodily and is in the Heaven today!

I want to know Jesus so that I will one day be in heaven today. Thank You for hearing my prayer.

God bless you today. Love you in Jesus!

Devotions- 5/20/21 Proverbs 1:7-9 and Psalm 7:9

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The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother; For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck. Proverbs 1:7-9 NKJV

Sometimes instruction is very tough on us even if we know that people have the right heart in mind.

Anyone who has ever had tough yet dedicated parents in their lives in lifting up their “child” over the years (as in “you”) might think about them.

It is good to have parents who have the best intentions. Who hope the person in their life who they want success in life not only has knowledge but shows fear towards doing bad or having committed wrong and thinks what their parents might do to punish them. They may also hope you have that applied knowledge as a part of your own life.

But notice I said “best intentions” because I mean parents who aren’t the reflection of deep and harsh abuse. I digress so let me go back to what I said earlier.

It is actually good to fear parents who punish when you have done wrong. Or fear if they know their parents will do something that is normal in punishment if they got straight D’s or F’s in school!

I wonder if fear is something us as people had to learn after the fall: The fall of men (and through man, women).

After Adam and Eve we had to experience and still do an awful thing called Sin. Adam was completely responsible, a person to run things in life but instead of that, he chose to eat the fruit. He has had such an awful impact on this world that Eve isn’t even accounted, it seems, to sin entering the world. (“Sin entered the world through one man…” a paraphrase and part of beginning of Romans 5:12). What a sad legacy to leave the people following everyone who wants to worship something, let alone people who might have to live in God’s sight that sin is now a part of. To live for something but because of a tainted body, a sin-filled body, is now a part of people who were and are created, unfortunately.

Now that we are accountable to sin where death is spiritually an absolute for the physical body we need to fear God in order to live for goodness.

What can we do? We must follow His instruction. Either to be saved, to learn to fear Him about right and wrong, and also to live life since one day we won’t get the chance to live on in this earth but will be accountable at the end to how we have all these years lived!

That is a great reason to live for God through Christ.

And we should not forsake our parents or parent figures with good intentions’ “rules” to live life.

We must in life show love towards all people, not just the ones we already care about. Just be careful about the wicked because they have not good hearts even if we might witness or share things that are good with them with a good heart.

Here’s a partial verse, note some is paraphrased. It says basically: “Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just; God (in His righteousness) tests the hearts and minds.” Psalms 7:9.

Let us live wholeheartedly for goodness and love in Christ. Or live for ones who are hurting and needy. Let’s live for the goodness that Is God!

Let us live to be “tested” so that we will be without blame as we live in Jesus through the Holy Spirit as new creations.

Amen!

Devotions 5/19/21- Psalms

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“The ungodly are not so (prosperous), But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.” Psalms 1: 4-6 (word added to explain context from verse 3)

You ever worked so hard at something and then saw it fall apart? I was like that during high school in a way but an image came to me just now. I worked so hard at Legos this one time. It was probably the only time I was dedicated to work at making something, only when my friend and a family member of his came by, they saw it too! (haha)

With seeming joy they had fun “tearing” apart my house. It was kind of like a farmer who works and works only then they realize their crop hasn’t grown, they had to struggle through the winter but there was still little to nothing to show for their work.

Maybe that farmer experiences a lot of “chaff” that blows in the wind.

I just looked up what that word is. There is apparently a part of the wheat that sometimes is found during threshing (grinding during harvest of wheat, etc. fields) and the chaff is part of the husk. It is completely unusable. Not worth having. No reason to save it from harvest.

So… what could this mean?

To be ungodly is like to be one who is not saved. Here it is talking about the kind of people that would refuse help or mercy. Or maybe people who refuse to believe there is something good like a God out there.

Hey I’ve got some testimony concerning that. I thought I knew it all at times. I have doubted too. But maybe God wanted me to mature more in Him through Christ. Or at the very least start to think that I should not have to live for only myself.

This is the importance to deliverance. Sin. We all have it. Sometimes we keep going back to some of it. It’s awful, awful stuff!

I believe that if the Christian does that too many times or too often recklessly then there are consequences. You might experience a form of punishment from God (like I have myself), like a tap on the behind because of being too much like the “ungodly.” Or if you do it too much when you kept following the Lord with all your heart, you might then lose the holy spirit.

The Holy Spirit which kept guiding you and helping you week after week and in your heart you kept being an adulterer or a person who could not stop thinking of and “tasting” things that were not good…

Sigh. That’s sad.

That’s why God wants us to live for Him fully and totally. Repentance. Living for Christ and not our ways. And following Him as much as we can is so important.

Then we look less like the “ungodly” and more like Christ.

Two paths. What you were and what you are now in Christ. One path has seeming easy paths. Those paths are longer than we at first assume but they are endless if one goes alone.

The other is like stones in the ground. They might seem broken and far apart but there is only one path. That path at times seems easy. The burden is light. Work doesn’t seem so hard. That is the broken road.

That is so much more worth living for.

Nightly Devotions- 5/18/21

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This was at 1 A. M.

Like it says in God’s Word in Psalms 119: 11:

“…I will hide Your word in my heart that i might not sin against You.”

Oh how man’s sin is! To conform or to make things as a believer that Christ is not is sad.

Page 105 of A. W. Tozer’s book The Pursuit of God says, “we insist upon trying to modify Him…bring Him… to our image.”

It says in God’s Word “His Word is true.” We must never make the Christian life what He isn’t and try all in honoring Him with all our heart. Let’s ask for a discerning heart to fully know Christ!

Devotions- 5/17/21

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“Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.” Psalms 1:1-3

Has anyone ever been with people who are only out to do harm? I sort of did when I was a kid. At the very least I was with people who mocked others, caused a ruckus, and even got in trouble at school by the authority. The teachers, maybe even the principal!

It is a terrible thing to follow people who want to go out with evil intentions. Plus the bible also says not to conform to this world… do not be like the world and at least a little more like Christ.

That is one reason it is good to at least try to devote time for church. There you (usually but not always) will find people who might be the best at trying to guide you towards the right path.

There are all kinds of things there that are “good” as well. There is bible study by hopefully great teachers who will guide you after deeply studying the word themelves.

We should also learn self-discipline. There are so many terrible vices out there, just evil things that are really just Satan’s pull to lure you in and keep you away from the goodness of God. We must remember that even if we think it might be no big deal, it is not! (Out with the old, in with the new, hehe)

But as we grow and mature more into Christ every day we learn to set aside our time to live for Him and obey His word. I can think of a former church member who has told me such deep lessons.

She said to have key verses. Memorize them when you can. As you grow those verses become not just things to have in the mind but will be become a part of you then, will be like a part of who you are!

That is why we should be part of or attend a “counsel” of the opposite of the ungodly.

In God’s eyes, He probably wonders why though we might self-abate and put ourselves down because of sin. Well if He does see us and we know Christ or have experienced His love He sees someone complete, perfect (somehow… I still can’t get over this, haha! God who am I that You should love me?).

When we follow Christ with all our hearts we realize we have a foundation like a strong root firmly in the ground that was different than what was there when we began our walk in life. Mine was like sand. There was no footing no way to get anywhere until I one day followed Jesus. But to live in something greater than our personal expectations is so worth following.

Have goals for Him daily. Work for Him. Live in Him. All He wants us to live by the Holy Spirit and have a relationship with Him through His son. And He will prosper us spiritually in ways we might not even imagine….

Reader’s Note: I am excited about this new sub-category. I hope you enjoy the many things that appear here. And have a great day.

Feel 5/15/21

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I don’t want to feel

like you aren’t there

even if you seem

far, I’ll run through Air

I don’t like to feel

like Job in the midst

of his counselors reel

he knew the truth of the mist

Your love is breath

like the kiss from an ocean

I can travel deep

there You are instead

Like a knight whose plight

is to save not just me

but all who need You

And I’m like the steed.

As the valleys widen

As the doubts make minds

careen far off places

only to crash to vines

Because when one thinks

there is mercy no matter

how far in space

once one seeks forgiveness there is love finding latter.

Further through the life

As far as can go

though men doubt my thoughts

they still must know-

that the servant’s heart

must seek passion, Christ

Or else there’s deep death

and the pain seeks vice.

But there is a way

God I know with my heart

That my redeemer

lives, life creates a start

God I know to feel

never care of man’s traps

because You know MY HEART

that is on the map.

A hope to feel

Of what seems not there

But you’ve proved me again

And again your grace is flair

I can tell endless tales

can so feel Your presence

no matter what happens to me

is worth all That sentence.

God I want to know

that heart of Jesus

seek Him in the morning

His love as warm as night ceases.

God I don’t want to feel

that Your love doesn’t matter

You brought ones together

as the led ones gather.

God I hope You lead

as I’m lead by You

To take the stage

And say “God I feel You!”

Blog Entry- Dwelling 5/13/21

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I am still not a fan of this newer version of WordPress, haha. Maybe I have to adjust. But come on, why can’t some things be the same?

Heading out to work it seemed like time was still yet choatic. I was trying to focus on doing what was needed. Doing what the Lord knows honors Him, not because anything I do of my own effort was great but because God is great! I should take every moment of my life and devote it and set it aside for Him and His glory.

I then knew I had to get to my devotions. I was only focusing on a memory verse from Psalms but instead I because I wanted to do that book for morning devos (hehe) I thought “God lead me to a verse.” It seemed as life in Him sought fit I saw Psalm 91 to read.

It spoke again and again of the dwelling of the “secret place” of the Most High.

Here’s a part I just noticed looking over it now:

“He who dwells… Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Part of 1st part then whole 2nd part of Psalms 91:1 NKJV

Is there a way here on earth we can see the Almighty as a place of refuge? A place to just rest and meditate on His promises…?

As I stepped outside I was waiting for the bus. It seemed like it wasn’t coming. Growing quickly impatient I started walking back and forth people honked at me like I was being a maniac I guess, haha!

After a while it seemed like the bus wasn’t ready to come yet. I thought I was in my sinful heart patient “enough.” So I prayed the bus would come soon. Then at the right “time.”

Oh man, did He answer that prayer. And in a way I could never expect!

The sky was peppered with clouds giving the sky a beautiful hue. Also the sun was not overbearing but beaming down its spring rays. If it kept up like this I was probably going to lightly burn if the sun kept doing its duty, haha….

I wasn’t used to the sun being this strong. Especially in the springtime because it was my favorite time of the year (fav season! Not too hot like the summer and not too cold like the winter).

But then I shifted my focus from myself to someone else. A person from my church with whom I know his struggles. The poor man seemed stuck in them; like if other people are growing he would ask them repeatedly for little “rays” of sunshine to help make his day! Didn’t he realize he had his own ray too…?

Just because he struggled in alcoholism doesn’t mean he was far way from the hopes and love of Jesus!

So I imagined singing him a song.

In His presence/ There is Comfort/ In His pre-sence/ There is peace/

I didn’t remember the rest of the song (haha!) but I at least hoped in prayer the Lord would touch His heart in the only way I knew how. By His Holy Spirit.

Then I realized that He does that with me too…

…and like a gentle shadow of a shelter dwelling there was a “shade” that covered the beaming sun…

then the bus came. Amen!

Father with a moved heart, I am amazed by Your love and mercy. I hope that so many will know that Your love to know through Christ doesn’t just “convert” people but it does amazing things that only people who have their eyes opened for God understand!

Oh Lord, Father in heaven, Your will be done to your people and also may they be impacted greatly by how amazing You are to the point that they will serve You out of gratitude and not out of grumbling, that they remember that God’s love is for everyone but can impact ones that they witness and minister to…. that God loves us so much that no one…. NO one… should perish.

By the loving blood of Christ who shed His blood for all sin, Amen.

Thank you for reading this. And I hope at the very least this moved you in a way only God can do…. 😀