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Neighborly Compassion

But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. Luke 10:33-34 (ESV)

A lawyer asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus told of a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. Robbers caught him off-guard and beat him, leaving him for dead. Two ‘respected’ members of society came by where the traveler lay. Each of them had their own schedules…  ( Click for more )

They remembered that God was their rock,

the Most High God their redeemer.

But they flattered him with their mouths;

they lied to him with their tongues.

Their heart was not steadfast toward him;

they were not faithful to his covenant.

Yet he, being compassionate,

atoned for their iniquity

and did not destroy them;

he restrained his anger often

and did not stir up all his wrath.

Psalm 78-35-38 (ESV)

Our focus passage was written by Asaph. It paints a picture of the way God reacted to His people in spite…  ( Click for more )

“And surely I am with you always,

to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:20 (NIV)

Do we sense God in our lives? When do we feel His presence? How do we feel it?

Sometimes we call the times we feel God in our lives ‘God moments’. I have a friend who calls them ‘God sightings.’ Whatever we call them, they are special to us.

I had three God moments a few days before Christmas. The first one happened when I helped deliver Christmas packages to those children who were unable to attend a “Happy…  ( Click for more )

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16:25 (ESV)

Paul and Silas had been thrown into prison because they had an evil spirit leave a young servant girl. Her master depended on the income she brought to his coffers.

Other prisoners may have been trying to sleep. Paul and Silas were in stocks and, still, they decided to pray and sing hymns to God. His word tells us the other prisoners listened to them.

As I read this passage recently, I wondered what I would do if I were in their place.…  ( Click for more )

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your

shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep

you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this

time forth and forevermore. Psalm 121(ESV)

What does…  ( Click for more )

He who has an ear, let him listen. Revelation 2:6,11 (ESV)

He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches Revelation 2:17,29, 3:6,13, 22 (ESV)

Do you remember your parents saying, “You are not listening!” I do. It was when I was in trouble and they were trying to talk to me about my misbehaving.

I have noticed that in our world today, we have certain people who seem to think they have a say-so in what we believe in our lives. I have felt they were not listening to wise counsel from God.

One recent evening, I read God’s…  ( Click for more )

God Revives the Lowly

“For this is what the high and lofty One says he who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I live in a high and holy place, But also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” Isaiah 57:15 (NIV)

We are blessed. God, who lives above also reaches down to bring us out of our feelings of depression. When we have heart-breaking news take our emotions and make us feel low, He goes out of His way to comfort us and bring…  ( Click for more )

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)

since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,

Who makes up that cloud of witnesses? The writer of Hebrews has listed the persons in the “Faith…  ( Click for more )

During this Eastertide season, the time between Easter and Pentecost, I am re-using a Lenten study book titled 40 Days to Decrease by Alicia Britt Chole. This marks the third year I have read and studied it. The following entry is the result of thoughts I experienced last year.

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, Matthew 14:22-23 (ESV)

Jesus heard of John’s…  ( Click for more )

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19 (ESV)

The Apostle Peter had healed a beggar. The healed man was ecstatic over what had happened. Those who saw him were amazed.

Peter began to speak to the people about how they had denied God’s son and turned Him over to be crucified and had asked that a murderer be released to them.

Peter, then tells the crowd that all they had to do in order to be forgiven and refreshed is to repent, turn away from their bad…  ( Click for more )

for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.1 Corinthians 16:18 (ESV)

Paul, toward the end of his first letter to the believers at Corinth, writes thanking them for sending Stephanus, Fortunatus, and Achaicus to him. He tells them that these three refreshed his spirit.

What does it mean when someone or something refreshes our spirit? Do we feel better about things? Are we able to view our surroundings with joy and gladness? Does the work go easier?

As God’s child, I sometimes get frustrated when I watch the news…  ( Click for more )

I picked a book out of a basket in my writing room. The title of the book, “If my people. . .” , a 40 day prayer guide. I leafed through it and decided to use it in the 40 days of Lent. Later in the day, I realized how I could utilize the passage 2 Chronicles 7:14, as a beginning point of my Lenten observance.

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)

God speaks to…  ( Click for more )

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22 (NIV)

We all have dreamed of doing something only to have it not happen. Looking back on my life I believe if I hadn’t been so self-assured of myself, I might have had better results for my efforts. Actually, I might not have tried to do some of the crazy things I did. Can we learn from our mistakes? Yes, we can and we should. If we have questions, it’s all right to ask them to seek guidance on an issue that arises out of our efforts to advance in…  ( Click for more )

Again, Jesus spoke, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NRSV)

In our lives, due to our humanity, we, as well as others, have times of experiencing darkness. Uncertain times can bring times of fear. Financial difficulties, health crises, unemployment and marital problems all have caused people to begin to doubt themselves.

Some of these issues can cause people to sink into depression. However, there are remedies to looking at things cheerily while others might have…  ( Click for more )

Pray

She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give your servant as son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” Hannah was speaking in her heart” “I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.” 1 Samuel 1:10-11,13, 15 (ESV)

This is one of the passages included in my prayer folder for Lent. As…  ( Click for more )

Choose this day who you will follow. . . . As for me and my house, we will follow the Lord. Joshua 24:15

Choose life that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him. Deuteronomy 29:19-20 (ESV)

Choose Who We Follow

These two passages remind me that we have choices we make every day. We choose when we arise and how we spend our days. We choose where we worship God or how we worship Him.

The passage from Joshua was one I heard at a church service, probably, a revival service. Joshua speaks to all…  ( Click for more )

“To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the

LORD comes the reply of the tongue.” Proverbs 16:1 (NIV)

In my Life Application Bible I read that all outcomes of the plans we make are in God’s hands. He wants us to use our minds, seek the advice of others, and plan. In order for God to look favorably on our plans, we have to pray about our goal and the path we choose to reach it.

When my husband talked about retirement, he usually talked as if it was going to affect him and only him. One day he started that conversation but, this time he asked…  ( Click for more )

"But seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness. . . ."

Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

I had an issue bothering me. I tried to pray about it. As I went out to get some supper, I realized I could go to the golden arches, drive through, and then travel down the east artery of our city and go pray at church.

One section of the church parking lot faces a large expanse of grass. In one area of the verdant yard is a playground and an open shelter house- a beautiful peaceful scene. As I ascended the hill, I noticed geese-yes, geese- all over the…  ( Click for more )

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; make his paths straight.” Matthew 3:1-3 (ESV)

Two days ago we observed Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, a time of preparation to celebrate our LORD’s resurrection. During the 40 days of this season we focus on our relationship with Jesus and how we can improve it. Basically,…  ( Click for more )

God’s Love Seen

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. John 14:21 (ESV)

The Apostle John gives us the basics to God’s love for us. He tells us that Jesus instructed whoever has and keeps my commandments does in fact love Him. Jesus also enlarges this thought to further say that those who love Him will be loved by our Father God.

Let’s see, if we love the Son, He will love us, and the Father will love us as well. As a result,…  ( Click for more )

I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued my faithfulness to you. Jeremiah 31:3b (ESV)

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (ESV)

Everlasting

Our Father God conveys to us three very important messages in the 16 words of the first verse through the prophet Jeremiah. Let’s explore what these messages mean.

The first thing He tells us is that He loves us. Do we realize what all that entails? God looks at us with eyes of love. No matter what we may have done…  ( Click for more )

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore,…  ( Click for more )

New Covenant

Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke though I was their husband, declares the LORD. I will put the law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people. For I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sins no more. Jeremiah 31:31-32,33b, 34c (ESV)

God…  ( Click for more )

New Heart

And I will give them one heart and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people and I will be their God. Ezekiel 11:19-20 (ESV)

Happy New Year to each of you. We seem to always look forward to something new, be it a new outfit, a new piece of furniture, or a new vehicle. God plans to do new things for us if we are willing to let Him be in control. Our focus passage will help us understand more.

…  ( Click for more )