Thanksgiving: “The Freewill Offerings of My Mouth”

Posted on 2013/11/28 by Shawn Thomas

In Psalm 119:108 the Psalmist prays: “O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me Your ordinances.”
In Old Testament times, the people of Israel were commanded to offer a number of different offerings: the lamb for Passover, the daily sacrifices at the temple, etc. But one of the offerings was a “freewill offering.” Continue reading →

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The Testimony of God’s Servants

Posted on 2013/11/27 by Shawn Thomas

Psalm 119:65 is a verse which all of God’s saints can bear witness to; there is not one who cannot: “You have dealt well with Your servant, O LORD, according to Your word.”

— Those who currently feel satisfied with provision God has given them will quote it gratefully: every saint after a good meal, or enjoying his home and provisions, or a sweet prayer and worship time — and especially those who realize that it is only by God’s mercy that they are saved. There are none of us who “deserve” forgiveness or salvation — but God was “rich in mercy” as Ephesians 2:4 says. He has certainly dealt well with His servants! But there are others, perhaps surprisingly, who will testify of God’s good dealings as well:

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“The Little Condo on the Prairie” (11-26-13)

Posted on 2013/11/26 by Shawn Thomas

The holidays are upon us, and so Thanksgiving, Christmas shopping — and of course football! — are the focus of “The Little Condo” this week. Cheryl & I began our Christmas shopping one day last week, and we made a day of it. We had a great time, with more than a few smiles:

— At a cooking store, I saw a garlic peeler, and it had directions on the box: “Insert garlic and roll on table with hand. Skin will fall off.” I thought, “Hopefully that is referring to the skin on the GARLIC, not on your hand!” Continue reading →

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If God Is Against You …

Posted on 2013/11/26 by Shawn Thomas

In I Samuel 28:16 “Samuel said, ‘Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has departed from you and has become your adversary?'”
The background to that unusual verse is that Saul had sought God in :6 of this chapter, but He would not answer him. He had disobeyed and compromised and oppressed God’s servant David for too long. There was now nothing that God was going to do for him but judge him. Saul, seeking some word about his impending fortune (as if he didn’t know!) consulted Samuel through a medium. In a very unusual instance — which does NOT commend the occult to us, by the way, as this incident only led to Saul’s defeat and death — God allowed Samuel to share this bad news: “Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has departed from you and has become your adversary?”

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You Yourself Have Taught Me

Posted on 2013/11/25 by Shawn Thomas

In :102 of Psalm 119, the writer recalls: “I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me.” We observe in this verse the intimate connection between God and His word. To the Psalmist, “Your ordinances” equate to “You Yourself” teaching. He considered God’s word as personal instruction from God Himself. You can sense in his expression, “You Yourself have taught me” what a privilege he considered this to be.

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The Benefits of Delight

Posted on 2013/11/24 by Shawn Thomas

In Psalm 119:98, the Psalmist was overjoyed with the word of God, exclaiming: “Oh how I love Your Law; it is my meditation all the day.” We saw here how this “meditation” is not merely a “discipline”, but a heartfelt delight in scripture. Verses 98-100 of Psalm 119 go on to describe the amazing BENEFITS of meditating on God’s word:

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God’s Word: Discipline or Delight?

Posted on 2013/11/23 by Shawn Thomas

In Psalm 119:97 the writer exclaims: “Oh how I love Your Law; it is my meditation all the day.” How do we know that he really loved the word of God? The second part of the verse explains it:

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A Dead Giveaway!

Posted on 2013/11/22 by Shawn Thomas

In I Samuel 28, King Saul could not get an answer from the Lord for his request (because of Saul’s disobedience and inconsistency) and so he decided to take another course: he sought out a medium at En-dor. Verse 8 says: “Saul disguised himself by putting on other clothes, and went, he and two other men with him, and they came to the woman by night.” It is interesting that Saul “disguised himself.” It is obvious that he was ashamed of what he was doing. Continue reading →

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Glorious Saints

Posted on 2013/11/21 by Shawn Thomas

In I Samuel 28, the medium at En-dor brings Samuel up from the dead for Saul. Verse 12 says she cried out with a loud voice, and Saul asks her what she saw. She responds: “I see a divine being coming up out of the earth.” In Hebrew, “divine being” is literally “a god.” Was the woman exaggerating? I think not. We have evidence from scripture that God’s people will be endowed with great glory in heaven.

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So Easily Entangled

Posted on 2013/11/20 by Shawn Thomas

Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” It is instructive to us that the verse calls it: “the sin which SO EASILY entangles us”! The Bible indicates that it is not difficult to become entangled in sin; in fact it tells us here that it is “easy”! You don’t have to go out looking for it — it is coming after you! Continue reading →

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