A Key To Spiritual Growth

In Philemon :6 Paul writes to Philemon with the prayer “that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake”.
Paul wrote that Philemon’s faith would be more effective as he grew in KNOWLEDGE. We see verses similar to this throughout Paul’s writings (“I pray that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment”, Philippians 1:9, etc.) True, godly, Biblical knowledge is a key to spiritual growth. Continue reading

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

The Missing Distinctive

Exodus 33:16 is a signature verse. Moses said: “For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?”
HOW is the world to know that God’s people are different from all the others? Moses asserted that it is the manifest presence of God.

Continue reading

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A Surprising Sign of Wickedness

Psalm 10 speaks of “The wicked” in :3. But when many of us think of “the wicked” we often picture some REALLY bad people, not anyone like US! But some might be surprised at what :4 says about the wicked:

“The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are, ‘there is no god.'” This teaches us that NOT SEEKING GOD is a sign of wickedness. Is this a “surprising sign of wickedness”?

Continue reading

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Little Condo on the Prairie (May 20)

The “Little Condo on the Prairie” dodged some tornadoes this week, and shared a lot of laughs in our families’ proximity while we await Libby’s baby — due this Friday!

TORNADO ALLEY
Oklahoma is not known as “Tornado Alley” for nothing. We’ve had two afternoons of tornado warnings (the presence of a confirmed tornado) in the short time we’ve been here this spring. Sunday, the sirens — indicating a tornado in the area — went off no less than four times in our part of town. So of course, we all stayed glued to the local news channel, which is a veteran group and does a good job of keeping everyone updated and safe.
At one point, they put a map up on the screen, with the radar picture indicating different town locations relative to the tornado. One town I didn’t recognize:
“Bobby?”, I said quizzically. “I’ve never heard of ‘Bobby’, Oklahoma.”
Libby looked at me. She said later that she thought about letting it pass, but remembering how mercilessly I had teased her for pronouncing “PurCELL” Oklahoma as “PURSE-ll”; she said, “That’s their news reporter, Dad!” They had marked the location of their storm chaser on the screen too. Of course this all went straight to Facebook …
Then for the rest of the evening, every time the weather anchor called out, “Bobby …”, the whole room would burst into laughter yet again! Continue reading

Posted in Home & Family Life, This Week In Paradise (pastors family blog) | 2 Comments

The Change of a Moment

Psalm 6:10 says: “All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly dismayed; they shall turn back, be put to shame IN A MOMENT.” This verse reminds us that SO much can happen, in God’s plan, “in a moment” of time. Continue reading

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Important Balance in Worship

Psalm 2:11 commands: “Worship Yahweh with reverence; rejoice with trembling.” Here we find an important balance commanded for our worship. We are to worship with “reverence” — and yet “rejoice.” We are to “rejoice” — yet “with trembling.” It reminds one of the response of the women at Jesus’ resurrection, when Matthew 28:8 says they departed with “fear and great joy.”

Continue reading

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Zealous For Good Deeds

Titus 2:14 says that Jesus “gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” The verse opens with what we might consider a typical presentation of the gospel: “Who gave Himself for us to redeem us” – but then it follows with an important description: “From every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people … zealous for good deeds.”

Continue reading

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged , | Leave a comment

My Part/God’s Part

Psalm 1:3 says: “He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.” The “He” in :3 refers to the man whom :1-2 describes, who does not walk in the ways of the wicked, but who instead delights in the Law of The Lord. This verse promises some great things for this man, but the results are not his responsibility — nor ours.

Continue reading

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Right Side of History

Psalm 2:1-3 asks: “Why are the nations in an uproar, and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying ‘Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us.'”
Although this ultimately refers to an eschatological (end times) event, :1-3 are also a picture of what happens every time man rebels against God, when they reject His word regarding any issue.

Continue reading

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Origin of All Skill

In Exodus 31:2-3 God says: “See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship.” The Lord asserted that the skill that Bezalel had, was given to him by Him – and He subsequently instructed him to use that skill in the construction of the tabernacle for worship.

Continue reading

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment