Monday, August 31, 2015

Things That Cannot Be Shaken



Today’s scripture reading:

Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven!  When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.”k  References for Hebrews 12:26 This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.  Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.  For our God is a devouring fire.

Hebrews 12:25-29

Today’s devotional:

Television news is often filled with interviews and images of people who have suffered some unimaginable tragedy. One day we’re shown tornado survivors whose homes were torn apart by powerful winds. Another day we may see massive floods sweeping through an unsuspecting neighborhood. Occasionally, we even view homes that are swallowed whole by terrible earthquakes. The expressions on the faces of those who have suffered loss can be haunting.

Losses like these always draw our attention toward the fragility of those things we hold most dear—such as our homes, families, and careers. We seldom like wake-up calls that remind us of the inherent instability of earthly life.

But in a world that oftentimes seems to be falling apart, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have the privilege of sharing the best news imaginable: We have something that is stable, something that is completely secure. There is a rock on which we are able to stand, and it cannot be shaken. That foundation, of course, is almighty God.

The Lord gives us other immovable truths as well. We can trust that Scripture is His unchanging, relevant truth for all time. We can forever depend on a secure eternal relationship with Him through His Son. And we can be sure that an everlasting heavenly home awaits all those who place their faith in Jesus Christ. We can have stability, even in this unstable world.

Do you have someone in your life who needs this life-saving good news— someone who is drowning, desperately needing you to throw a lifeline? Don’t wait; share it today.

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Repentance in the Believer’s Life



Today’s scripture reading:

People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.

Proverbs 28:13

Today’s devotional:

Is repentance necessary in the believer’s life? Yes, and we can see this critical truth in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” You may say, “The word repentance isn’t in that verse.” But let’s take a closer look.

Remember, “to repent” simply means to change your mind. For unbelievers, this refers to saving faith—that is, the decision to place trust in Jesus. But for Christians, repentance involves a change of heart with regard to behavior or attitude. We must make an ongoing decision to lead an obedient, Christlike life.

In 1 John, this choice is represented by the word confess, which originally had the sense of “agree with.” In other words, if you confess your wrongdoing to God, you are coming into agreement with Him about that sin and, in turn, disagreeing with your previous view. Here, confession isn’t a matter of salvation; rather, it means allowing the Father to continually reform your mind, molding you more and more into the image of His Son.

God absolutely hates sin. So if you agree with Him about sin, then you are changing your mind about the disobedience in your life. Thoughts, attitudes, and actions that once seemed perfectly natural will no longer fit with who you are. As God continues to work in your life, your mind will gradually reject old thought patterns, and you’ll more closely represent His way of thinking.

Is there sin in your life that has become too uncomfortable to bear? Confess the matter to God, and allow Him to change your mind about it today.

Friday, August 28, 2015

A Right View of Repentance

http://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions/a-right-view-of-repentance?firstItem=10f01722-33c6-484f-b3f0-d6f53f823254


Todays scripture:
Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" Peter replied, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away

—all who have been called by the Lord our God."

Acts 2:37-39

Today's devotional:

Preaching the truth about Jesus Christ in Acts 2, Peter left thousands of listeners asking the same question: "What shall we do now?"

The apostle’s response is simple: "Repent, and . . . be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins" (Acts 2:38). As a result, 3,000 people were added to the new church that day
(Acts 2:41).


Is this the message of most churches today? Does it seem strange that Peter said "repent" instead of "believe"? Actually, Scripture often uses these concepts interchangeably. You see, repentance and faith are really two sides of the same coin: Both are essential for salvation, and each is dependent upon the other.

In terms of salvation, you cannot separate faith and repentance—both happen simultaneously. In order to be saved, you must place faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and that faith decision requires a change of mind (repentance) about your way of life. Yet many people mistakenly believe they must change their way of living long before they can make a faith decision for the Savior. The truth is, repentance does not mean that we must completely change our ways and "clean ourselves up" so we can receive Christ as Lord.

If you’re holding off on a decision for Christ until you think you are "ready" or "worthy," you’re waiting in vain. Jesus is ready to receive you right now. Only as a child of God will you find the power—His power—to truly become the person you were created to be.

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Success Blockers



Today’s scripture:

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

“See, all your angry enemies lie there, confused and humiliated. Anyone who opposes you will die and come to nothing.

Isaiah 41:10-11

Today’s devotional:

Our almighty God desires that we reach His goals for our lives. But we also have an enemy who would love to prevent our progress. Scripture identifies obstacles that can impede achievement. However, if we know what the roadblocks are, it is easier to identify and overcome them.

First, when we experience fear, our focus shifts from Jesus to the very thing we want to avoid. Such apprehension can become bondage. The antidote is to bring our focus back to the Lord.

Second, doubt is a lack of assurance that God will help us to succeed. Past failures, negative influences, and ignorance of His Word can all lead to this obstacle.

Third, excuses are an effort to make disobedience more comfortable. “I haven’t had the same opportunities others have” or “I am too busy” are false justifications, as was Adam’s attempt to blame Eve for his bad decision. God always gives us what we need in order to obey Him.

Fourth, procrastination—or delaying an action that causes discomfort—also inhibits success. Related to that is a fifth roadblock: laziness. This ungodly behavior can, for obvious reasons, prevent us from achieving God’s purpose for our lives.

Wise people check their habits and behavior to identify anything that inhibits following Christ fully. If any of these roadblocks are hindering you, push them aside. Find scriptures to help battle temptations. And ask God for strength so you can live freely and purposefully in the way He has planned.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Obama to seek common cause with Tyrant Theologian



Obama has made no secret of his affection for the outspoken pope, calling him a "transformative leader" whose influence has transcended the Roman Catholic community. The pope has embraced many of the issues Obama has sought to advance, including global warming, poverty and diplomacy with Iran and Cuba.

A “transformative leader” to help “fundamentally transform” the country.

Vice President Joe Biden, a Catholic, said the pope's Sept. 23 visit will mark an important moment not only for Catholics but for all Americans.

"Pope Francis has breathed new life into what I believe is the central mission of our faith: Catholic social doctrine," Biden said in a statement to The Associated Press. Invoking key elements of Obama's agenda, Biden added that Francis "has become a moral rudder for the world on some of the most important issues of our time, from inequality to climate change."

Our faith: Catholic social doctrine.  Since Biden is a Catholic, this is the nation’s faith.

Despite deep differences on some social issues such as abortion, Obama and the pope are expected to focus on areas of agreement. The White House said economic opportunity, immigration and refugees, and protection of religious minorities were high on the agenda.

Protection of religious minorities.  I wonder how much Obama is going to alter Obamacare based on that high agenda item.

For Obama, the visit offers a chance to imbue his remaining goals with a sense of moral authority as he approaches the end of his presidency.

Imbue his remaining goals with moral authority from the Tyrant Theologian.

The White House has praised Francis for involving himself in issues usually left to politicians. In a rare move, Francis personally intervened to help the U.S. and Cuba restore relations, writing leaders of both countries and hosting their delegations at the Vatican for final talks. And on climate change, a cornerstone of Obama's desired legacy, Francis added the weight of the pulpit by publishing a landmark encyclical calling climate change real and man-made.

There you have it:  if the Tyrant Theologian says climate change is real and man-made, it must be true.

Yet there are risks for Obama if he glosses over other, stark differences in views.

When he visited Francis early last year, Obama contradicted the official Vatican account of their meeting by saying they hadn't discussed social issues in any detail. Papal aides insisted the two leaders indeed discussed religious freedom, life and conscientious objection — buzzwords for abortion, birth control and parts of Obama's health care law.

"That's the delicate dance," said Julian Zelizer, a presidential historian at Princeton University. "The idea is to point out common areas of concern, rather than say, 'We are total allies.'"

In other words, don’t worry about Planned Parenthood butchering babies.  We will only concern ourselves with our common areas of concern.

Success God’s Way



Today’s scripture:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Today’s devotional:

What causes some people to fail and others to achieve their goals? One theory is that background, education, and ability are the main factors. But why, then, do we hear stories of victory achieved by people who have come from difficult backgrounds, struggled with disabilities, or had little instruction? Surely, something else determines whether we accomplish our objectives.

Contrary to the word’s common definition—which usually involves fame, fortune, or power—true success means becoming the people God wants us to be and reaching the goals He has set for our lives. Hebrews 12:1 offers His perspective on this: “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.”

Here, we see the keys to success. First, it is important to find encouragement from the lives of other believers who have seen Christ’s faithfulness and followed His direction. Next, we should get rid of anything that holds us back from obeying God. Finally, we are to persevere, even through difficult or discouraging times. Today’s passage answers our original question: We achieve success only by relying on Jesus for guidance and strength.

God has a wonderful plan for blessing and fulfillment in your life, and part of His plan is that you live with purpose and perseverance. The Father’s guidance will become clearer as you read His Word, pray for direction, and seek godly counsel. Does your definition of success for your life match the good plan God has for you?

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

A Lifestyle of Forgiveness

http://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions/a-lifestyle-of-forgiveness?firstItem=c69b3f47-e101-42ab-bfa0-7f7b7dcbf771


Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.                                                                                         
And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own,e guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.                              
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.                                             Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.                                


Ephesians 4:29-32

Showing mercy to those who hurt us does not come naturally— it’s easier to get angry at them and remain that way. We justify our lack of forgiveness by pointing to the injustice that took place or harm that was done. But God commands us to be merciful (Luke 6:36). We who have been shown divine mercy are to practice a lifestyle of forgiveness.

So why don’t we obey? Sometimes our pride gets in the way. We are angered when treated with disrespect, passed over for a job opportunity, or ignored despite our accomplishments. At other times we get focused on other people’s refusal to change, so we withhold mercy until they improve their behavior. And some of us have been badly hurt or treated unjustly. Our minds are filled with such pain that we become stuck in the past and cannot see how we’ll ever be able to forgive.

An unforgiving attitude can have all sorts of unwanted consequences, including broken relationships, emotional bondage, and indifference toward the Lord. The longer we hold on to our anger, the more it will affect our fellowship, not only with other people but also with our heavenly Father. Over time, we may become bitter and hostile, which certainly doesn’t fit with our identity in Christ.

It is hard for us to pardon those who tell lies about us, treat us badly, or cause harm to our loved ones. And yet their behavior toward us is not a reason to withhold mercy. God calls us to forgive as He forgave us—and with His help, we can do just that.

Monday, August 24, 2015

God’s Gift of Forgiveness



Today’s scripture reading:


Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
 

Colossians 3:12-14

Today’s devotional:

Motivated by love, God provided a way for our sins to be forgiven: He sent Jesus to be our Savior. When we trust in the Lord’s substitutionary sacrifice on our behalf, we receive the gift of forgiveness.

Before placing faith in Christ, we were dead in our sins and objects of divine wrath (“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying Satan—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.a He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. References for Ephesians 2:2FootnotesAll of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.” Ephesians 2:1-3). But our merciful heavenly Father sent His Son Jesus to redeem us. At the cross, the Savior took our sins upon Himself and experienced God’s fury for our sake. His death secured a pardon for us; there was nothing we ourselves could do to acquire God’s acceptance. We are saved by grace—through faith in Christ and what He accomplished (“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Ephesians 2:8-9). Our salvation is a free gift from the Father.

God’s will is that we, as forgiven people, show mercy to those who wrong us—to the same degree that He forgave us in Christ. But the human tendency is to attach conditions when extending mercy. We think, I will forgive you only if you apologize. Or, You must fix the problem, and then I’ll stop being angry. Or even, You must make restitution before I will let this go. That’s not what our Savior did. Romans 5:8 expresses it this way: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Depending on how much hurt we’ve experienced, we may require time and healing before we can truly forgive. But we are to remember that showing mercy is God’s will. We’re called to pardon those who have caused us pain. Through reliance on God’s Spirit, we can become Christlike and forgive.

Sunday, August 23, 2015

How to Listen to God


http://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions/how-to-listen-to-god?firstItem=422eac91-8c71-4c68-8b35-b22de1c19760

Today’s scripture reading:

The Sovereign LORD has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will. The Sovereign LORD has spoken to me, and I have listened. I have not rebelled or turned away.

Isaiah 50:4-5

From today’s devotional:

Most of us are better at talking than listening, but communicating with the Lord involves both. God intends for His children to hear His voice. His goal is the same today as it has always been—to be certain that we comprehend the truth about Him, to conform us to His ways, and to equip us for communicating His truth to others.

One of the main instruments God uses to speak to modern-day believers is His Word. For this reason, studying the Bible is more important than getting breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day. We can easily live on one daily meal, but we cannot survive in this wicked world unless we feast on Scripture. The result of regular consumption of God’s Word is a discerning spirit. When a Christian shares something the Lord has laid on his heart to tell us, our spirit verifies the truth of the message.

Regardless of how loudly God speaks, we won’t hear unless listening is a priority. We must ask the Lord to teach us to hear and then work at having a quiet attitude. An internal “receiver” tuned to the Father develops only through committed prayer, meditation, and practice at listening. In addition, we need a spirit of submission to obey His commands.

God’s goal for us is a lifestyle of sensitivity so we can hear Him in noisy or calm situations. Listening is a critical skill for ensuring that our hearts are open to divine guidance in every circumstance. In addition to the nourishment provided by our feast of Scripture, there is also “dessert”—recognition of our Father’s voice.

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Spiritual Poverty


With this morning’s Daily Devotional, I focused on dependence on God, a frequent topic that I derive from the texts.  My faithful readers probably noticed that I did not include a reference to the poor depending on God rather than Baal.  I normally quote that reference from the CANON.  The reason I did not use that quote was because that reference in the CANON is talking about solutions for the materially poor.  In so doing, I was falling into the same trap that I accuse Pope Francis of doing.  He focuses on the materially poor, rather than the spiritually poor.

I think there have even been times that I have stretched the CANON quote to make it apply to the Daily Devotional when the devotional was talking about being spiritually poor.  It would be better, rather than focusing on material poverty, as the left does, to focus on spiritual poverty, which is the main focus of the Redeemer.

Today’s devotional was really about Daniel’s motivation to be committed to God.  Daniel’s deep love for the Lord caused him to be determined.  But Daniel did not always have that love and commitment to God.  He was once spiritually poor.  But then his Saviour was revealed unto him.  The book of Daniel in the Bible, chapter 9 foretells of his Saviour coming to earth.  In that chapter, Daniel was praying and confessing his sin (verse 20).  As he was praying, an angel came to him and said that he had come to give him insight and understanding because God loved him very much.  The angel told Daniel that in 490 years, the Messiah would come, and He would be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing.  That prophecy was fulfilled; however, we know, and Daniel knew, that there was a purpose for the Messiah to be killed and then raised again.  As D.C. McAllister wrote in “Pope Francis doesn’t get the gospel” (which I posted June 24, 2015 on this blog), “When Jesus says, “The poor will always be with you,” he is saying, “I am not here to save you from physical poverty. I am here to free you of your spiritual debts—your sin—to free you from spiritual poverty, and to shower you with spiritual blessings and eternal life. My death will pay all debts, and then, through faith in me, there will be no more spiritual poverty.”

Trust in God and Dependence on Him



Today’s scripture reading:

Daniel 1:1-20

From today’s devotional:

Although Daniel was living as a captive in Babylon, he resolved in his heart not to violate God’s laws. He never wavered from his commitment. What motivated this young man to live out such a pledge?

Devotion to God. Daniel’s deep love for the Lord made him determined not to defile himself with the king’s food and wine. Dedication to God means choosing to be set apart to love, worship, and obey only Him. It amounts to declaring, “Lord, every part of me is Yours. I want what You want.” When we keep Jesus Christ as the focus, our hearts will overflow with thanksgiving, and we will be motivated to stand firm.

Clear direction. If Daniel refused outright to eat the king’s food, he would likely have lost his life. So he and his friends turned to God for direction. The Lord gave them the wisdom they needed to develop an alternate plan—and then also provided them with the courage to ask permission to follow His way. Notice there were no loud demands, no arguments, and no rebellious spirit. Their behavior was marked by trust in God and dependence on Him. Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will give us guidance and understanding (John 16:13). When we listen closely to His direction, we will be motivated to act.

Through daily prayer and meditation upon God’s Word, we can keep our eyes centered on Christ, our ears attuned to His voice, and our hearts motivated to obey. We’ll be able to make the same wholehearted commitment Daniel did. So ask yourself, How eager am I to do God’s will?

Friday, August 21, 2015

NCRonline article on the Tyrant Theologian’s visit


http://ncronline.org/blogs/distinctly-catholic/pope-francis-coming-part-iii

“Pope Francis’ speech in Strasbourg touched on the need for all politics to be grounded in, and directed towards, the transcendent dignity of the human person.”

I already discussed Pope Francis’ view of dignity in the post “Pope Francis vs. Justice Clarence Thomas” on July 13, 2015 on this blog.

“As well, he emphasized the importance of the common good over against all national and ethnic and economic interests.”

Whenever Pope Francis talks about “the common good”, he is talking about Baal Socialism.  This says he will emphasize it over all national and economic interests.  To me, that means even though free market capitalism is the best for our national and economic interests, he will talk against that.

“The Vatican is acutely aware of the polarization in U.S. politics. As far back as the 1930s, with the rise of totalitarian regimes in Europe, the Holy See has come to see the value of our often sloppy experiment in democracy. The need to overcome polarization and orient our political life towards the common good will likely be the centerpiece of the pope’s address to Congress.”

I’m not sure what you are talking about when you talk about “our often sloppy experiment in democracy” “as far back as the 1930s”, but let me take a shot at what you mean:  “polarization in U.S. politics” was overcome in the 1930s by the president installing Baal Socialism to provide for “the common good”.

“The third theme he will address, both at the White House and the Congress, will be poverty and the economy of exclusion. Again, I think his words will be more measured than those he delivered in Bolivia. (I also suspect Speaker of the House will not present the pope with a crucifix in which the corpus is nailed to a hammer and sickle!)”

That is probably true, since John Boehner is all for Baal Tyranny.

“As much as I do not anticipate a confrontational speech before Congress, this wily old Jesuit will find a way to remind Americans that the Gospel demands a preferential option for the poor, not the middle class, still less the upper middle class.”

Do you suppose he will invoke his theme of “the poverty of Christ” (see “Pope Francis doesn’t get the gospel” posted June 24, 2015 on this blog).  I don’t remember seeing “middle class” or “upper middle class” in the Gospel, but I do see a lot about spiritual poverty.

“The speech in Washington that most interests me will be delivered at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, when the Holy Father speaks to the U.S. bishops. The pope is surely aware that there is a significant percentage of bishops in the U.S. who do not much like him. And, in many other instances, this pope has demonstrated a willingness to call out the clergy for not living up to the rigorous demands of the Gospel.”

Since his “Gospel” is about the materially poor rather than the spiritually poor, I can understand why the clergy does not live up to his rigorous demands.

“Certainly, there is no country on the planet in which Catholic identity has been more thoroughly infused with Jansenistic tendencies, tendencies that could not be more alien to Pope Francis. For “church watchers” that will be the speech that we most anticipate.”

Do the Jansenistic tendencies include the facts about original sin, human depravity, and the necessity of divine grace?  Is that what is alien to Pope Francis?  If so, it is true, as a “church watcher”, that will be the speech that I most anticipate.

“In New York, two themes emerge, the environment, linked to the issue of sustainable development, and inter-religious dialogue, and both of these issues, in turn, craft a thid: peace. The pope’s speech to the U.N. will doubtlessly reiterate many of the themes articulated in Laudato Si’ urging the world community to take effective and immediate steps to address the threats posed by climate change and other varieties of environmental degradation.”

So it is at this point that he will take up the topic of the global warming hoax.

“As a whole, for EWTN fans or First Things readers, the papal visit will be a sign of contradiction to their normal programming. Raymond Arroyo is rather fond of hosting opponents of immigration reform and climate change skeptics on his show. First Things and other venues of opposition highlight those who abet the idolatry of the market the pope condemns. The pope’s simple liturgical style will drive the trads crazy. And, of course, there will be plenty to annoy the hard left too. Next week I will look in greater detail at the challenge Pope Francis poses to both the Catholic Left and the Catholic Right in this country.”

Can’t wait.

Persistently cry out to God


http://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions/perseverance-in-prayer?firstItem=6923da89-44c6-40b6-8958-5bd072566799

From the CANON on this blog:

      Solutions

1.    God is omnipotent and therefore can solve any problem.  He may choose to use the solutions listed below, but he often provides in ways you could have never imagined.  The poor should cry out to God for help, rather than depending on Baal.
 

From today’s scripture reading:

Love each other with genuine affection,e and take delight in honoring each other.×
References for Romans 12:10           Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.f ×
References for Romans 12:11
Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be the one to help them out. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Romans 12:10-13

From today’s devotional:

As a pastor, I speak with many people about their spiritual journey. From these interactions, I know that most individuals are not satisfied with their prayer life. They lack anticipation and faith, and time with God often feels empty. This is, no doubt, why many Christians pray so little and so indifferently.

Yesterday, we began looking at obstacles to a healthy prayer life. Let’s explore one more hindrance to vibrant communication between God and us: impatience.

Most of us have at some point brought fervent supplication to Jesus but did not see the desired results. Unfortunately, humans are by nature faint-hearted. We get weary of asking when all we perceive is silence. Remember, though, that God does not act on our cue like some cosmic bellhop. If we could see the big picture as He can, we’d gladly wait for His way and timing.

The truth is, I believe we benefit by not receiving all that we request. To understand this concept is a sign of spiritual maturity. When we are thoroughly satisfied with the Lord’s presence, our relationship with Him will flourish, even when we don’t get everything we ask. When that’s the case, we grasp what prayer is—not a long list of wants, but regular communication in a relationship.

Barriers can develop if we persistently cry out to God and nothing changes. But by continuing to pray, we’ll both sense God’s presence beyond the “wall” and find peace, joy, and awesome glimpses of His glory. This will be completely satisfying, even if He never gives exactly what was requested.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.



From the CANON on this blog:

      Solutions

1.    God is omnipotent and therefore can solve any problem.  He may choose to use the solutions listed below, but he often provides in ways you could have never imagined.  The poor should cry out to God for help, rather than depending on Baal.
 

From today’s scripture reading:

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,e erences for Ephesians 3:14Footnotes
the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.f 
References for Ephesians 3:15Footnotes
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21

From today’s devotional:

When you pray, are you confident that God is listening and will answer? Or do you, like many other believers, feel doubtful that your words are even heard?

Let’s consider some obstacles to a healthy prayer life. First, poor concentration can inhibit our communication with the Lord. Human minds are prone to wander, and it is common for our thoughts to drift from prayer to other topics. One antidote for this is to realize with whom we are speaking. The more we grasp God’s power, love, omniscience, and holiness, the easier it will be for us stay focused.

Second, we may feel unworthy to talk with the God of all creation. Guilt over sin in our life can tempt us to avoid time alone with Him, but He wants us to bring our wrongs into His light. On our own, we will never be worthy to be in the presence of pure perfection. But Jesus’ death and resurrection brought us forgiveness and acceptance, so we can come to the Father without fear or embarrassment.

Third, fear can stand in our way. Some people worry, What if I don’t pray correctly? The truth is, none of us knows how to pray in a manner worthy of a holy God. That’s why the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf. The Lord desires our hearts, not perfect words.

The Lord has made Himself available to us through prayer. Do you realize that the most powerful tool and greatest privilege is accessible to us? We can come before almighty God in prayer. Our heavenly Father is waiting to listen to our praise, confession, and requests.

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

When all we can do is cry out



If you are reading this on another day, click on Wed 19 Aug on the intouch.org website.

From the CANON on this blog:

      Solutions

1.    God is omnipotent and therefore can solve any problem.  He may choose to use the solutions listed below, but he often provides in ways you could have never imagined.  The poor should cry out to God for help, rather than depending on Baal.
 

From today’s scripture reading:

Always be joyful.

Never stop praying.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

From today’s devotional:

One of the most painful emotions is loneliness. Of course, there are times in life when being alone is unavoidable. But since God has sent His Spirit to live within us, we are never truly on our own. The Holy Spirit—whom Jesus referred to as our “Helper”—is with us and available every second of every day.

Let’s think about ways that the Spirit of God helps us in our prayer life. First, He burdens us to pray. Have you ever felt a strong sense that you needed to spend time with the Lord? Perhaps you weren’t even sure why. That is the Spirit convicting you. He has many reasons for doing this. For instance, He may know that you need strength because of an imminent difficulty. Or He sometimes encourages us to confess sin so that our fellowship with the Father is not hindered.

Second, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. There are times when we do not know how to pray—when sorrow or helplessness overwhelms us to the point that words are impossible to speak, even to the Lord. Thankfully, when all we can do is cry to Jesus, the Spirit will lead on our behalf. He understands the depth of our thoughts, feelings, and needs, and He translates them into effective supplication according to God’s will.

The Savior loves you intimately—enough to die in your place and send a Helper to reside within you. What a privilege to have God’s Spirit dwelling in your heart. Do you recognize His power and love throughout your day? He longs to comfort, enable, and guide you each and every moment.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Time to find a replacement for Hillary


http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/08/hillary-clinton-is-rooting-for-jeb-bush-121452.html?hp=t4_r#.VdM0P1LbLX5

Since this comes from the left, I would say that it corresponds to the Corollary to my RINO Theorem.  They say the Clintons want Bush to win the nomination because he is easy to beat.  They are posting this because Hillary’s prospects are not looking too good right now, and there aren’t any other Democrats that are going to beat the Republican nominee, so they want to promote the one they like best.  They do that by talking about the things they like best about the RINO they like best.

My RINO Theorem is in my post “What’s going on with the Democrat Baal Tyrants?” which I posted on this blog March 5, 2015.  The Corollary to my RINO Theorem, which I occasionally posted on the Politics Forum, is “Leftists are happy to have RINO win elections.”

Driving the nation into repentance



From today’s scripture reading:


The LORD Almighty has sworn this oath: “It will all happen as I have planned. It will come about according to my purposes. I will break the Assyrians when they are in Israel; I will trample them on my mountains. My people will no longer be their slaves. I have a plan for the whole earth, for my mighty power reaches throughout the world. The LORD Almighty has spoken— who can change his plans? When his hand moves, who can stop him?”


Isaiah 14:24-27

From today’s devotional:

God is sovereign. This means that He is the supreme authority over everything, including sin and its consequences. Yet He doesn’t cause anyone to sin—to do so would violate His righteous and holy nature. The Lord does, however, allow temptation to enter our lives. And since we have free will and the Holy Spirit, we can decide how to respond and are fully equipped to resist. Thankfully, He retains ultimate control and weaves the consequences of our actions in accordance with His purposes.

Sometimes God permits our sin to run its full course. For instance, when the Israelites refused to turn away from their disobedience, He “gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, to walk in their own devices” (Psalms 81:12). Without divine protection, the nation succumbed to corrupt influences and ultimately was overrun. The Lord could have sheltered them, but the consequences drove the Israelites into repentance, which was His original plan.

Conversely, God will sometimes put an immediate halt to sin. Such was the case when King Abimelech took Abraham’s wife to himself. The king had been misled by the couple and was not aware that he was about to commit a sin. But the Lord knew of the deception, and He intervened (Genesis 20:1-6).

Of course, the wisest plan is to obey fully so God never has to use either of these tactics. Temptation is inevitable, but sin is not. The Lord’s sovereignty over our life means that any temptation must first pass through His permissive will. In this way, He makes sure His children are never tempted beyond what they can resist (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Monday, August 17, 2015

More about the Tyrant Theologian’s visit




Perhaps you've heard, Pope Francis is coming to Washington.

He seeks out the poor and vulnerable, not the rich and powerful (like a Democrat or RINO?  wink, wink).

Now it seems the only thing Congress agrees on is they need advice from this pope.

There is great anticipation. One of the hardest decisions for members of Congress is who will get their one place in the gallery when the Pope speaks.

Capitol Hill is “demoralized” in deeper ways. It lacks moral direction, serving powerful interests rather than the common good.  I agree with that one.

Many Democrats defend Planned Parenthood, dismissing horrific evidence that reveals more clearly than ever the humanity of the unborn child, the brutal violence of abortion and the dehumanizing attitudes of the abortion industry.  I agree that that is true, also.

Pope Francis is likely to repeat his admonition, It is not ‘progressive’ to try to resolve problems by eliminating a human life”.  And, of course, progressivism is the ideal in Pope Francis’ mind.

In the Philippines he urged that “the poor be treated fairly—their dignity be respected, that political and economic policies be just and inclusive.”  I already discussed Pope Francis’ view of dignity in the post “Pope Francis vs. Justice Clarence Thomas” on July 13, 2015 on this blog.

In Latin America he said,“certainly every country needs economic growth and the creation of wealth, but creation of this wealth must always be at the service of the common good, and not only for the benefit of a few."  And that can be achieved best via free market capitalism.  “Service of the common good” are code words for Baal Socialism – which leads to benefit of a few.

Everywhere, he calls for respect for family life, defense of religious freedom and care for God’s creation.  “Care of God’s creation” is talking about the global warming hoax.

Pope Francis will affirm our founding principles, applaud our diversity and deliver a message of responsibility, the opportunity and obligation to use our freedom, power and resources to build a nation and world of greater justice, solidarity and peace.  “Justice” to the pope means “social justice”, or in other words Baal Socialism.

He will come to Washington through Havana, reinforcing his call for dialogue over confrontation.  No, we wouldn’t want to confront our dear Communist leaders in Havana.

He will meet with bishops.  The “selected” bishops?  Surely not ones that believe in God being the god of this country.

After addressing the United Nations… Obama has shown the way to get things done when congress will not act.