Posts Tagged ‘mercy’

How would your day go if you “felt” the presence of Christ?

Friday, April 27th, 2012

Hope, April 27

… we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:3-7, www.solascriptura.com

We thank you Father for sending the Holy Spirit, a constant source of Your Holy presence in us. O’God, Your thoughts toward us exceed number. That is a reality we have a hard time grasping. Can we do any less but to look to You, all day, in every circumstance. We truly never need to walk alone.

You came that we might have abundant life. Thank You Father for helping us understand that it is Your desire that we experience goodness and mercy, at Your hand, even if others try to discourage us. Help us to be an encourager to such people, we pray.

May we draw near to you, constantly, even in the midst of earthly disappointments? We know that we can if we but shift our focus from that which is transitory to that which is eternal! Help us today to notice the flowers, the clouds, the animals and all of your wonderful creation, provided for our pleasure and use. May we dwell “in Your presence”, even today. In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray, amen

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302 Franklin, TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, God's Gift, Hope, Inspirtation, Perseverance, faith, joy, peace, salvation | 7 Comments »

Goodness over evil, love over hate, joy over depression…

Monday, April 2nd, 2012

Providence of God, April 2

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you…

Peter 1:3-10, www.solascriptura.com

Father, You have told us that you have reserved a place for us in heaven. We do not know a lot about heaven, but this we know. It will be a place of perfection, in You, reserved for us because of Your grace and mercy and the enabling atonement of Jesus.

You called us and we responded. We choose righteousness over evil, joy over depression and love over hate. Following You is so obviously right. You have taught us that we have a physical self that will perish and a spiritual self that will live forever.

Help us not to get too caught up in nurturing the physical while casually or seldom seeking Your Spirit to witness afresh, every day, to our spirit. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project P.O.Box 302 Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, God's Children, God's Gift, Perseverance, Providence of God, Religion, faith | 39 Comments »

To whom much is given, much is required

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

Peace, March 21

…where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James 3:16-18, www.solascriptura.com

Father, James, the half brother of Jesus, taught us some wonderful things and we are so grateful for his words. Here he reminds us that envy and self-seeking lead us into evil and confusion. We know, Father, that all people naturally seek to have more and better stuff. That instinct leads us into very immature behavior, at times.

We do seek Your blessing but help us know why You have blessed us and why You will yet bless us. You have taught us that to whom much is given, much is required. Your blessings to us should cause us to want to be a blessing to others. That seems so right and so natural compared to being envious or self-seeking.

It is Your wisdom we seek, Your gentle and peaceful nature rendered to us without partiality. Help us be helpful to others today, to deliver peace where there is strife and to trust You in all things. We pray in Jesus’ Holy name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, God's Gift, Inspirtation, faith, joy, peace | 24 Comments »

Problems abound; God is your solution, forever.

Saturday, February 11th, 2012

Salvation, February 11
 
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands… and purify your hearts…
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

James 4:8, 1 Peter 1:3-5, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we can see that this simple promise  is the key to our salvation. If we draw near to You, You will draw near to us, The opposite probably is true as well. If we distance ourselves from You, You shouldl distance Yourself from us. The fact that You continue to extend Your hand to us, even in our sin, is beyond our comprehension. We know from many scriptures that our sins grieve You. It seems our neglect of You, as we live our lives, does the same.

Help us today to focus on the fact that our inheritance, in You, is incorruptible, that our spirit, united with Your Spirit, will endure forever. May we cling to You when everything the world offers seems to be pulling us away. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, Forgiven, Hope, faith, peace, salvation | 30 Comments »

Will mercy triumph over judgment? I pray it does…

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

Law of God,January 28

For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James 2:10-13, www.solascriptura.com

Jesus, here we have Your half brother, James (same mother), clarifying that sin is sin and that there is no hierarchy of sin. Whether we have committed relatively small sins or grievous sins, we are all in the same place. We need Your forgiveness and cleansing and we need to show mercy to others as You have shown mercy to us.

Jesus, James tells us, that we who have been born again now stand in the law of liberty, a position in which “mercy triumphs over judgment”. Yes, Jesus, we are cleansed but our renewal is constant and Your mercy is constant because we need forgiveness every day for every action and thought that disappoints You.

Father, You have taught us that “being saved” is a moment in time wherein we acknowledge Your grace, mercy and calling to us and when we proclaim our love of Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit that enables us to be led by You. We also know that You, Father, will judge we who are Christians, by our deeds. What we do after we are born again, matters. We will be forgiven for our imperfections but help us today to endeavor to be obedient and to increasingly mature in our faith.

Help us be like You Jesus. Our fleshly instincts must decrease but our willingness to serve You and be led by You must increase. It would be great to say “I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” and have it be truer for every tomorrow than it is today. In Your Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, Law of God, Religion | 57 Comments »