Posts Tagged ‘sea’

Do doubts about God imperil or disable you?

Thursday, May 2nd, 2013

God’s Gifts, May 2

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;…

James 1:5-7, www.solascriptura.com

Father, in the beginning, James, the half-brother of Jesus,  doubted who Jesus was in terms of His being the Son of God and so did the other half- brothers of Jesus. We know Peter denied Jesus three times. In all cases, these men brought the same sort of weakness to the table as we do. We were not always committed to receiving Your grace and we have not always loved Jesus and acknowledged Him as our Savior.

But now, we have the opportunity to ask You to lead us by the power of the Holy Spirit. We can, in all humility and contrition, ask You for wisdom, for comfort, for forgiveness and for perfect fidelity to You and those You have placed in our lives.

You offer us a stern warning that we “must believe and not doubt”. Father, please help us with the doubts that sometimes come upon us. We feel so imperfect and at times very uninformed. Help us today to realize that is not our perfection that encompasses us when we approach You. We come to You in the righteousness of Jesus, cleansed by Him, led by Him.

Help our belief in You to lead to higher levels of trust in You. Forgive us when we think You have abandoned one of us. You never leave our side. Help us not to doubt that fact! We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

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

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Posted in Conscience, God's Gift, faith, wisdom | 4 Comments »

Your thoughts toward us exceed number…and ours towards You?

Saturday, February 2nd, 2013

Conscience, February 2 O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You. Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.   Psalm 139:1-10;17-18;23-24, www.solascriptura.com   Father, Your omnipresence in our lives and world is beyond our comprehension. We know you have none of the boundaries of the flesh and that You created each of us. Now You teach us that You search us, You know when we arise and lay down, You know the words on our tongues and the thoughts of our hearts. You encompass us, Your thoughts toward us are greater than the sand, a quantity we can not count.   Father, if we could but respond to You in the same way and give the same consideration, attention and time back to You that You give to us, that would keep our focus on our source of strength. We have access, all day long, to Your wisdom and presence. Help us respond, constantly. 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, Heaven, Holy Spirit, Hope, Prayer, Providence of God | 89 Comments »

One day with Jesus better than thousands elsewhere.

Thursday, November 1st, 2012

The Providence of God, November 1

God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God.
Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; for You render to each one according to his work.
Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy temple.
By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us, O God of our salvation, you who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of the far-off seas;
 
Psalm 62:11-12, Psalm 65:4-5, www.solascriptura.com
 
Father, the world will witness your power. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that you are Lord, including those who have not yet done so. It is your mercy that we seek. You have chosen us and even now You draw us near to You in spite of our weaknesses.

You have taught us that one day in your court is better than thousands elsewhere. Give us the necessary faith to look to our eternal future with confidence and joy.

We know that You provide for us materially but Father, please renew within us a right Spirit, one that responds to your constant presence and love. It is the serenity of Your presence in the midst of challenges that we seek. Help us today to observe Your wonderful creation afresh. 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, Courage, God's Gift, Hope, Providence of God | 51 Comments »

So, how dangerous, in the eyes of God, is it to offend a child?

Tuesday, September 25th, 2012

God’s Children, September 25

 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!
“It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
”
Matthew 18:10, Luke 17:1-2, www.solascriptura.com
 
Jesus, Your love and protection of our children could not be made more clear. You have assigned an angel to each one and that angel comes from the presence of the Father, to comfort and counsel every child. We know from experience, Jesus, that our children are imperfect. But, it is not their perfect behavior that protects them; they reside in Your righteousness. We know Your desire is that each child grows up to be a person that chooses to serve You, chooses to follow You.

Jesus, if we as adults, somehow interfere with the spiritual development of a child, if we turn a child from You, if we do not teach them the Word and speak of how You are the center of our lives, then You say a very harsh thing to us. “It would be better for him if a millstone was hung around his neck, and he was thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.”

We get the point Jesus. Your children are Yours. You “loan” them to us, in a sense, and then You observe our behavior toward them. Teach us, today, what steps we can take to improve our mentoring of them. Help us teach them Your Core Christian Values, constantly. We confess that we can not do this without Your Spirit guiding us. Bless us and our children this day. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

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Posted in Angels, Christianity, God's Children, Law of God | 20 Comments »