Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 65:4

Psalm 65:4 English Standard Version (ESV)

4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
    to dwell in your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
    the holiness of your temple!

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 23:23

Proverbs 23:23 English Standard Version (ESV)

23 Buy truth, and do not sell it;
    buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

Morning Scripture Reading - Matthew 11:28-30

Matthew 11:28-30 English Standard Version (ESV)

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Evening Scripture Reading - John 3:16-21

John 3:16-21 English Standard Version (ESV)

For God So Loved the World

16 “For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Footnotes:

1. John 3:16 Or For this is how God loved the world

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 64:10

Psalm 64:10 English Standard Version (ESV)

10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord
    and take refuge in him!
Let all the upright in heart exult!

Sunday Praise & Worship Message - Desires of Our Hearts

In Psalm thirty-seven, the psalmist writes, “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.”

For some, money is often considered their one and only desire. When asked about it, they will remind others that money is essential to living. In fact, some will even use the lyrics from the song, “Money Makes the World Go Around”, from the movie and play, “Cabaret”, as a reminder regarding the need for money.

I agree that money does make the world go around, but when it becomes the focus of one’s existence and heart’s desire, that is when there is a serious issue in that person’s life. When a person begins to focus on money all the time, something happens to them. They become obsessed with money and desire more and more of it. Money has become more than a means to an end. It has become an end in itself. The desire for more gets stronger and stronger. Important things like faith, family and friendship get pushed to the side.

In time, money is all these people can think about. They live to make more and more money and find that they can never have enough of it. When they get even one dollar, they are already looking for the next.

Jesus, in chapter six of the Gospel of Matthew, describes the relation of people and their money, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”

Money can easily become a master over a person. When we desire more and more money, the pursuit for more consumes us. In time, money enslaves us. We become slaves to money and all of the things we buy. Our possessions soon begin to possess us. If we are Christians and seduced by money, we begin to pray to God for more money. Instead of praying for wisdom or for others, we pray for more money to pay for all of the things we have bought. When we don't get what we desire, we begin to hate God and lash out. It is a never-ending cycle that leads to disappointment and, ultimately, disillusionment.

Even certain evangelists capitalize on our greed. They preach the prosperity gospel and solicit donations in order to get into God’s good graces. Once God has seen our commitment by making a donation to a ministry or church, God will then shower us with more blessings and more money. The money will only keep pouring in if we continue to make donations. Those same churches and ministries demand that individuals tithe in order to remain on God’s good side. 

The problem comes up when those individuals don’t get what they were told they would receive. It doesn’t take much for people to become disillusioned and give up on their faith. Many leave their religion only to seek the next thing that promises fortune and fame.

The author of Hebrews, in chapter thirteen, writes, “Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.’”

When you look at your life, do you have your needs met? God loves you and will always provide for your needs and will not forsake you. You have nothing to fear or worry about. God watches over his children like a mother watching over her child. Think about it. If you have all your needs met, what more can you ask for? Some will disguise their desire for more by bargaining with God. They will ask for more and promise to give the excess to the poor and needy. But, remember God sees your heart. 

Instead of bargaining with God or praying for more money or wealth in general, our focus should be on Him at all times. By remaining focused on Him and working to serve not only God but also those in the kingdom, we truly exemplify a Christ-like attitude. Our desire should be serving just as Jesus served others and loving the Lord God with all of our heart, mind and soul.

In Psalm 119, the psalmist writes, “Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money!”

This should be our daily prayer. We should pray for that eagerness to serve and follow the example of His son, Christ Jesus. Our love should be for God and not money. When we do these things, we can live fulfilled lives that aren’t filled with greed and the love for money. We can serve the one, true master of our lives and be satisfied with the blessings we have received. Living this way helps us to not only pursue righteousness but also allows us to stand firm in His grace.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 23:22

Proverbs 23:22 English Standard Version (ESV)

22 Listen to your father who gave you life,
    and do not despise your mother when she is old.

Morning Scripture Reading - Romans 8:26-30

Romans 8:26-30 English Standard Version (ESV)

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because[a] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[b] for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Footnotes:

1. Romans 8:27 Or that
2. Romans 8:28 Some manuscripts God works all things together for good, or God works in all things for the good

Evening Scripture Reading - Matthew 6:25-27

Matthew 6:25-27 English Standard Version (ESV)

Do Not Be Anxious

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[a]

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 6:27 Or a single cubit to his stature; a cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 64:10

Psalm 64:10 English Standard Version (ESV)

10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord
    and take refuge in him!
Let all the upright in heart exult!

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 23:19-21

Proverbs 23:19-21 English Standard Version (ESV)

19 Hear, my son, and be wise,
    and direct your heart in the way.
20 Be not among drunkards[a]
    or among gluttonous eaters of meat,
21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
    and slumber will clothe them with rags.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 23:20 Hebrew those who drink too much wine

Morning Scripture Reading - Hebrews 10:8-10

Hebrews 10:8-10 English Standard Version (ESV)

8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Evening Scripture Reading - 2 Corinthians 5:17

2 Corinthians 5:17 English Standard Version (ESV)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[a] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Footnotes:

1. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Or creature

Psalms Scripture Reading - Psalm 64:7-9

Psalm 64:7-9 English Standard Version (ESV)

7 But God shoots his arrow at them;
    they are wounded suddenly.
8 They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them;
    all who see them will wag their heads.
9 Then all mankind fears;
    they tell what God has brought about
    and ponder what he has done.

Happy New Year!

Psalm 16:7-8 New Living Translation (NLT)

7 I will bless the Lord who guides me;
    even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I know the Lord is always with me.
    I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

 

Proverbs Scripture Reading - Proverbs 23:17-18

Proverbs 23:17-18 English Standard Version (ESV)

17 Let not your heart envy sinners,
    but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.
18 Surely there is a future,
    and your hope will not be cut off.

Morning Scripture Reading - Isaiah 40:30-31

Isaiah 40:30-31 English Standard Version (ESV)

30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
    and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.

Happy New Year!

Psalm 25:4-7 New Living Translation (NLT)

4 Show me the right path, O Lord;
    point out the road for me to follow.
5 Lead me by your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God who saves me.
    All day long I put my hope in you.
6 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,
    which you have shown from long ages past.
7 Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
    Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,
    for you are merciful, O Lord.

 

New Year's Eve Message - Don't Forget

Over the past couple of days, I have heard so many people say the same thing about 2020. Most of them would prefer to simply forget that the year even existed. Their calendars would go from 2019 to 2021 and make no mention of the year that shall forever be nameless. Some lost their jobs due to the shutdowns. Others had loved ones in the hospital from COVID-19. A few lost loved ones and friends to the pandemic. In addition, we saw riots and civil unrest. Many were injured or even killed. We mourn the untimely passing of individuals. Add in all of the other issues we faced and we see a year that is seemingly better forgotten. In short, 2020 is a year that will forever be remembered as the year that should never have been.

But, even in the times of struggle and strife, we should always remember that Father God is always with us and blesses us. Each day we are alive is yet another opportunity to serve Him as well as His children. Instead of concentrating on the good, we prefer to look at the bad. If each of us sat down and began to make a list of everything that went wrong in 2020, we could, within minutes, fill a sheet of paper. If I asked each to write down the good things, it would take longer to even think of one good thing to write down. In short, we tend to concentrate on the bad and often forget the good things.

As 2021 rapidly approaches, we should not look at 2020 as being a year to forget, but, rather, look at it as a year of learning and growing. I can easily say that I have grown spiritually. I, like most, began to concentrate on the bad and almost refused to look for the good in life. Each day seemed like just another day of problems. I turned on the television and there were still more problems facing the world. But, I began to do something else. I stopped watching the news. I just caught the headlines to know what was going on, but I refused to just see the bad. When I began to do that, I felt as if a weight were lifted from my shoulders and I stopped worrying about things that I could not control.

Jesus, in chapter six of the Gospel of Matthew, tells us, “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Jesus reminds us that our Heavenly Father provides for all of our needs and that we don’t have to worry about what to eat, drink or wear. We don’t have to worry about shelter. God always provides for all that we need. All we have to do is have faith in that fact and allow God to direct our steps. Faith marries belief and action. We have to take the first step which is believing that God loves us and will provide. The action is moving past the constraints of this world and putting your trust in God.

When we do that, we can see God working the miracles in our lives and providing for our needs when we least expect it. As I faced a lot of uncertainty in my life, I witnessed many miracles and was able to overcome the struggles not by relying on my own strength, but, rather, relying on the everlasting arms of our Father. As we see those wonderful miracles, we must thank Him for His strength and the gift of His miracles. When we see more struggles and fear begins to creep back into our lives, we must stop and reflect on all the other times that God saw us through trials.

Peter, in chapter of five of his first epistle, writes, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

As our Father, God loves and cares for each of us and we, as His children, have the ability to go to Him in prayer. The one word that we should always remember is “all”. We don’t have to worry about anything. We can give all of our worries and cares to Him. God wants us to enjoy our lives and live each day in worship and not live in fear, uncertainty and doubt.

David, in Psalm 103, writes, “Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!” 

This psalm should be our song at the end of the year. We should reflect on all that the Father has done for us and all of the blessings that He has showered upon us. We shouldn’t be concentrating on the bad and simply ignore or forget the good. Our lives are too short to worry and lament about our past struggles. God provides for our needs when things seem their darkest. The joy of the Lord indeed is our strength. 

So, as we come to the close of 2020, don’t allow your heart to be troubled with the struggles we endured, but, rather, praise God for all that He has done for you. Lift up your voice in praise and remember all of the good things He has done for you. When you do that, I can guarantee that you will finish 2020 with a light heart and look forward to 2021 with optimism and the ability to stand firm in His grace.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Evening Scripture Reading - Romans 2:1-4

Romans 2:1-4 New King James Version (NKJV)

God’s Righteous Judgment

2 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?