tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65972328609084409412024-03-05T05:22:51.955-05:00Online DevotionsA verse of Scripture, a short reflection, and a prayer.Magister Christianushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09087270710114392727noreply@blogger.comBlogger419125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-20457616774575799172018-12-30T16:28:00.000-05:002018-12-30T16:28:08.528-05:00Making All Things New<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">December 30 (Revelation 21:5)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background: ">And he who was seated on the throne
said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”</span></b><span style="background: ">
(ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: "><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It does not matter how well things went for you this past
year, there is no one who would not breathe a sigh of relief to hear these
words. Do you remember playing some game
at recess and getting a “do over?”
Seriously, who would not want a “do over” in one, or perhaps many, parts
of life?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are two wonderful aspects to God’s “do over.” First, He is willing to help you start over
as many times as necessary. Did you fail
at something last year, something you should have done but did not, or
something you kept on doing but wish you could have stopped? Welcome to the club! God is ready and willing to make all things
new with you, if you will let Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second, and even greater aspect to the divine plan of
renewal is that there will come a day when all is made new forever. Even when we stumble and start over again, we
can look forward to the time that is coming when all things will be made
new. Injustice will become justice,
hatred will become love, decay will become life, and a new heaven and earth
will replace what we see today. Surely
that is a thought worth taking into the new year!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord,
I need a fresh start. I have developed
so many habits and patterns for dealing with life, and many of them lead me in
circles or away from You. In this new
year I give You my mind and my heart, my thoughts and dreams and wishes. I give You everything so that I can become
everything You want me to be. In the
name of Jesus, my Savior, amen.</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span></span>Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-25822304646086116882018-12-23T18:53:00.001-05:002018-12-23T18:53:22.925-05:00For All People of All Times<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">December 23 (Luke 1:55)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><b><span style="background: ">As he spoke to our fathers,</span></b></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><b><span style="background: font-size: 5pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="background: ">to
Abraham and to his offspring forever.</span></b><span style="background: "> (ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><span style="background: "><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mary concludes her words that came to be known as the
“Magnificat” by acknowledging the eternality of what God was doing in and
through her. God had singled out Israel
as His chosen people generations before Mary herself was born. He had spoken of salvation to Abraham and
continued to speak of it through the prophets.
The messiah was something all Israelites were expecting, and now that
messiah would be born in the flesh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet Mary observes that God’s words were not just for Abraham
and those who had come before her.
Time was not coming to an end with Mary and her child. God’s words, and the Word that was becoming
flesh, were for all people forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with family
and friends, take a moment to ponder the truth that you are part of a much
larger story than you may have realized.
As a child of God whose veins now flow with the blood of Jesus, you are
part of an eternal story, one that stretches from everlasting to everlasting,
and that is truly something worth celebrating.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>As a special feature this month, each devotion will include a link to
one of the many glorious, musical versions of the “Magnificat.” Each one includes the Latin text as
well. This week’s selection can be found
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6NGgv-9E8w&index=7&list=PLRrq8mggt2UHsfXlT_WlxtT67SHDQf3YZ&t=0s">here</a></span>.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord,
we thank You for becoming one of us in the person of Jesus Christ. He fully understands all our trials and
temptations and without sin surrendered Himself to the punishment that should
have been ours so that we might enjoy eternal life with You. This day and every day, our souls magnify
You, and we rejoice in God our Savior.
Amen.</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span></span>Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-2666234438879707862018-12-16T12:32:00.001-05:002018-12-16T12:32:20.342-05:00The Humble Exalted<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">December 16 (Luke 1:51-52)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black;">He has shown strength with his arm;</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"> <span class="text">he has scattered the proud in the
thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones</span>
<span class="text">and exalted those of humble
estate.</span></span></b><span class="text"><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><span style="background: color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When Mary spoke the words of the poem and song that would
come to be known as the “Magnificat,” she could not have fully understood all
she was saying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the prophets of
old, she spoke of things that would come to pass as if they were already
accomplished, for indeed, in God’s time, they were.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The birth of her son, Jesus, would scatter the proud and
bring down the mighty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might have
seemed just the opposite that day on Calvary’s dark hill, where the ruling
powers of the world conspired to bring about the death of an innocent man, but
little did the Romans and Jewish leaders know that the one they crucified would
use his cross as the sword to conquer death itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the triumph of Christ over sin and death,
our Lord raised up all those sunk under their weight who would accept His gift
of salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Exalted to sit at His
right hand with our Father in heaven, we no longer live in the low state of
despair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is this what Christmas means to you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you recognize it for what it truly is, the
inbreaking of God into His own creation, to become part of it in order to
redeem it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christmas is glorious indeed,
but only because it is the pivotal turn in the cosmic story that ends with
Easter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: yellow;">As a special feature this month, each devotion will include a link to
one of the many glorious, musical versions of the “Magnificat.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each one includes the Latin text as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This week’s selection can be found</span>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8Oeq12zjZk&t=172s&index=2&list=PLRrq8mggt2UHsfXlT_WlxtT67SHDQf3YZ">here</a></span>.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Father, thank You for giving me an everlasting seat with You
through the blood of Your Son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try to
achieve many things through my own efforts, but truly my highest honor was won
for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thank You for the greatest of
all gifts this Christmas, true life now and forever in Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span></div>
Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-80767910802806557942018-12-09T11:54:00.000-05:002018-12-09T11:54:35.590-05:00The Mercy of God<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">December 9 (Luke 1:50)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><b>And his mercy is for those who fear
him</b></span><b> <span class="text">from
generation to generation.</span></b><span class="text">
(ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The song that Mary wrote after receiving the joyous news
that she would be the mother of Jesus continues by acknowledging God’s mercy,
but notice the two aspects of that mercy.
It is for those who fear God and it is always available.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the Bible talks about fearing God, it does not mean the
sort of fear that a child, worried about creatures under the bed, experiences
in a darkened room. It is does not mean
the fear an adult faces while waiting for results from a biopsy. It is the awe-filled respect and honor that
is proper from humble creatures toward the infinite and majestic God who
created them. And God’s mercy is for all
those who are humble before Him. Those
too arrogant and proud to fear Him would never think they needed His mercy in
the first place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mary also says that this mercy extends from generation to
generation. It was available not only to
her but to people of the third, fifteenth, and twenty-first centuries as
well. It is available to every nation
and culture on the planet. Perhaps it is
time for you to quit trying to make life work and simply and completely throw
yourself upon the mercy of God. If you
do, you will find rest and restoration for your soul as never before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: yellow;">As a special feature this month, each devotion will include a link to
one of the many glorious, musical versions of the “Magnificat.” Each one includes the Latin text as
well. This week’s selection can be found</span>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GYjNj75MFI&t=4174s">here</a></span><span style="color: yellow;">. This is a lager work by Monteverdi, and the
“Magnificat” begins at the 1:09:34 mark</span></i><span style="color: yellow;">.</span></b><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lord,
I need Your mercy to get through this day, to say nothing of this week, and all
that lies in store for me. From
temptations my flesh is too weak to resist to demands I do not have the energy
to fulfill, I need Your help. I do not
come asking You for anything based on my own merits, but rather ask for
Your mercy. In the name of Jesus, Who
showed the greatest of mercies by taking my death to the cross, amen.</span></span></h3>
Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-15292753030833703662018-12-02T12:23:00.000-05:002018-12-02T12:23:12.718-05:00God Notices You<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">December 3 (Luke 1:46-48)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><b>My soul magnifies the Lord,</b></span><b> <span class="text">and my spirit rejoices in God
my Savior,</span></b><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="background: font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></sup></b><b>for he has looked on the humble
estate of his servant.</b></span> (ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be
the mother of Jesus, she visited her cousin Elizabeth, who confirmed the
miracle by telling Mary that both she and her unborn child were blessed. And what did Mary do? She spoke words that would become known as
one of the most glorious poems and songs in the history of the world, the “Magnificat,”
so called from the opening word in the Latin version of this passage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She begins by praising God and acknowledging His greatness
in noticing a humble girl like her. In His
unspeakable majesty, God is always looking down. He sees the humble and the downtrodden. He hears the cries of those with nowhere to go. He knows what you are facing, and perhaps
more than anything, it is this that makes Him great.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we head toward Christmas, keep these opening words of
Mary’s song in mind. God sees past all
the lights and glitter and celebrations, past all the falsely happy faces to
the broken hearts they hide. He is looking
past all of that…at you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: yellow;">As a special feature this month, each devotion will include a link to
one of the many glorious, musical versions of the “Magnificat.” Each one includes the Latin text as
well. This week’s selection can be found</span>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyXafdQogEo&t=0s&list=PLRrq8mggt2UHsfXlT_WlxtT67SHDQf3YZ&index=5">here</a>.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Father,
I need to know that You see me. I need
to know that when others are rushing past, You see the deepest needs of my
heart. Because I know that You do indeed
see me and care for me, I add my voice to that of Mary, magnifying You and
rejoicing in God my Savior. Amen.</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span></span>Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-74958135267658706052018-11-25T15:46:00.000-05:002018-11-25T15:46:10.438-05:00Representatives of Jesus<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">November 25 (Colossians 3:17)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black;">And whatever you do or say, do it as a
representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.</span></b><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(NLT)<o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cut someone off
in traffic?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tell a dirty joke?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waste your money on things you don’t need?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do it all in the name of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Visit certain websites?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watch certain movies?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Share certain things on social media?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do all that in the name of Jesus, too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are you becoming
uncomfortable yet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be the pinnacle of blasphemy, and in
some instances sure indication of demonic activity, to do certain things in the
name of Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your pet sin may
not be on that list, but whatever it is, call it to mind right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does it not make your skin crawl to think of
saying, “I am about to do this in the name of the Lord Jesus?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet, for those
who have surrendered their lives to Jesus, that is what we do each and every
time we do or say anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are God’s
ambassadors on earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is nothing
we can do or say or even think apart from that reality, and it makes a useful
test for us when deciding whether or not engage in a particular activity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus, when I look
at my life for what it is, Your representative on earth, I am filled with shame
and grief over all that I have done and all I have not done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also makes me even more grateful than ever
for Your love and forgiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Help me not
to move carelessly through life, doing and saying whatever comes to mind, without
first realizing that all I do reflects on You.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Renewed by the power of Your grace, may I be the true salt and light You
have called me to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: color: black;"><span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span></span></div>
<br />Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-6676209109401467722018-11-18T08:57:00.000-05:002018-11-18T08:57:11.683-05:00Blessed When Ridiculed<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">November 18 (Matthew 5:11-12)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="woj"><b><span style="background: ">“God blesses you when people mock you and
persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you
because you are my followers.</span></b></span><b>Be happy about it! Be very
glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient
prophets were persecuted in the same way.”</b><span class="woj"><span style="background: ">
(NLT)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="woj"><span style="background: "><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People may tell you that you are privileged as a Christian,
especially if you are living in the West.
They will say that yours is the dominant religion, that vacations from
work are often based on your holidays, and that the world of commerce is all
about you, especially as we head toward Christmas. Now, ask yourself this. How comfortable do you feel talking about
your faith? Will you share the good news
that salvation is found only in Christ and in no other religion or religious
figure? Will you speak against sins like
abortion while sharing the love and forgiveness of God for those who have
experienced it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For most of us the answer is no, or at best a hesitant
yes. We see what happens to people in
social media for speaking the truth.
Perhaps we have directly experienced mocking and evil comments. And of course, we don’t want to ruffle
feathers at work. We have to show up
tomorrow and work with these people.
What if our comments make that uncomfortable?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friends, Jesus said that when we live for Him, which
includes speaking His words, we will indeed make people uncomfortable. They will lie and say all kinds of things
about us, but guess what? You are in
good company. The same, and far worse,
has happened to the saints throughout the ages, to say nothing of our Lord
Jesus Himself. Hebrews 12:2 reminds us,
“<span style="background: ">Because of the joy</span><sup><span style="background: font-size: 7.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></sup><span style="background: ">awaiting him, he endured the cross,
disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s
throne,” and He promises that you have a great reward in store as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: "><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="background: font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord, strengthen me against petty fear. Grant me the boldness and courage to be Your
faithful servant in all the works to which You call me. In all things, my model is Jesus, who endured
the horror of the cross for me. Amen.</span></span></h3>
<span style="background: font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: font-family: "Book Antiqua", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span></span>Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-60698012715193577312018-11-11T14:43:00.000-05:002018-11-11T14:43:38.767-05:00Soul Satisfaction<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">November 11 (Psalm 42:1)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black;">As a deer pants for flowing streams,</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"> <span class="text"><span style="background: ">so pants my soul for you, O God.</span></span></span></b><span class="text"><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><span style="background: color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the sixteenth century, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
composed a motet based on this verse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is called “Sicut Cervus” from the first two words of the Latin translation, and
as one person commented on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yd5EE0hAB8">this
recording</a> of it on YouTube, “This might be the most beautiful three minutes
in the history of forever.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I agree, and
it is certainly one of my favorite pieces of music.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyone can appreciate Palestrina’s composition and enjoy it thoroughly,
but those who have tasted the pleasure of God know that there is something
deeper and richer to it and to this verse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is a reason man’s relationship with God has inspired art and
architecture, drama and dance and music that have become the crowning
achievements of the creative aspirations of the human race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That relationship, when rightly ordered
through the grace of Jesus Christ, is satisfying at the deep level of our
souls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is glorious, wonderful,
magnificent, and filled with peace attainable nowhere else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is loving and welcoming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you know that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or
rather, do you feel that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have
tasted even once that deep intimacy with God, you know there is nothing like
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If, however, it seems like words on
a page or something that others have experienced but not you, that may just be
your soul’s longing for the one thing that can truly satisfy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And just as a deer always finds water to
slake its thirst, so God will always be found by those who truly seek Him, for
they will then know that He has been seeking them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord, I need You more than water or sleep or food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need You more than the air I breathe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Draw near to me as I draw near to You.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fill my soul and restore it to life in a dry
and thirsty land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span></h3>
<br /><br />
<span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span>Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-46634798540968270292018-11-04T16:30:00.000-05:002018-11-04T16:30:02.647-05:00Power To Walk In New Life<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">November 4 (Romans 6:4)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black;">We were </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">buried therefore
with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Christ was raised
from the dead by </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">the glory of the Father, we too might walk in </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">newness of life.</span></b><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guess what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t
have to be afraid anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+1%3A7&version=ESV">2
Timothy 1:7</a> says we have been given a spirit of power, love, and
self-control, not one of fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t
have to wonder if anyone loves you, or sit around convinced that no one does,
because God has made it quite clear that He loves you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Want proof?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Read <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5:8&version=ESV">Romans
5:8</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t have to sin or remain
stuck in darkness or run around in circles of confusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You really, truly don’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And yet so many of us do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In one way or another, we are not walking in newness of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We sense that something is off, that
something is just not right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s be
honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No prisoner, having been
pardoned from jail, will try to sneak back into his cell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is highly unlikely that you want to live
in pain and suffering, apart from the renewed life that is your birthright as a
baptized child of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is, however,
more than likely that God’s great enemy and ours, Satan, will try everything to
lead you back into bondage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God knows this and is at your side the moment you call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, in both the Old Testament (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joel+2%3A32&version=ESV">Joel
2:32</a>) and the New Testament (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans+10%3A13&version=ESV">Romans
10:13</a>), He gives a powerful promise that everyone who calls on His name
will be saved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, what are you waiting
for?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are a born-again child of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why resort to old ways, why give in to habits
you hope will make you feel better but never do, why be led astray by the lies
of demons?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cry out to your Father in
heaven for help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weep and wail with Him.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read the Bible verses that you know
contain truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walk in the newness of
life that is yours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord, may the Holy Spirit bring to my mind the lies that I
have been accepting from the enemy as true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As Paul taught in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+corinthians+10%3A5&version=ESV">2
Corinthians 10:5</a>, I bring those thoughts captive to You.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Free me from their bondage that I may walk in
the newness of life that is already mine in Christ Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In His name I pray, amen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span></div>
Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-43340143847904238682018-10-28T10:55:00.000-04:002018-10-28T10:55:29.547-04:00The Gift and Necessity of Rest<h3>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">October 28 (Psalm 127:1-2)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: white;">Unless the <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span></b></span><span class="small-caps"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></b></span><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black;"> builds
a house,</span></b></span></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black;"> the work of the builders is wasted.</span></b></span></span></span></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black;">guarding it with sentries will do no good.</span></b></span></span></span></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black; font-size: 5.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></b><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black;">from early morning until late at night,</span></b></span></span></span></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black;">for God gives rest to his loved ones.</span></b></span></span><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(NLT)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When
are you at your best with God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When are
you at your best for Him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are
anything like me, it is not when you are doing a million things all at once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this probably means we are not at our
best most of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Now here, now
there, he darts from place to place.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is a line describing the Greek warrior Diomedes in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Iliad</i>, but it also describes most of us today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why
is that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do we run ourselves ragged?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is because we believe that we must build
the house, metaphorically speaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
think it is all up to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hard work is
good, of course, and Paul had strong words for those who were lazy (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Thessalonians+3%3A10&version=NLT">2
Thessalonians 3:10</a>), but nowhere does Scripture say we must do it all and
kill ourselves in the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact,
it says the opposite.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God
loves you, which means, as this Psalm clearly says, He will give you rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you rejecting the gift?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you handing it back to Him because you
know better what needs to be done?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
only is that arrogant and insulting to God, but it is something we would not
even do with a gift from an earthly friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He knows what is best, not your boss, not the family calendar, and not
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Listen for Him, and when He is
calling you to a moment of quiet with Him, eagerly accept the gift that He
knows you need.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<h3>
<span class="text"><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Father,
help me to set aside regular moments each day to rest in You.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Help me to develop habits of rest in which I
can hear from You and share with You my heart, in which I can grow in You and
worship You truly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ask it in the name
of Jesus, amen.</span></span></span></h3>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span>Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-72478523190796496252018-10-21T11:35:00.001-04:002018-10-21T11:35:13.319-04:00The God Of All People<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">October 21 (Exodus 6:13)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black;">But the <span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span> spoke to Moses and
Aaron and gave them orders for the Israelites and for Pharaoh, the king of
Egypt.</span></b><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(NLT)<o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The one true God Who has revealed Himself as Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit, is the God of Muslims, Christians, Jews, and atheists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the God of Australians, Americans, and
those in the Amazon Basin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the
Lord of everyone on earth, whether they know it or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that sounds odd, or even offensive, then
it proves how much we have come to think of God in terms of private, religious,
self-help principles rather than who He actually is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When God spoke to Moses and Aaron, He gave them commands for
the Israelites, His chosen people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
people today would have no trouble with that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was the God of the Israelites, so of course He spoke to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet notice that He also had commands for Pharaoh,
who most certainly did not acknowledge Him as God of the Egyptians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that mattered to God not one bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You see, God knows Himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He knows that He created the atheist in his mother’s womb and knit together
the limbs of the terrorist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows the
plans He has for the scientist who cannot accept anything she cannot measure,
and He expects His followers, like Moses and Aaron, to know that, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We often hesitate to talk about God with
others because we think we are imposing our private beliefs on someone else,
but that is simply not the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is Lord
of everyone and He wants all of His children to be reconciled with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is why He sent Jesus to make that possible
with His death and resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
next time you wonder whether you should talk about God with a friend, remember
that God was not just the Lord of Moses and Aaron, but the Egyptians, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lord, help me to live my life in You out loud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Help me to take what can be a private faith
into the marketplace and live my relationship with You as I do my relationship
with family and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Change my
speech from one that talks of faith and principles to one that speaks of You in
personal ways, and when You have a word for me to share with others, give me the courage
to speak it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span></h3>
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span>Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-951745497962264732018-10-14T16:43:00.000-04:002018-10-14T16:43:41.641-04:00You Can, With God's Help<br />
<h3 style="background: line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">October 14 (Exodus 3:11-12)</span></h3>
<h3 style="background: line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;">But Moses
protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the
people of Israel out of Egypt?”</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span class="text">God answered, “I will be
with you.”</span></span></b><span class="text"><span style="color: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(NLT)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h3>
<div style="background: line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all need encouragement when we think a task is too much for us,
and chances are, you’ve offered encouragement to someone else in that
situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem is, we usually do
it all wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We begin by telling people
not to feel that way, we continue by assuring them they can do whatever it is,
and for proof we trot out a list of their abilities and accomplishments.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Now, take a look at how God does it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses doubts himself at the deepest
level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Who am I?” he asks God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the human scheme of things, he is a nobody
and he knows it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet God does not say,
“Come on, buddy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re not a nobody,
you’re a somebody!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would I have picked a
guy who couldn’t do this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of how
you stepped up when the Egyptian was beating one of my people (</span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="file:///C:/Users/intoy/Desktop/Steve's%20Stuff/Online%20Devotions/All%202018/Exodus%202:11-12">Exodus 2:11-12</a></span><span style="color: white;">).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
can do this!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, God simply says,
“I will be with you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">God will not lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will
not pretend you are what you are not just to make you feel good, and sometimes
He calls us to something that we, in our own strength, cannot do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you know what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t matter whether we can do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If He calls us, He is with us, and He will accomplish the task.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Father, I might as well be Moses for all the ways I have
excused myself from doing what You have called me to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God, please help me to focus on You and not
on my own weaknesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Help me not to
over analyze and think things to death, but simply do what You call me to
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the name of Jesus, the very model
of perfect obedience, amen.</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span></div>
<br />Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-77951411698085191382018-10-07T10:17:00.000-04:002018-10-07T10:17:35.779-04:00What Has Jesus Done For You?<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">October 7 (Mark 5:20)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black;">So the man started off to visit the Ten
Towns<span style="font-size: 10px;"> </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">of that region and
began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was
amazed at what he told them.</span></span></b><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(NLT)<o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is hard to tell people about a place you’ve never been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can go on and on about Zion National Park
in Utah, Turkey Run State Park in Indiana, and the beautiful city of Rome
because I have spent time in all of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can tell you a little about Australia from what friends have told me
and something about Greece from what I have read in books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly, when it comes to evangelism, a lot of
people find themselves in Australia or Greece.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jesus had just healed a man who had suffered from a demonic
attack that drove him mad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man was
so happy to be calm and in his right mind that he wanted to go with Jesus, but
Jesus told him to go home instead and tell people what had happened, and so he
did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told everyone he knew what Jesus
had done for him, and the people were amazed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If Jesus came to you and said, “I want you to tell people
what I have done for you,” what would you say?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Would you tell stories about what He has done for others?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would you quote Scripture?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are not bad things, but what would you
tell people He has done for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter+3:15&version=NLT">1
Peter 3:15</a> says we must always be ready to explain our hope to people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spend some time recalling what Jesus has done
for you over the course of your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Perhaps even start a list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three
things are sure to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The list will
grow quickly, you will find yourself praising God with fresh joy, and you will develop
a powerful story that God can use to bring others to Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lord, over the next few days, bring to mind all that You
have done for me, even revealing the things I was too blind or too in a hurry
to see at the time as coming from You.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>May the story of Your work in my life bring hope and encouragement to
others and lead them to Jesus, in Whose name I pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span></h3>
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span>Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-85066926407713756922018-09-30T09:39:00.000-04:002018-09-30T09:39:04.260-04:00Fierce and Loving<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">September 30 (Mark 1:25)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black;">But Jesus </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">rebuked him,
saying, </span><span class="woj"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">“Be silent, and come out of him!”</span></span></b><span class="woj"><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="woj"><span style="background: color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A man with an unclean spirit accosted Jesus in the synagogue
one day, and Jesus flared up and commanded the spirit to leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most translations read that He rebuked the
spirit, and this is a fair rendering of the Greek verb, but the earliest
translation puts it even more strongly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the Latin version from the late fourth century, it says Jesus
threatened the spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either way, we
see Jesus with fire in His eyes and thunder in His voice setting this man free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now go on just a bit more to verses 29-31.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as He left the synagogue, He went to
Simon Peter’s house, where Peter’s mother-in-law was ill with a fever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<span class="text"><span style="background: color: black;">And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up,
and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.</span>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you imagine a more tender, loving scene than
this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no fire or thunder or rebuke
this time, just a gentle act of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was lying in bed with a fever, and Jesus carefully gives her His
hand and helps her up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Friends, this is Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He is the one you want when the demons and the monsters come to call,
for He is afraid of nothing and will stand up to the dark forces, fiercely and
authoritatively sending them back where they belong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is also the one you want when you are
breaking and shaking and at your wit’s end, for He will gently and lovingly
help you to stand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jesus, I need You.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
need You to fight my battles and to help me stand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I am too scared even to list all
the ways I need You, so I ask the Holy Spirit to intercede on my behalf,
knowing You are all and only what I need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Amen.</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span></div>
<br />Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-46096607544540940132018-09-23T10:37:00.000-04:002018-09-23T10:37:53.432-04:00No Place I'd Rather Be<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">September 23 (Psalm 84:10)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><b><span style="background: ">A single day in your courts</span></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><b><span style="background: font-size: 5pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="background: ">is better than a thousand anywhere else!</span></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="text"><span style="background: ">I would rather be a gatekeeper
in the house of my God</span></span></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><b><span style="background: font-size: 5pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="background: ">than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.</span></b><span style="background: ">
(NLT)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: "><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most people who claim to be Christian would say that Jesus
is wonderful and the Bible is great, and they could go on to list many other
things about their faith that bring them joy.
Now, stop and ask yourself this.
If you had nothing else but Jesus and God’s word…no music, no Internet,
no car, no job, no sports, no family, no house, no whatever that thing is that
is your favorite in all the world…would that be enough?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love my family more than anything else on earth, and I
love a lot of stuff on earth. Music and
poetry and the natural wonders of state and national parks thrill me. I take genuine pleasure in such things, and
am grateful to God not only for His creation and what He has inspired through
others, but for the eyes and ears with which to appreciate them. And my family, well, I sometimes become
downright giddy with joy over them. My
foot taps the accelerator a bit harder on my way home after work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But when I take time to enter into the presence of God, when
I sit with Him in prayer or ponder His words in Scripture, then I know that
there is truly nothing I prefer to Him.
It is not that I enjoy the pleasures of life or love my family less, but
that I desire Him more. Such desire
burns brightly when I turn my heart to Him, but it will only burn that way when
He, and nothing else, is my heart’s focus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lord,
thank You for the endless blessings of this life. Even in times of illness and suffering, You
have poured out on us more blessing than we could possibly comprehend. Yet today I turn my focus from the things You
have given me directly to You. May You
and You alone fill my mind and heart and be all that I desire. I pray in the name of Jesus, amen.</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span></span>Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-64876138041088666592018-09-16T15:36:00.000-04:002018-09-16T15:36:46.123-04:00Best News Ever<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">September 16 (1 John 2:1-2)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black;">My dear children, I am writing this to you
so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who
pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly
righteous.</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text"><span id="en-NLT-30513" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and
not only our sins but the sins of all the world.</span></span></span></b><span class="text"><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(NLT)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You will not read anything better today than these
two verses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Absolutely nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take them apart bit by bit and see what I
mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, the Bible gives us guidance
so that we will not sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This itself is
pretty good news, because no matter how smart we think we are, we are not
always going to get things right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+14%3A12&version=NLV">Proverbs
14:12</a> makes clear what our own experience has proven time and again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may think something is right, but in the
end we are proven wrong, often disastrously so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet even when we know right from wrong, we will
still sin, and when that happens, all is not ruined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have someone who will plead our case with
God, and that someone is Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now,
Jesus is not going to say, “Father, cut her some slack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was just having a bad day.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He won’t say, “Don’t count this sin against
him, Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His own family acted that
way, and he didn’t have any good role models.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No, Jesus will go before His Father and ours and say, “This one is one
of mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one had a perfect lamb to
cover all sins with its blood, and I was that lamb.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other day I was reading those verses and could
not take my eyes off those words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just
sit with them for a few moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
read anything else for a moment and let the incomprehensible, monumental,
reality-changing truth of the gospel of Jesus wash over you and penetrate deep
into your heart and soul and mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is the essence of the Christian faith, my friends, and there is nothing…nothing…even
remotely like it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">O God, when I read the words of Your promise to
forgive my sins and when I think of the blood of Jesus that made that possible,
my heart is so filled with radiant love from You and for You that I can think
of nothing else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My face can do nothing
but smile, and my mouth can do nothing but declare Your praise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May the glorious light of my transformed and
transforming life point others to You.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the name of Jesus, my Savior, I pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Amen.</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span></div>
<br />Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-31052923502776390582018-09-09T10:24:00.001-04:002018-09-09T10:24:09.021-04:00Nice or Called?<h3 style="background: line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">September 9 (Mark 1:37-38)</span></h3>
<h3 style="background: line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text"><b>When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
But Jesus replied, <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></b></span><span class="woj"><b>“We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them,
too. That is why I came.”</b></span><span class="woj"> (NLT)<o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
<div class="first-line-none" style="background: line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jesus had been healing
many people, and suddenly everyone was looking for Him. Wasn’t that a good thing? It was, but it wasn’t why Jesus had come, and
He was not going to let anything get in the way of His mission, not even good deeds. As important as the direct healing of sick
people was, His principal work was to share the good news that the kingdom of
God was at hand, that God was actually on earth making reconciliation with Him
possible for all people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="first-line-none" style="background: line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You probably do many good
things for those around you, but ask yourself this. How much of your life is spent doing what you
were called to do? Now, don’t get this
wrong. No one is saying to ignore a need
in front of you just to do something you think is grand and important. But seriously, how much of your life is taken
up in nice, pleasant, even beneficial activities that are keeping you from what
God sent you and only you to do?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="first-line-none" style="background: line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And do you even know what
that is? Jesus had a clear sense of His
mission. He knew what the Father had
sent Him to do. Do you? If you do not spend time with God, listening
to what He has to say to you, you will spend your life in a flurry of activity,
much of it good, but will miss the unique calling He has for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Father, rather than asking You to bless my efforts, I come to You today
asking what Your will for me is. Show me
the tasks to which You have truly called me, and may I be quick to perform
them. I ask in the name of Jesus, amen.</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span></span>Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-34387416338070875582018-09-02T10:16:00.000-04:002018-09-02T10:16:21.168-04:00What Does It Mean To Repent?<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">September 2 (Mark 1:15)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black;">“The time is fulfilled, and </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">the kingdom of God
is at hand; repent</span> and believe the Good News!”</b><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(ESV/NLT)<o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Children will
tell their parents that they are really, really sorry when they’ve done something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They mean it, but that is not repentance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People faced with an addiction will promise
themselves and others that will really, really try harder not to do it
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They mean it, but that’s not
quite repentance, either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jesus
says to repent, He is giving a life-transforming command like no other.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Greek verb
here is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">metanoeite</i>, and it carries
the sense of changing one’s way of thinking and seeing the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, we seem to have no trouble imagining science
fiction scenarios, so try that now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine
an alien ship hovering over the earth broadcasting the message, “The time has
come!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kingdom of the Xarbellians is
at hand!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would change absolutely
everything you thought you knew about the universe and your place in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now you have the sense of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">metanoeite</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And how does
Jesus tell people to see the world in place of how they have been seeing
it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He tells them to believe the good
news!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of seeing life as “a tale
told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing,” we are to give
ourselves fully to the good news that we are God’s masterpieces, made new in
Jesus to do the wonderful things He planned for us to do (<a href="file:///C:/Users/intoy/Desktop/Steve's%20Stuff/Online%20Devotions/All%202018/March%202018.docx">Ephesians 2:10</a>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead of believing that God is out to get us for our mistakes, we are to
embrace the incredibly good news that God loved the world so much that He gave His
own Son for our redemption (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+3%3A16&version=NLT">John
3:16</a>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, if you truly believed
all that, wouldn’t you live your life differently?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the meaning of repentance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Father, I repent
today of all the ways in which I have thought about You and gone about life
that are false.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lies about You, my
sinful habits…I renounce all of it now and turn to embrace the fullness of life
that You offer through Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
people look at me, may the see what it looks like when the good news is lived
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the name of Jesus, Who makes all
things possible, amen.</span></span></h3>
<div>
<span style="background: color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background: color: black;"><span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span></span></div>
Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-27357395510039513962018-08-26T11:23:00.000-04:002018-08-26T11:23:10.392-04:00Jesus The I Am<br />
<h3 style="background: line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">August 26 (Mark 6:50)</span></h3>
<h3 style="background: line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;">They were
all terrified when they saw him.</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: white;"> <span class="text">But Jesus spoke to them at once. <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="woj">“Don’t be afraid,”</span>
</span><span class="text">he said. <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="woj">“Take courage! I am
here!”</span></span></span></b><span class="woj"><span style="color: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(NLT)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h3>
<div style="background: line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have yet to find an English version of the Bible that translates
this verse literally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jesus walks
on the water, and His disciples are quaking in fear, He does not say, “It is I.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He says simply and directly, “Have courage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t be afraid.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the New
Living Translation, which comes as close as any to the actual Greek of the verse,
adds the adverb “here.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Jesus comforts His friends with “I am,” He means something
far more than what people usually mean when they say, “Don’t worry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m right here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got this.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is announcing His presence as God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He does not need to say anything else about Himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn’t need to add that all will be okay
or that He has everything under control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like a clap of thunder in the midst of the storm they were experiencing,
His “I am” is a declaration of sovereign authority in their midst. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it is an earth-shaking declaration in the middle of your life,
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too often we take our own ideas of
what it means to be meek, mild, and loving and transfer them to Jesus, which
results in our seeing Him as something less than He is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, we must see that Jesus the Almighty,
Who can stop the forces of nature with a word, chose to confine Himself to the
weak body of a human being so that He could do what all of us never could with
all our collected might, turn back the very force of death itself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<h3 style="background: ; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May my prayers come to You in faith, Lord, confident that You are
the Almighty, the One Who can handle all my fears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the name of all-powerful Jesus, amen.</span></span></h3>
<div style="background: ; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span></div>
<br />Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-40095290316880904542018-08-19T08:24:00.000-04:002018-08-19T08:24:22.830-04:00Bad, Mad, or God<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">August 19 (Matthew 26:28)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">For </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">this is my </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">blood of the</span> covenant,
which is poured out for <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">many </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">for the forgiveness of sins.</span></b><span style="background: color: black; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: color: black; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It
has long been noted by philosophers and theologians that there are only three
possibilities when it comes to Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
was either bad, mad, or God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other
words, He either knowingly lied in the statements He made, was utterly insane,
or was in fact God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After taking only a
quick glance at the many loving acts He performed, most people readily dismiss
the claim that He was bad.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But
was He insane?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine what would happen
if you or I sat with friends at dinner, poured wine for everyone, and then
said, “Oh, by the way, the wine you are drinking is my blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am going to give it up as a sacrifice to
cover people’s sins.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone would
start calling 911 under the table.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yet
we know that the words He spoke at the last meal He shared with His friends on
earth were true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shortly after He would
be arrested and executed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His blood
would indeed be poured forth, and when He returned alive to those same friends
and many others, He confirmed what He had been saying all along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of being the raving of a madman, the
words of this verse are perhaps the most beautiful and powerful of any ever
spoken, for they state boldly and succinctly the gift of life that Jesus offers
to all, a gift that could only be offered by God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thank
You, Lord, for the gift of life in Jesus Christ!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are no words to express adequately my
gratitude and awe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your death and life
have made my life possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And since words
are insufficient, may my actions serve instead, as I seek always to do only
what You call me to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the name of
Jesus, my risen Lord, amen.</span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span></span></div>
<br />Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-71782139225864741982018-08-12T08:18:00.000-04:002018-08-12T08:18:02.963-04:00When A King Thinks Of Others<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">August 12 (Matthew 22:4)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black;">Again he sent other servants, saying,
‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">dinner, </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">my oxen and my fat
calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding
feast.”’</span></b><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A king was giving a wedding feast for his son, yet when he
sent his servants to gather those who had been invited, the guests blew off the
event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had other, and obviously in
their minds better, things to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
is simply stunning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do you blow off
the king?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And how many kings have you
ever heard of who would take such a snub lightly?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A typical, even reasonable, royal response
would have been, “I am your king!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get
yourselves to the party right now!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
different response might have appealed to the emotions of his subjects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It would really mean a lot to my son and me
to have you there.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet that is not what
this king does.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This king sends his servants out a second time to remind the
guests of all that has been prepared for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">them</i>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants them to know what <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">they</i> will be missing if they do not attend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unbelievable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the face of inconceivable rejection…royal subjects are actually
defying their sovereign…this king is still thinking about what is best for his
people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And Jesus tells this story as an illustration of what the
kingdom of heaven is like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The king in
this story is no earthly ruler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed,
for no human would ever act so graciously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No, this king represents God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even when we reject Him, His first thought is for us and all that we
will miss if we are not in a right relationship with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you think God is out to get you for each
mistake, think again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He truly does want what is in your best interest, and that it is for you to be in the closest
relationship with Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Father, I so quickly tell others which political candidate
or elected official is best and give them a list of reasons why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May I be even quicker to tell others of Your
amazing love for them and how You have loved me beyond merit or measure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the name of Jesus, Your Son and my Savior,
amen.</span></h3>
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span>Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-74610954328915339842018-08-05T10:29:00.001-04:002018-08-05T10:29:47.453-04:00All In For Jesus<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">August 5 (Matthew 21:43)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black;">Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of
God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its
fruits.</span></b><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No coach worth his or her salt will put up with star
athletes not showing up for practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
doesn’t matter how talented they are, they will lose their spot on the team to
those willing to put in the time and do the work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same goes for business, and, it would
seem, for the kingdom of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the
parable of the tenant farmers (<span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21%3A33-41&version=ESV">Matthew
21:33-41</a></span>) to the parable of talents (<span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A14-30&version=ESV">Matthew
25:14-30</a></span>), Jesus makes it quite clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God expects us to use what He has given us to
accomplish His will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aren’t we
saved by faith and not by works?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes,
but this isn’t about salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
about what should be normal life between the God Who loves you and Whom you
claim to love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a pretty shallow
relationship with anyone if we are just in it for what we can get out of
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we really do love God, we will
want to be involved in our Father’s work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What are you good at?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What do you enjoy doing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you
realize that God gave you those talents and that passion for a reason?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants you operating at the max in joy and
freedom as you serve His kingdom purposes in the ways that only you can
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know, I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve got bills to think about and deadlines
and…, but just stop for a moment and dream the way you used to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would it look like if you went all in
for God the way you were meant to do?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Father, I get a thrill of excitement when I think about
throwing myself headlong into Your kingdom work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then the voices of so-called reality
start calling me back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Help me to ignore
the lies of the world and listen only to Your clear voice in Scripture and the
true voice of the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May all I
do…all of it…be in the name and to the glory of my savior, Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span></div>
<br />Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-66472037627009774852018-07-29T09:12:00.000-04:002018-07-29T09:12:25.097-04:00Getting To Jesus<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">July 29 (John 10:14)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background: ">I am the good shepherd. I know my own
and my own know me.</span></b><span style="background: "> (ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: "><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not long ago we were at church talking with a friend just
back from her mission trip when two other ladies of about the same age as our
friend joined us. Suddenly a little guy,
not much more than a toddler, started making his way through the crowd. He was the grandson of our friend, and I
watched to see what he would do. With
his eyes fixed on his grandma, he wove his way through the aisles, passed right
in front of the other ladies, and joined the one he sought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grandma knew grandson, and he knew her, and he was not about
to be deterred by all the other adults in between. He did not for a moment pause with other
ladies who, at least in age, may have seemed like his grandma. They were not, and there was no fooling him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, friends. How
often do we get distracted by that which seems helpful but really isn’t? How many times do we go after what we think
will love us but never will? A sheep
knows its shepherd, and a grandson knows his grandma. Are we really more distracted than a sheep or
a little boy?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus,
I am embarrassed by the number of times I let other things get between us. Worse than that, I go after them even though
You are in sight. Help me to be as
innocent as a lamb and seek only You, my loving shepherd. Amen.</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span></span>Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-34934817022116473352018-07-22T09:50:00.003-04:002018-07-22T09:50:40.902-04:00Using Your Brain With The Bible<div class="MsoNormal">
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">July 22 (Matthew 16:11)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>How is it that you fail to understand that
I did not speak about bread?</b> (ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One day Jesus
used a metaphor and told His disciples to watch out for the yeast of the
Pharisees. The disciples immediately
began arguing with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. “I told you to bring bread!” “What, you didn’t bring it?” “I thought John picked it up before we left
for the day.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Can’t you just
see the incredulous look on Jesus’s face as He snorts and shakes His head? “You’ve seen me feed five thousand and then
four thousand people with next to nothing,” He tells them. “How do you not get that I’m not talking
about actual bread?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jesus expected His
disciples to know when He was speaking literally and when He was speaking
metaphorically. He expected them to use
their brains. Sometimes the Bible
reports facts, sometimes it records prophetic visions, sometimes it presents poetry,
sometimes it speaks in metaphors. A
reasonable person, that is, one who uses reason, guided by the Holy Spirit, can
usually discern what is going on in a passage and what God is saying. And if not, there are plenty of others who
can help. They are called the body of
Christ, the church. This is not just the
church on the corner, but the body of believers across the world for the past
two thousand years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="background: font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God, when I pick up the Bible, I will start with the belief
that You are speaking to me. I know that
it contains history, but You were not just speaking to people of long ago. With that in mind, I will seek understanding
using the intellectual gifts You have given me, my education, and the resources
of other Christians, always submitting it all to the guidance of the Holy
Spirit. May all of my reading draw me
closer to You and equip me for doing Your will.
In the name of Jesus, amen.</span></span></h3>
<span style="background: font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background: font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span></span>Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597232860908440941.post-65885623830697898002018-07-15T10:17:00.000-04:002018-07-15T10:17:58.779-04:00The Immediacy of Jesus<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">July 15 (Matthew 8:10)</span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: color: black;">When Jesus heard this, </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">he marveled and
said to those who followed him, </span><span class="woj"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">“Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such
faith.</span>”</span></b><span class="woj"><span style="background: color: black;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(ESV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="woj"><span style="background: color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One day a Roman army officer, a centurion, came to Jesus to
ask Him to heal his servant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus said
He would go to the centurion’s house, but the officer replied, <span class="text"><span style="background: color: black; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only
say the word, and my servant will be healed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to
one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant,
‘Do this,’ and he does it.”</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text"><span style="background: color: black; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We often focus on the humble, straightforward faith of the
soldier, but look at Jesus’s reaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He smiles and laughs, “I like this guy!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus deals directly and likes it when others do the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is face to face, eye-level with people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is immediate, meaning there is nothing in
the middle, nothing to get in the way between us and Him, which is only right
since He is our mediator, the one who connects us with God the Father.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How often do we play it subtle?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How often do we go for the backdoor,
roundabout, non-direct way of doing something?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We weigh options, consider consequences, balance plusses and minuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, be honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doesn’t that get wearisome?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously, how many of our interactions with
others and even with God Himself could be described as plotting and scheming?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is immediate, and He wants us to be the
same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is no point in sugarcoating this, Lord, because You
know it all anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spend way too much
time figuring the angles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Help me to
approach life and the people in it…help me approach You…in a straightforward
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to be more like that
centurion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to be more like
You.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #441500; color: #ffeedd; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.524px; font-weight: 700;">Copyright © 2018 by Steven R. Perkins</span></div>
Steve Perkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11008469590124473404noreply@blogger.com0