Galations 1

Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: 5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Gal 1:1-5 (KJV)

I read this recently and loved the wording that Paul used in his greeting. Got 2 go I hope I can write more often.

I am

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.

57 The Jews therefore said unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am.

59 They took up stones therefore to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.

John 8:56-59

 

the bible says I am (referring to God ) over 200+ times.

and i just thought that was cool. around 50 of them were I Am the Lord thy God.

I hope you pray when you read this and ask God that He will really be the Lord of your Life! 

Pray and Serve

God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you

the good and the right way: 24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart:

for consider how great things he hath done for you. 25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye

shall be consumed, both ye and your king.

1 Sam 12:23-25 (KJV)

 

God Forbid that i should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you. Samuel considered

it a sin against God to stop praying. How many times do we think that way, that to stop

praying for God’s people is a sin. …Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your

heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.  God has truly done great things,

more than we can imagine

Remember

And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. 18 Then answered the

Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? 19 Jesus answered and

said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was

this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21 But he spake of the temple of his body. 22 When

therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the

scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

John 2:16-22 (KJV)

When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the

scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. We need to not just remember God’s word after the fact, but we need to

constantly wash our brains with it.

Devos 3-26-10

The Lord seems to be really feeding my soul with the verses about betrayal. I have in the last few months have experienced hurt that I cannot even begin to describe and maybe that is why passages dealing with the subject are crossing my path. I read the other day in Psalms 41:9 "mine own familiar friend" and how that person betrayed him.
Today in Psalm 55:12-14 "For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: but it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company."
We cannot control where hurt comes from. Sometimes the people you would least expect to hurt you do. Sometimes people turn on you.
All you can do is keep your eyes on Christ. He will never let you down. He will never hurt you. He will never disappoint.
He is the one that has the balm of Gilead to heal our wounded and broken hearts. We must stay close to him. We must depend upon him. We must rest wholly upon him for everything. He must become our everything.

Devos 3-25-10

Sorry that it is a day late.
Sometimes there are verses or passages of Scripture that feed me for more than one day. I find that the next day I read the same passage again and my thoughts are just focused on them.
I went back to Psalm 41. I gave verse 9 in the last post. It talks about how his familiar friend had turned on him. You can get the sense of the pain that has been caused by this so called friend.
I noticed in verse 10 that the Psalmist asks for the Lord to raise him up that he might 'requite' him. That confused me and still does to some degree. If vengeance is the Lord's, how could a man after God's own heart pray that way. I began to think of how many of the psalmists prayers were for the downfall of his enemies. I wondered how could these things be.
Then I realized that David's enemies were God's enemies. Not because God decided that whoever was an enemy of David was an enemy of His. But rather, David was so in tune with God-his 'be level' was so great that God's enemies were David's enemies.
Oh, that I would walk close to God. That I would be a man after God's own heart. That I might hear His very heartbeat.

Money

He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much.

What we so is what we will reap if we faithfully do good or evil that is what we will be characterized by.

 
 

11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

If you do not searve God with the money that you have now why would He let you control much more?

 
 

12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?

Do you think that someone will give you what you deserve if you've cheated them?

 
 

13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

You can only fully serve one God and the God/god will become notceable.

 
 

14 And the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things; and they scoffed at him.

We need to pray that we do not scoff wisdom.

 
 

15 And he said unto them, Ye are they that justify yourselves in the sight of men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

God said that they made an exuce for their sin, but He knows our hearts, and everything that we could do or lift up on this earth is worse that a dirty rag in God's sight.

Luke 16:10-15

Devos 3-24-10

In Psalms 41:9 " Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me." I sat and I looked at this verse over and over. Here is a man who has experienced rejection and betrayal from a very close friend. I am not sure if there is a more earth shattering experience in life than to experience hurt from an individual that you should have never experienced it from.
In Psalms 42, the whole chapter caught my attention as it starts off with the Psalmist expressing his hunger for God. He then talks about how he is downcast and his soul is disquieted within him. I admire how that in verses 5 and 11, then again in chapter 43:5, he says that he will hope in God and that he will yet praise him.
Even when we are downtrodden, downcast, or we experience pain from a person who should never have hurt us, we must continue to stay close to the Lord. We must praise Him in the storms of life. He is always worthy.

Devos 3-23-10

Psalm 40: 6-8 " Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire: mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me. I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart."
I have read these verses many times before. I have always read them just with the correct interpretation. It is a Messianic Psalm in that you can see clearly the willingness of Christ to come to earth to fulfill His Father's will. He also mentions that 'in the volume of the book it is written of me". Hebrews also quotes this Psalm in reference to Christ. However, I saw an application to my life in these verses today.
In verse 6, the Psalmist plainly states that God is not interested in sacrifice or in offering. He even mentions two types of offerings-burnt offering and sin offering. Rather, God is interested in me, or you coming to Him with a delight in our hearts to do His will and with His words written in our hearts.
I wonder often times just how obedient I really am to God. If I truly delight to do His will, then I will be COMPLETELY obedient to Him.
There is nothing that I can bring to God that will please Him. Only when I bring myself-empty of myself-is He truly pleased.

Devos 3-22-10

Psalm 39:1-3 "I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,"
I don't know the background to this verse. However, I have been in this situation so many times. For whatever reason, I had the urge to speak. Maybe I was being attacked verbally or for some other reason. One of the hardest things a person will ever have to do is to control his tongue. Sometimes the easy thing to do is to defend ourselves or try to ease the pain of silence.
The Scriptures command us to be Spirit filled or controlled. A Spirit filled man will be completely controlled by the Spirit.
Oh, Lord, help me to say the things I should say, when I should say them. Help me to know when I don't need to say anything.

Devos 3-21-10

There are times in life that we have people that we really struggle with. They may be an irritating person or we may interaction with them that for some reason we find unpleasant. Sometimes these people are our enemies.
When we have a situation with these individuals, it is natural for our flesh to rare its ugly head. If we are not careful to walk in the Spirit, we may end up saying and doing things to retaliate and we may lose our testimony in the process.
In Psalm 35, although I have read it numerous times, I did not notice until today what an excellent testimony we find in David's response to his enemies.
Starting in verse 11, "False witnesses did rise up: they laid to my charge things that I knew not. They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. But in mine adversity they rejoiced...."
We find that David did good to them. He prayed for them. He wept over them. He fasted over them. In spite of the fact that had lied about him. In spite of the fact that they had responded to his good with evil. In spite of the fact that they rejoiced over his adversity.
He responded correctly to his enemies. How we need to do that. Oh God, please help me to love and pray for my enemies.

This Same Jesus

This Same Jesus

And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. 32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, 34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. 35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. 36 And sitting down they watched him there; 37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. 39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

Matt 27:31-44 (KJV)

This is amazing to me. What could the spotless Lamb of God see in us that He could possibly desire? Nothing. But He did it out of love. He, Lord of the Universe, Author of it all, decided to come, and swept across the vast expanse of time and eternity, so that He could bear our sins. So that He could carry them

upon Himself.

This same Jesus lives and reigns today and will help us to be patient and to love other peoplen when we seriously don't feel like doing so.

This same Jesus as the angels announced to the disciples after they watched Him ascend into heaven, will return for those that have accepted him

and fled from this world and its pleasures and vices.

Will we make our nail-driven, spear-riven Redeemer proud of us? Will He be able to say well done?

It is impossible for us to wrap our minds around eternity. But it is good for us to attempt to do so. Because this present life can not even compare.

Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Acts 1:11 (KJV)

Devos 3-20-10

The title for Psalm 31 is 'My Rock and My Fortress'. The chapter talks about how that through all of the Psalmists trials, the Lord is the only thing he can depend on and a shelter from the storm.
In verse 7, he says 'thou hast known my soul in adversities;'. You can look at that thought two ways. First, that it is in the time of adversities that the Lord sees the true us. I know that may not be good English-but hopefully you understand what I am meaning. It is in the time of trial, that we really see what we are made of, and so does God. The second way you can look at this verse is that he is saying that the Lord has not abandoned him in adversities.
That is so special. I have been in some great trials(or they were great to me). But it was nice to know that the Lord said 'I will never leave you, nor forsake you'
One particular trial comes to mind several years ago. The series of events lasted almost 2 years. At first some people stood with me and said they supported me. When I actually stepped out in faith to do God's will, no one stood with me. For a year I pastored a mission church alone. I had to lead singing, pray, and preach the entire services most of the time. I had to knock on doors alone. So many times as I stood behind my pulpit, I felt so all alone. Then one day I read the verse where Paul said "At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me," 2Tim. 4:16,17 It was then I felt the arm of the Lord around me and I realized that everytime I preached I was not alone.
God is with us in adversities. God Bless and I will see you guys at 2:30

Devos 3-19-2010

Today, in Psalm 29, verse 2 struck a chord with me. It says, "Give unto the Lord the glory DUE unto His name; worship the LORD in the BEAUTY of holiness".
The Bible commands us to do all things to the glory of God. Our lives either bring glory to God or bring shame to Him. This verse says to give Him glory that is DUE. When something is DUE, it means that it is owed. We OWE it to God to bring glory to Him. The song in an old movie comes to mind, "I owe, I owe, so it's off to work I go." Because we owe God glory, we should busy ourselves working for Him.
It also mentioned in the beauty of holiness. It MUST be done with holiness or purity. We must be pure. We must have integrity.
Until next time!!!

Devos 3-18-10

Today I read in Psalms 27. I have read this chapter many times before, especially focusing on verse 4. Today was no different. The verse fascinates me.
David is saying that there is only one thing that he wants from God. To dwell in God's Temple. If you remember, in the Old Testament times, the temple and the tabernacle were where the ark of the Covenant was placed. Above the Ark, dwelt the very literal presence of God.
In verse 4, David is essentially saying "All I want from you, God, is to dwell in your Presence." That is something to think about. It sort of flies in the face of many of prayer requests.
Let us be content to have His Presence. May It abide upon us in power.
Let us seek this one thing. God Bless!!!

Devos 3-17-10

Today I read in Psalm 25. I read the whole chapter; however, I really focused on the first 5 verses and let them sink into my heart.
In verse 1, he talks about how that he lifted his soul up to God-his entire well being was in God's hands. The psalmist goes on to ask God to "shew me, teach me, and lead me".
I like the order of that-Shew me the way, teach me about the path, and lead me on the path. We are so dependent upon God. We should rid ourselves of any self-sufficiency and rest in His Sovereign hands.
Until next time, God Bless!!!!

Apology

Hello, Gentlemen, I apologize for the long time in us fellas getting together. I have had a tremendously crazy 5 or 6 weeks. I do want to meet this Saturday at about 2:30 at the church. I will pick up whoever needs a ride-please let me know. It would be good if I could get your feedback as soon as possible-it will help me plan. I appreciate your patience with me.
I will do my best to use this blog as I had originally intended it. I am sorry that I have not been posting my daily devotions on here. I will be doing that from now on. Sometimes it is hard for me to take the time to do so when I have so many other things going on. But I HAVE got to do this.

Elijah's Parting 2 Kings 2

This is not following along with my regular devotions, but I just had to bring out what I had learned

from 2 Kings 2:7-17 today.

In 2 Kings 2:7-17, Elijah and his servant (apprentice), Elisha were travelling to the Jordan River in order that Elijah might meet his Master.

When Elijah and Elisha got to the Jordan, Elijah took up his mantle (cloak), and smote the water, and they parted as they had at the Israelites' crossing of the Red Sea. And just as the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea to journey into the Promised Land, Elijah crossed the Jordan to journey there as well.

When they had crossed the river, Elijah asked Elisha whether there was something he could do for him. 2 Kings 2:9-10 Elisha replied to 'let a double portion of thy spirit fall upon me.' Elijah replied that it would be a hard thing, but not with God, for with Him are all things possible.

As they were speaking, a fiery chariot came and parted them. 2 Kings 2:11-12 Elijah watched the chariot ascend into heaven, and rent his clothes in two pieces at his distress.

He then picked up the mantle of his earthly master, and walking back to the Jordan, smote the water, saying, 'Where is the Lord God of Elijah?'

The waters parted, sybolizing the transfer of God's hand upon Elijah to that of His servant, Elisha.

When Elisha returned to a group of prophets, they said unto him, 2 Kings 2:16-18 Let 50 strong men go and search for your master. Perhaps the spirit of the Lord has taken him upon some mountain, or taken him to some valley. Elisha refused to give them permission, until he could bear it no longer, and gave in. When the strong men returned from their search after 3 days, they gave their report: Elijah was nowhere to be found.

In verse 18 Elisha asked them saying, 'Did I not say, go not?

Elisha knew what had happened. He had seen Elijah taken from him. With him there were no discrepancies. He had seen the hand of the Lord, and he had seen his earthly master taken away. For this reason, he had said there was no point in searching. God had and will do what is best. We have no need to worry or fear. Or to doubt His word.

When He says that He will do something, He will do it. And we can rest in this.

Joyful Giving

In Ex 35:20-29 God stirred the hearts of the children of Israel to give, and if someone had something that God needed we see that they willingly gave it. In fact they were so willing that it says

 
 

And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. 7 For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much. Ex 36:6-7

 
 

They were so willing and joyful that they gave to much. O that God would stir our hearts to give so much that we will have to be told to stop giving!

The Talents

We've all heard the story of the three servants and the talents. (Matthew 25:14-30)

But today I read it again and noticed this, it says

 
 

30 And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth."

Matt 25:30

 
 

Christ used parables to describe future things and I can't help but wonder whether or not Christ will say to those 'christians' who aren't fruitful I never knew you depart from me. And cast them into hell.

After all the bible does say you will know them by their fruit.

The Rising Fallen

Another poem I wrote:

When those persecuted for their faithfulness

Stand before their Redeemer,

And He asks them what they have accomplished

For Him

Will they be able to say with full confidence

For Thou O Lord, we did these things, and not

For we ourselves.

Lord, the things we did were

Done with all of our heart and all of our soul.

And we did these things not for our own

Selfish gain, that others would look upon us

As being something when we were nothing.

He looks at us with his nail-scarred hands

His eyes full of love and compassion,

And says, “Well done, thou faithful servant.

Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

And so doing guides us down the streets of gold

Leading us to the mansion he has prepared for each of us.

The Lord has need of all Christians to

Serve Him.

And if we don't when we are besieged by the

Temptation and turmoil of the world

Fight valiantly for the kingdom,

And if we don't witness, leading others to Him,

When we know we should.

Not praying, not loving, not caring,

Not relying upon His strength.

Then the invaders may break into the city

Of our hearts and lives, and utterly tear

Down all that was left standing there before.

But once, we are humbled, lying on the ground

Of humility then we can see where we went wrong.

We can see what is important in this life and what is not.

We can cry to our God,

Who hears, and will help us to

Rise.

Then, we, who love Him,

Can fight valiantly for His cause,

With His assistance we can overcome

All odds, all difficulties, all tribulations.

The Lord loves us, and looking at us

From where we lay bleeding on the ground,

Encourages us to get up and fight

This time with His armor.

For Him and not myself,

Ashton

Daily Devotions

Alright, Brothers, now that I am finally on this blog and know how to use it-I can start posting my thoughts on my daily Bible reading.
I was reading in 2 Samuel 2 today where David was anointed to be king of Judah. Of course, Samuel had already anointed him years earlier to be king, but in chapter 2, Judah anoints him to be king.
For years David had known he would be king of all Isreal. He knew that he was destined for something great. Yet there were so many hard times along the way. He was sought for his life, he lived as a vagabond, there was never any rest.
Three thoughts: 1. David had a tremendous BE level. David had a lot of faith in the Lord--God was very real to him. There is no other explanation for how he could continue on through the hardship he endured and still maintain a right spirit. He knew God had a plan for his life and that God was in control. That is evidence for a BE level
Thought number 2: David was a patient man. He waited years for this day to come. Yet in 2 Samuel you do not find him complaining that he was only anointed king in Judah. Judah was not even half the size of Isreal. He waited for 7 more years before he was king over all Isreal. I am amazed at how patient he was.
Thought number 3: David was a man of perserverence. It would have been easy to quit. I would have been easy to walk away. It would have been easy to forget what God had for his life. It is amazing that he always behaved like a king even though he wasn't king. He persevered through the tough times.
Let us as men, keep the faith. Let us be patient and wait on God's timing for His promises. Let us persevere! Let us behave like kings today even though we haven't arrived at our destiny.
God has plans for all of us. Don't quit!! Keep the faith!! God bless until next time. Longing to hear "Well Done"

Persecution/ Nation Factbook Sites

http://www.persecution.com/

http://www.nationmaster.com/

http://persecutionblog.com/

EDIT: [Sam] I made the text into links

Thanks, Sam. Looks like a very functional blog.

10 Ways to Encourage a Missionary

Hello brothers, I stumbled across this article the other day. I found it very interesting and one which I think will help us to encourage and equip our other siblings in Christ as they serve him around the world. I have just posted the first 3 ideas that the article mentioned. I would encourage you to read the whole article if you have time. God Bless.

In an effort to learn how we can best encourage missionaries, I emailed some and asked how they would most like to be served and encouraged. This list is drawn from their responses, including many direct quotes.

1. Pray for them and let them know that you are doing so frequently.

“One of the most encouraging/inspiring things we receive from people is a quick note via email to say that they are ‘thinking’ of us.”

2. Send “real mail.”

“Send a small care package. Some little fun food items that we can’t get where we serve is a good idea.”

“One idea is to send a special package before an American holiday (like Thanksgiving) filled with things that we can use to decorate for that holiday.”

“Send us a birthday card. This doesn’t have to be some long handwritten note, just a little card – maybe even printed at home.”

“Real mail is always special. Really, the thing with real mail is more than just getting some nice stuff from home (which is nice), but it seems a more tangible reminder that the people I love and miss love and miss me too and are thinking of me.”

3. Pray for the people the missionaries serve and not only for the missionaries and their families.

Click here to read the whole article.

Here are the links to the blogs on which we post our devotions. I will edit with new info:

Aaron Abreu
N/A (Does he have one?)

Ashton Hoffmeister:
http://ashtonsdevos.blogspot.com/

Samuel Dye:
http://dye2live4christ.blogspot.com/

James Hoffmeister:
http://jameshoffy.blogspot.com/

Links

Here are some links to start with, we can edit this post as we find more new sites.

Reaching Beyond Borders
Voice of the Martyrs
Joshua Project
CIA World Fact Book

Links for Africa:

An interactive map of Africa (Click on a country and it will take you to the countries page):
http://www.africaguide.com/afmap.htm
National Anthems of all the countries in Africa:
http://www.africaguide.com/anthems.htm
Facts and figures about Africa:
http://www.africaguide.com/facts.htm
Photos from Africa (pretty well organized):
 http://www.africaguide.com/library.htm

EDIT: Links to/for Africa