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Love and prayers,
Herb
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Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Friday, September 27, 2019
What is Your Greatest Need?
Word:
Mark 9:50 (NLT2)
Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other."
Prayer:
Father, in the dark and dangerous world, we ask for the wisdom and strength to do the will and work of God. Father, we embrace the word of God that says we must have salt and live in peace with each other.
Father, by faith in You, we will obey for the glory of God, and the benefit of others and ourselves.
Father, in the words of the hymn writer, "Without Him I could do nothing, without Him I'd surely fail." Father, I thank you that the child of God is never without Jesus.
Link to my new devotional book Amazon Author's Page. Everything about the book is found there with pictures, and more to come.
Thursday, September 26, 2019
The Power of the Spoken Word
Word:
Psalm 19:14 (NLT2)
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Reflection:
Do you realize the power of the spoken word? Listen to what the Bible says about the speech of the disciples of Christ.
John 8:31 (NLT2)
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.
James 1:19 (NLT2)
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
Are you able to tolerate silence in a conversation with others? It’s a discipline worthy of knowing and doing. If you need help in the doing of the will of God, support is just a prayer away.
Prayer:
Father, I am so blessed by the forever love and forgiveness, amazing grace, and tender mercies that are new every morning.
Father, I honor you in all your generous thoughts and deeds of kindness I continually receive from you.
Father, quicken and align my life to demonstrate the life of your darling son, Jesus the Messiah of God.
Link to my new devotional book Amazon Author's Page. Everything about the book is found there with pictures, and more to come.
Monday, January 14, 2019
Encouraging Word & Prayer from the Word of God
How Much Do You Value the Word of God?
2 Timothy 3:16 New Living Translation (NLT)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
Psalm 1:1-3 New Living Translation (NLT)
Psalm 1
1
Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
2
But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
3
They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
Do You Love God's Word?
Psalm 119:97 New Living Translation (NLT)
Oh, how I love your instructions!
I think about them all day long.
Prayer:
Psalm 119:18 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Open my eyes [to spiritual truth] so that I may behold
Wonderful things from Your law.
Link to my new devotional book Amazon Author's Page. Everything about the book is found there with pictures, and more to come.
Friday, November 16, 2018
Where Do YouTurn When You Cannot Sleep?
A Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton
God Speaks:
Psalm 4
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.
1
Answer me when I call to you,
O God who declares me innocent.
Free me from my troubles.
Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
Listen to God Speak & Obey:
The Psalmist, David, has a right answer of where to turn when you can't sleep. There are times when we all face difficulty in getting a good night of sleep. It is good to know that we don't have to turn to medicine first. Instead, we can turn to God.
Psalm 3
A Psalm of David, regarding the time David fled from his son Absalom.
1
O Lord, I have so many enemies;
so many are against me.
2
So many are saying,
"God will never rescue him!"
3
But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
4
I cried out to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy mountain.
Through all of his troubles, David was able to say:
Psalm 3:8
In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.
The people of God have an always present helper that we can call upon when we cannot sleep because of worry, anxieties, and trouble within and without.
David gives us a first response to getting help for the thing are within us that results in worry, anxiety and inner turmoil.
Psalm 4:4-5
4 Don't sin by letting anger control you.
Think about it overnight and remain silent. Interlude
5 Offer sacrifices in the right spirit,
and trust the Lord.
Why worry when you can pray? If you are going to pray, don't worry. Words I was taught by wise women in my family from my childhood.
Prayer:
Our Father, hallowed by Your name. Father, thank You for a God who is always present in the lives of Your people.
Father, help us to remember to pray first; taking all of our worries, anxieties, and troubles to You in prayer. Amen!
Link to my new devotional book Amazon Author's Page. Everything about the book is found there with pictures, and more to come.
Friday, November 9, 2018
Are You Using All That God Has Provided for You?
A Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton
God Speaks:
John 15:4 King James Version (KJV)
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Listen to God Speak & Obey:
The one great purpose of the life of followers of Jesus is to abide in Him. The reason is in our focal verse which says we can do nothing without Jesus.
The Lord Jesus is a great shepherd, and He provides abundantly for His flock. Today, I invite each reader of this devotional to consider these words of Jesus, "Abide in me, and I in you."
Today's devotional draws from two of my favorite chapters in the Bible; John 15 and Acts 4.
The Apostle Peter demonstrated being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 4:8 King James Version (KJV)
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
Are you filled with the Holy Spirit?
Romans 5:5 King James Version (KJV)
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Romans 8:9 King James Version (KJV)
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
The first-century church demonstrated being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 4:31 King James Version (KJV)
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Are you abiding in Christ and is Christ alive in you? Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? Are you bearing much fruit by the power of the Holy Spirit who is alive in the lives of the people of God?
Galatians 5:22-23 King James Version (KJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Are you able to say the words that David said in Psalm 23?
Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.
1
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Father, we are so grateful for Your presence, provisions and power You provide for Your people. Amen.
Link to my new devotional book Amazon Author's Page. Everything about the book is found there with pictures, and more to come.
Thursday, November 1, 2018
Seeing Beyond Our Weaknesses
A Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton
God Speaks:
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (KJV)
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Listen to God Speak & Obey:
When trouble, trials, difficulties, and disappointments come in our life, we should cry out to God. However, we should not lose hope when God does not give us everything we ask.
We should allow what happened in Paul's life to inform our lives when we pray for deliverance from our thorn in the flesh. Could it be that what we are going through is for God's glory, and for our good?
2 Corinthians 11:27-28 (NLT)
27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.
There is something about thorns in the flesh that bends us toward humility. Additionally, the recognition of the weaknesses in our humanity turns us toward bowing the knee, looking up, and recognizing the greatness of God.
The recognition of the sovereignty and greatness of God and the goodness and grace of God gives us peace and contentment in knowing that God's grace is sufficient for all of our needs.
Prayer:
Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, it is such a blessing to know that our weaknesses, even when they are painful, are working to bring about a higher goal and that Your amazing grace is sufficient for all of our needs.
Psalm 46:1 (HCSB)
1 God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.
Father, we love You, and can't get enough of You. Father, thank You for always being present, and on time. Father, I am so glad that the things that matter are things that are eternal. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.
1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT)
13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
Link to my new devotional book Amazon Author's Page. Everything about the book is found there with pictures, and more to come.
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