Daily Bread_July 31, 2013

Title: Is the Answer to Your Questions Right In Front of You?

Text:

Mark 10:17-22 (HCSB)
¹⁷ As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
¹⁸ "Why do you call Me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good but One—God.
¹⁹ You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother."
²⁰ He said to Him, "Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth."
²¹ Then, looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, "You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me."
²² But he was stunned at this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

Observation:

The questions you ask reveal a lot about who you are, and what you know. Notice the question that the man asked Jesus.

Mark 10:17 (AMP)
¹⁷ And as He was setting out on His journey, a man ran up and knelt before Him and asked Him, Teacher, [You are essentially and perfectly morally] good, what must I do to inherit eternal life [that is, to partake of eternal salvation in the Messiah's kingdom]?

This discourse reminds me of the importance of knowing who you are talking to when you have a conversation. This man was so close to knowing the way to have eternal life. He was having a conversation with Jesus, but he did not know Him. The answer to his question was standing before him.

The man saw Jesus as a, "Good Teacher". What He did not know was that He was standing in the presence of the Messiah. He was standing in the presence of the one who provides the means for obtaining eternal life.

The man wanted salvation on his terms; he wanted to know what he could do. Jesus showed him the way, but the man was not willing to pay the price. O, how sad he was not willing to give up what is perishing in exchange for that which is eternal.

I am so glad that Jesus was not like the man who came to him with the question; Jesus was willing to give His all at Calvary. Jesus is the way to eternal life. He did it all; the work is finished.  Do you have eyes to see, and ears to hear what God is saying to you through His Word?

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I thank You for sending Jesus into the world to provide the means for anyone who believes in Him to have eternal life. I am thankful everyday for the grace that is greater than all my sins. Father, open eyes so that those with questions about how to have eternal life may see Jesus. Amen.

Lord, I love You.
Thank You for opening my eyes.
Lord I've seen who You are,
And I can't help falling in love.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/ns/229#ixzz2acsIks4L

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_July 30, 2013

Title: Do You Have Any Reasons to Give Praise and Thanks to the Lord?

Text:

Psalm 30:1 (HCSB)
¹ I will exalt You, LORD, because You have lifted me up and have not allowed my enemies to triumph over me.

Psalm 30:4 (HCSB)
⁴ Sing to Yahweh, you His faithful ones, and praise His holy name.

Psalm 30:11-12 (HCSB)
¹¹ You turned my lament into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
¹² so that I can sing to You and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise You forever.

Observation:

David, the Psalmist, as he looked back over his life he found that he had many reasons to give thanks to the Lord. He expresses them in this Psalm of praise to the Lord. It is a good thing for everyone to give praise to the Lord.

Psalm 92:1 (HCSB)
¹ It is good to praise Yahweh, to sing praise to Your name, Most High,

Having a grateful heart is good for us; when we praise the Lord it is good for our own life. Our circumstances may be bad, but God is good, and He is good all the time. I have discovered that when I pray giving praise and thanks to the Lord that it changes me. Notice what the Lord did for David when he cried out to God.

Psalm 30:2 (HCSB)
² LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me.

Psalm 30:4 (HCSB)
⁴ Sing to Yahweh, you His faithful ones, and praise His holy name.

Psalm 30:8 (HCSB)
⁸ LORD, I called to You; I sought favor from my Lord:

The Lord heard the heart cry of David; he healed him, turned his weeping to joy, and his mourning to singing.

Are you experiencing a season of sorrow? Then do what David did; lift up your bowed down head, and give the Lord some praise for who He is, and see what a change He will make in your life. Your sorrow is just for a season; there is joy in your future.

Psalm 30:5 (HCSB)
⁵ For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor, a lifetime. Weeping may spend the night, but there is joy in the morning.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that in the throne room of heaven Your ears will be filled with the singing of praises by Your people as they at this very moment begin to sing with a loud voice glory to Your name for who You are, and for what You have done, and what You are going to do in their life. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_July 29, 2013

Title: The Lord is Coming Again - - Are You Living in the Light?

Text:

Romans 13:11-14 (HCSB)
¹¹ Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
¹² The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
¹³ Let us walk with decency, as in the daylight: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy.
¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires.

Observation:

The first century believers lived with the expectation that the Lord Jesus could return at any time. This should be the expectation of the believers of every age until He returns.

Notice in our focal passage for today the exhortations that the Apostle Paul gives. He admonishes that it is time to wake up, get up, clean up and dress up.

My friends, we need to do those things, and don't forget to look up. Is there anything you need to put off?  Is there anything you need to put on? His coming could be any day. Let's live like it could be today.

Living for Jesus a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/456#ixzz2aQxnVI2k

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that you will stir the hearts of Your people to prepare for your coming by putting on the armor of light. Lord, I want to be ready when you come. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)
⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_July 26, 2013

Title: Do You Have the Heart of A Servant?

Text:

1 Corinthians 9:12-16 (HCSB)
¹² If others have this right to receive benefits from you, don't we even more? However, we have not made use of this right; instead we endure everything so that we will not hinder the gospel of Christ.
¹³ Don't you know that those who perform the temple services eat the food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the offerings of the altar?
¹⁴ In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should earn their living by the gospel.
¹⁵ But I have used none of these rights, and I have not written this to make it happen that way for me. For it would be better for me to die than for anyone to deprive me of my boast!
¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because an obligation is placed on me. And woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

Observation:

Giving up your freedom is not what Paul says in this text. What Paul was willing to do was place a high value on others, and be willing to give up his rights in serving the cause of the gospel of Christ. The last two verses of the text summarizes Paul's heart; his love for God, and for the people who needed to hear the goodnews of the gospel of Christ.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I ask that You would create within me a heart of compassion for people who need to hear the gospel of Christ; and like Paul, I would be willing to give up my rights for the advancement of the gospel of Christ. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

 

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_July 25, 2013

Title: The Best Invitation You Will Ever Receive

Text:

Isaiah 1:18 (HCSB)
¹⁸ "Come, let us discuss this," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will be like wool.

Observation:

Have you accepted the invitation of the Lord to come to Him? Have you taken the time to consider it, and discuss it with the Lord?

Notice that it is a gracious invitation; it is full of grace, and love for you. It is true; O how God loves you and me. The text continues to say.

Isaiah 1:19-20 (HCSB)
¹⁹ If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land.
²⁰ But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

There is a terminal condition each of us has, and it is sin. However, God has a remedy for our sins. It was costly to Him, but it is free to us. Notice what He says in the text. There is more; consider this.

God is light and in Him is no darkness. He wants to walk with us and talk with us, and be our friend. Therefore, He has provided a way to remedy our sin problem that separates us from Him. He has provided the way for us to walk with Him.

1 John 1:7 (HCSB)
⁷ But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

The invitation is personal; it has your name on it.

"Come, let us discuss this," says the LORD.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I delight to accept your gracious invitation. Father God, it is too good to refuse; to give You my sins in exchange for Your righteousness. Lord, thank You for providing the way so that I don't have to die for my own sins. Lord, I thank You that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_July 24, 2013

Title: Forgiven People Should Practice Forgiveness

Text:

Psalm 86:5 (ESV)
⁵ For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.

Observation:

When trouble knocked on the door of David, he knew where to turn. It's good to have a right relationship with the Lord before trouble knocks on your door. Then when trouble comes, you will know God, and He will know you.

This Psalm reminds us of the importance of having a personal relationship with the Lord; and to have that relationship current. David was a man who loved the Lord, and He was a man of prayer. This is a man who was accustomed to talking with the Lord.

Psalm 86:1 (ESV)
¹ Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

David knew the Lord, and he knew His power. David had faith in God, and he was confident that God would hear and answer his prayer. David wanted God to get the glory.

Psalm 86:6-7 (ESV)
⁶ Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.
⁷ In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.
Psalm 86:9 (ESV)
⁹ All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.

Prayer:

Father God, Sovereign Lord, my dear Father, I pray that when my prayers go up to You that You will get the glory for answered prayer. Father, I pray that when I receive grace from You that I will respond with gratitude to You, and forgiveness to others. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_July 23, 2013

Title: The Shepherd's Care for His People

Text:

Psalm 23:1-6 (ESV)
¹ The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
³ He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Observation:

Isn't it wonderful to know that the Lord watches over His children; that He is with them all of the days of their life.

There is never a time that the Lord is not present; He is always leading His people wherever we go; in whatever circumstance we may be going through.

The Lord is a mighty good shepherd; in fact, He is a great shepherd. He will lead you, care for you, restore you, and walk daily with you; in life and in death. Even your enemies cannot harm you when the Lord is for you.

Do you know Him? Is the Lord you leader; your company keeper; is He your protector and provider? God is alright; He's amazing.

What about you? Are you a Christ follower; are you a child of God? If so, this is His gift to you; don't leave it unopened. Is there room in your heart for the Savior and Shepherd? If you are His, this is His promise to you.

Psalm 23:6 (ESV)
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I praise and thank You for being a God who loves and cares for Your children.

Father God, I am so glad that You belong to me, and that I belong to You. Lord, I am grateful that Jesus is my Savior and my Shepherd. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

 

"All the way my Savior leads me;
Oh, the fullness of His grace!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father's blest embrace.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day,
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way,
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way."

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/701#ixzz2Zs9moxrm

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_July 22, 2013

Title: What is Missing in the Home?

Text:

Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)
⁶ Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Observation:

I must have been living under a rock; I don't know if I remember ever hearing about "Parents Day". A recent article about it prompted me to consider today's topic. However, this topic should not need a declaration of congress or the signature of a President for us to discuss. Our children are too important for us not to.

Life is too short to learn every life lesson through personal experience. Learning through the School of Experience can be hard and expensive. It requires that you pay the price before you learn the lesson. The lessons about God's way for children must begin in the home. This is the heart of the matter, and the need of our day.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV)
⁶ And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Our communities are in trouble because our homes are in trouble; they are missing something, they don't have God at the center.  We need God in our homes; this is the best way for children to know the Lord, and to follow in His way.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I pray that parents who know the Lord will make the job of guiding their children as their primary goal. Father God, instill in parents that no one can do for their children what they can by teaching and by example. Father God, come into our homes one at a time, and begin in my home. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_July 19, 2013

Title: Are You A Conqueror Over Life and Death?

Text:

Romans 8:37-39 (ESV)
³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Observation:

I have read the entire book; we win, the book says that those who are in Christ are more than conquerors. The book I speak of is the Bible.

I submit the testimony of three witnesses that guarantees that this is the truth. Listen to the testimony of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The Father is for you, and loves you:

Romans 8:31-32 (ESV)
³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
³² He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

The Son (Jesus) is for you and loves you:

Romans 8:34 (ESV)
³⁴ Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

The Holy Spirit is with you and will help you:

Romans 8:26-27 (ESV)
²⁶ Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
²⁷ And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Yes, God has provided everything the child of God needs to be more than conquerors in life and in death. Do you know the God of the Bible? Does He live in You? Think about this.

John 14:6 (ESV)
⁶ Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Prayer:

Father God, Sovereign Lord, my dear Father, I am so grateful for the peace of God that rules and reigns in my heart because I am a child of God; because I am more than a conqueror in life and in death.

Father God, I am so blessed to be able to sing Your praises every day because every day is better than a good day; it is a godly day because God is for me, and with me every step I take, and in every move I make. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_July 18, 2013

Title: Does Anybody Care About Me?

Text:

Matthew 10:29 (ESV)
²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.

Observation:

I read an email recently that got me thinking about this topic. It is possible to feel quite insignificant in a world with a population of over 7 billion people.

Loneliness and depression are widespread in our society. Even in a large group; people are lonely, and feel that no one cares about them. Insulting others has become fashionable; some intentional, and some unintentional.

However, in the midst of societal issues and problems there is hope and help for those who are willing to look up to their Maker. There is a Sovereign God in heaven who sees your needs, and who cares about you deeply. The one who knows and cares about the sparrows knows and cares about you. This is what He thinks about you.

Genesis 1:27-28 (ESV)
²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
²⁸ And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

Genesis 1:31 (ESV)
³¹ And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

After God created man in his own image, he said, "It was very good". Others may not approve of you, but the one who matters most highly favors you; friend, you are blessed and highly favored by God.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so grateful that when things around are shaking that I can rest in the blessed assurance that You have everything under control. Father, I am so thankful that You are holding my hands, and that You are able to keep me from falling or failing. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

 

"Though rough and thorny be the road,
It leads thee on, apace, to God;
Then count thy present trials small,
For God will make amends for all."

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/712#ixzz2ZLw76qAB

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_July 17, 2013

Title: The Source of Freedom that No One Can Steal or Kill

Text:

Galatians 3:26-29 (ESV)
²⁶ for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
²⁹ And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
1 Corinthians 12:14 (ESV)
¹⁴ For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

Observation:

There is nothing more beautiful to behold than the assembly of the Body of Christ. I have had the privilege of worshipping, fellowshipping, and serving with a host of people who did not look like me, and did not speak the same language as me. However, the experience is among the sweetest memories of my life. There is nothing the world can offer that exceeds the freedom that we enjoy in Christ.

One of the events that come to mind is being at an International gathering of believers, and sitting at a table with believers from several countries. The pastor at the table and one the laymen from his Church were amazed by the diversity that included believers from Israel, Egypt, India and Alaska. The layman was so impressed that he invited all of us to his home for a meal and fellowship later that week.

I encourage you to enjoy your freedom in Christ; encourage, and be a blessing to others by using your spiritual gifts to serve the Lord, and His Church. There is no limit to what we can accomplish when we love one another, and serve the Lord with our gifts, and with gladness of heart. Others will be inspired, and want to be with you. Let's exercise our freedom, and love others the way Christ expects us to.

John 13:35 (ESV)
³⁵ By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Prayer:

Father God, Sovereign Lord, my dear Father, I pray that You give Your people the desire and the power to be demonstrations of love to a lost and dying world. Father, my heart longs to be associated with people who share this vision, and who experience the reality in our Jerusalem; the place where we live.

Father God, I am so thankful that the love of God has covered all of my sins; past, present, and future. Lord, teach us to love others. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_July 16, 2013

Title: How Are You Doing with Controlling Your Tongue?

Text:

Proverbs 15:1 (ESV)
¹ A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Observation:

Yesterday I read this verse in my Daily Reading Plan of Reading Through the Psalms & Proverbs. This verse is lingering with me, and one of my Facebook friends posted a comment about it to my Facebook page last night.

This friend said this about this verse, "I/we need to always keep our tongues in check, otherwise the consequences can be quite damaging".

I was going to face a blank page as I sat down to write this morning, but that comment got me to thinking about that verse again. Here is what I discovered.

Notice what the next verse says:

Proverbs 15:2 (ESV)
² The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

We show the contents of our heart and our character when we open our mouth. We show for all within the sound of our voice whether we are wise or foolish. The words from the wise accomplish much, but the words of the foolish accomplish nothing.

The wise person knows how to respond to anger by giving a soft and gentle answer. The wise person also knows how to control anger.

Proverbs 15:18 (ESV)
¹⁸ A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

The source of what comes out of our mouth is our heart. Do you need a heart examination? The Lord is the only one who can fix our hearts and our tongue.

Matthew 12:35 (NKJV)
³⁵ A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

Prayer:

Father God, Sovereign Lord, my dear Father, I pray that in these trying times; these last days, that You will grant Your people the grace gift of controlling our tongues. Father God, change our hearts, and our tongues. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

 

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_July 15, 2013

Title: Do You Know the Power That Makes Obedience Possible?

Text:

Ezekiel 36:27 (ESV)
²⁷ And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

Observation:

Last week I wrote on the topic, "Where is the Best Place to Learn Obedience?" In today's focal verse we find that God's Spirit gives us the power to obey God.

Isn't God good? What He commands us to do; He gives us the power to do. He has given each of His children the abiding gift of the Holy Spirit; the power to love and obey Him.

John 14:15-18 (ESV)
¹⁵ "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
¹⁷ even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
¹⁸ "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Prayer:

Father God, Sovereign Lord, my dear Father, I praise and thank You for the presence and power of the Spirit of God who lives in the hearts of Your people.

Father God, I am so grateful that we are never without hope and help, we are never without provisions and power because God's Spirit lives in our hearts. Father, help us to appropriate that power in our daily living. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

"Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne."

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/445#ixzz2YxpoWENG

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_July 12, 2013

Title: What is the Because That Fuels Your Passion and Purpose?

Text:

Philippians 3:12-16 (ESV)
¹² Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
¹³ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
¹⁵ Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
¹⁶ Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Observation:

The Apostle Paul knew the purpose for which he was born and born again. In our focal passage for today we see the passion that fueled his purpose.

Paul was totally committed to the Lord. He was all in for Jesus, and the purpose and calling of God for his life. He had his priorities right; and he was intentional in fulfilling his potential. He presents a superb example for us to follow. O, that we would pursue our purpose with the passion that Paul pursued his.

Philippians 3:14 (ESV)
¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that You would give each of us the grace that we need to fuel our passion for fulfilling our God ordained purpose. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

" I'm pressing on the upward way,
New heights I'm gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
"Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."

• Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
  By faith on Canaan's tableland;
  A higher plane than I have found,
  Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/396#ixzz2YnCmLVmx

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_July 11, 2013

Title: Three Traits of People Who Are Wise

Text:

Proverbs 1:5 (ESV)
⁵ Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,

Proverbs 1:5 (AMP)
⁵ The wise also will hear and increase in learning, and the person of understanding will acquire skill and attain to sound counsel [so that he may be able to steer his course rightly]—

Observation:

Our focal verse for today tells us three important traits that wise people have; listening, learning, and leading.

Do you have a desire to have these traits? Consider the story of the man who wrote the Proverbs, and what the Bible says about him.

1 Kings 3:7-12 (ESV)
⁷ And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in.
⁸ And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude.
⁹ Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?"
¹⁰ It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.
¹¹ And God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right,
¹² behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.

If you would like to have wisdom in your life, why don't you ask the Lord to give it to you? The Bible says that God will hear and answer this type of prayer for you and me.

James 1:5 (ESV)
⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that you would stir up the desire in me, and in all of your people to have godly wisdom. Father God, open our eyes that we might see that wisdom is just a prayer away. Father, I ask that you grant it to me, In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_July 10, 2013

Title: The Priority of Prayer

Text:

Colossians 4:2 (ESV)
² Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Observation:

The Bible says this about the importance of prayer:

 James 5:16 (HCSB)
¹⁶ Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.

There is no problem that is beyond the reach of prayer. Therefore, we should pray about everything, and make prayer our first response; and not our last after everything else has failed. When we pray we get what God can do, and nothing is impossible when God is in it.

Luke 1:37 (HCSB)
³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God."

When people prayed in the first century amazing things happened; huge things and small things are still happening today when people pray. Let us all cry out to God to help us; He will do for us what no other power can do.

Acts 4:31 (HCSB)
³¹ When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God's message with boldness.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, Holy God, Sovereign Lord; I praise and thank you for being a God who is able and willing to hear and answer the prayers of your people.

Father, I am so thankful that nothing is too difficult for You. Father, I ask you to help me to harmonize my will, mind, and heart to continue steadfastly in prayer; to be devoted to prayer. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_July 9, 2013

Title: Where is the Best Place to Learn Obedience?

Text:

Ephesians 6:5-8 (ESV)
⁵ Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,
⁶ not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
⁷ rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,
⁸ knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.

Observation:

In our focal passage for today Paul deals with obedience in the workplace. We come to the workplace with our behavior already established.  Training for obedience must begin in the home; it is a parental responsibility.

Ephesians 6:1-4 (ESV)
¹ Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
² "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise),
³ "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land."
⁴ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

If we fix our homes our workplaces and our churches will be better places to work and serve. The key is we need to have the right motive; we need to learn obedience to Christ and to parents in the home; obedience in the workplace will follow.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that you will give us homes where the parents are Spirit filled believers, who have learned obedience as Your children, and are able to teach their children obedience. If Jesus learned obedience, Lord, help us to learn obedience. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Hebrews 5:8 (ESV)
⁸ Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Daily Bread_July 8, 2013

Title: A Leader Who is Worthy of Following

Text:

Psalm 23:2-3 (ESV)
² He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
³ He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Observation:

Everyone believes is someone, and everyone follows someone. Who are you following? Do you know the one in whom you believe?

One of the saddest feelings I have is seeing how careless people seem to be about the lack of knowledge they have about the leaders they put their faith and trust in. Who is the author of what you believe in? Are they worthy of your trust?

Can you say like the Apostle Paul said, "I know the one in whom I have believed"? Can you say this about the person that you believe in and are following?

2 Timothy 1:11-12 (NLT)
¹¹ And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.
¹² That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.

I read this verse a few days ago, and it got me thinking about today's topic:

2 Chronicles 20:12 (ESV)
¹² O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so thankful and blessed to be a Christ follower; O the joy of having a leader in whom I am able to trust with my whole heart. Lord, You are so worthy of my faith and confidence in You.  Yes, Lord, my eyes are on You. I have made my choice; I will follow Jesus. Amen.

" Down in the valley with my Savior I would go,
Where the flowers are blooming and the sweet waters flow;
Everywhere He leads me I would follow, follow on,
Walking in His footsteps till the crown be won.

• Follow! follow! I would follow Jesus!
  Anywhere, everywhere, I would follow on!
  Follow! follow! I would follow Jesus!
  Everywhere He leads me I would follow on!"

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/461#ixzz2YH5l1Mgc

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/