Daily Bread_February 28, 2014

Title: Why I Love the Lord

Text:

Psalm 116:1-4 (ESV)
¹ I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.
² Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
³ The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.
⁴ Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!”

Observation:

In this Psalm the Psalmist expresses the faith and the confidence that every child of God can identify with who has put their trust in the Lord. In this Psalm he indicates that he could not trust in himself, and that he could not trust in others.

Psalm 116:3 (ESV)
³ The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.

Psalm 116:11 (ESV)
¹¹ I said in my alarm, “All mankind are liars.”

Have you ever felt like the Psalmist in his view about himself and others? Yes, life is hard down here. A lady told me the other day; “It’s not the world, it’s the people”. However, in the midst of all that the Psalmist experienced in his life, he never lost hope because he trusted in the Lord. He found hope and help by trusting in God, and calling upon the Lord in prayer.

It is comforting to the heart and uplifting to the soul to know that there is a God in heaven who hears and answers prayer. I join the Psalmist, and agree that the Lord is faithful.

Psalm 116:1 (ESV)
¹ I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.

In view of the Lord’s faithfulness and His unconditional love, I will remember to call upon His name in prayer, and take everything to the Lord in prayer. I am so glad that I serve a God in whom I can trust.

Psalm 116:2 (ESV)
² Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

Prayers don’t have to be long to be effective; this is the prayer of the psalmist.

Psalm 116:4 (ESV)
⁴ Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!”

Prayer:

O Lord, help me to be the man You purposed me to be. Amen.

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_February 27, 2014

Title: What Would Jesus Do?

Text:

Luke 5:1-5 (HCSB)
¹ As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word, He was standing by Lake Gennesaret.
² He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.
³ He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then He sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat.
⁴ When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
⁵ “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing! But at Your word, I’ll let down the nets.”
Luke 5:16 (HCSB)
¹⁶ Yet He often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.

Observation:

The book of Luke is one that I go to when I want to align my heart with the heart of Jesus; it is where I find the answer to the question, “What would Jesus do?” Jesus did many things, but His focus was always on the main things.

There are two main things that I see Jesus doing; they are teaching the word of God, and prayer. In doing the main things He did not neglect other things.

Jesus taught the word of God to the people, who were hungry and thirsty to hear the word. Also, Jesus was never too busy to take time from the ministry to withdraw to a private place and pray.

Finally, Jesus taught the crowd, but He also taught Simon an important lesson. There is a time to teach the crowd, and there is a time to teach one. That’s what Jesus would do; so that is what I will do. What will you do?

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so glad that the two things that Jesus did then are two things that I can do today and every day. Father, help me to not forget the one in seeking to reach the many.  Amen.

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_February 26, 2014

Title: The Giver and Sustainer of Life

Text:

Leviticus 18:5 (HCSB)
⁵ Keep My statutes and ordinances; a person will live if he does them. I am Yahweh.

Observation:

When it comes to knowing what is true life; my go to source is the creator of life. The Bible is about life, and how to have it more abundantly. I love to write and share what Jesus has done, and will do in the life of everyone who trust in Him with their whole heart. Let’s see what Jesus did then; and, at the end I will share what He can do now in your life and in my life.

Genesis 1:26-27 (HCSB)
²⁶ Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”
²⁷ So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female.

When God speaks I listen, and He speaks to us completely and continuously through His Word and by His Spirit. God’s purpose is to give us life; the only life worth living, it is life that will never die.

John 10:10 (HCSB)
¹⁰ A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

John 10:28 (HCSB)
²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so thankful for the gift of life; the only life that is worth living. What a blessing and comfort to know that what You give no one is able to take from us. Father, I am so grateful that You sent Your best so that we could be blessed and live in Your presence forever. O Lord, Amen, Hallelujah!

Conclusion and Application:

What can Jesus do now? He can supply all of your needs according to His riches is glory. Do you believe this; do you trust His character and His Word? I’m going to do what the chorus of this hymn says today and every day. Life is simple when you trust in Jesus every day.

“Now Christ is the life-giving Spirit;
Now Christ is the living Word too.
The Spirit will flow in our spirit,
The Word will be life to us through—

• Praying, reading, praising and
  Calling upon His name;
  Praying, reading, praising and
  Calling upon Him.”

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/ns/103#ixzz2u4MvNJYS

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_February 25, 2014

Title: The Key to Wise Decision Making

Text:

Proverbs 2:6-9 (HCSB)
⁶ For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
⁷ He stores up success for the upright; [He is] a shield for those who live with integrity
⁸ so that He may guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His loyal followers.
⁹ Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and integrity—every good path.

Observation:

In the course of a day we make many decisions; these decisions determine the course of our life. Fortunately, for the believer, we don’t have to walk this path alone. Notice, that our text says in verse nine (9) that wisdom is a good path. God does not withhold anything good from His people, and neither should we. Those who receive much have much to give.

Proverbs 3:27 (KJV)
²⁷ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

However, wisdom is more than a path to walk; it is a person to follow, and that person is Jesus because He is wisdom.

1 Corinthians 1:30 (HCSB)
³⁰ But [it is] from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us—[our] righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,

We don’t ever have to make a decision without the wisdom of God.  We just have to ask the Lord to help us. If we have Christ in us; then we need to have more of Him coming out of us. Ask Him to help you, He will do it.

James 1:5 (HCSB)
⁵ Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so thankful for the wisdom and the power of God. Father, I ask that more of Christ wisdom that is within me would come out of me; in Jesus name, Amen.

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_February 24, 2014

Title: The Power to Do Good When Others are Doing Bad

Text:

Galatians 6:9 (ESV)
⁹ And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Observation:

One of the character traits that identify followers of Jesus is their perseverance. Jesus told us to expect trouble in this world. Don’t expect the world to treat you better than they treated Jesus. He was perfect, and we are not.

Revelation 14:12 (ESV)
¹² Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

We are to be faithful in the good times and the hard times; this is the world, and not heaven. We are just pilgrims down here.

The text in Galatians reminds us to not grow weary of doing good deeds. We should not allow the bad actors in this world to strip us of our faithfulness to the Lord, and to His work in this world. God is able to complete what He started in you.

Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
⁶ And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

This is an encouragement for us to keep our eyes on the prize because this is the promise: “in due season we will reap, if we do not give up”. If you are willing go on; God is willing and able to give you the strength to endure, and finish the race.

Jeremiah 31:25 (ESV)
²⁵ For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.”

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
³¹ but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Hebrews 12:3 (ESV)
³ Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Let us decide to never give up doing what is good in God’s eyes. And, do it for the glory of our great and gracious God.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I pray that You would raise up an army of the faithful who will not grow weary of doing good, and will reap the harvest in due season. O, for faith to trust and obey. Amen.

“When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.”

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/582#ixzz2uEv7S784

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_February 21, 2014

Title: God is Bigger Than Any of Your Problems

Text:

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

Observation:

I was leading a unit on “How to Pray for Others”, and I came across this statement in the course material that I was using: “Problems are God’s raw material for miracles”. This was over 30 years ago, and I have seen it to be true more times than I am able to count. I have found God to be bigger than any problem I have ever faced. Who is this God?

Hebrews 4:14 (HCSB)
¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to the confession.

Hebrews 13:20 (HCSB)
²⁰ Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—with the blood of the everlasting covenant,

This God is not dead; He is alive and He is real. You ask me how I know; the Bible tells me so, and He lives in me.

Have faith in God, and don’t be afraid. When you fear God, you don’t have to fear anything else.

Hebrews 11:6 (HCSB)
⁶ Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.

Luke 12:32 (HCSB)
³² Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, help us to learn the source of the power to overcome the problems and the obstacles that we face in fulfilling our God ordained purpose and plan for our lives. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

My song:

“I serve a risen Savior
He’s in the world today.
I know that He is living,
Whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy;
I hear His voice of cheer;
And just the time I need Him
He’s always near.”

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/503#ixzz2txJcaDeB

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_February 20, 2014

Title: How We Talk to One Another

Text:

James 3:7-12 (NLT)
⁷ People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish,
⁸ but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.
⁹ Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.
¹⁰ And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!
¹¹ Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?
¹² Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

Observation:

This is a continuation of the topic from yesterday; I still have the tongue on my mind. It has been my observation that in recent years, at least in my lifetime, I have seen the coarseness of our speech sink to a lower level.

I am not talking about the debate between politicians. I am aware that politics is a contact sport, and those who enter the arena engage in it, and should expect it.

What is on my mind this morning is not political speech, but the way brothers and sisters in Christ talk to each other; the way we communicate in the social media. More is expected of those who bear the name of Christ; those of us who are called Christians.

We should be imitators of Christ, and not the world. It’s time for God’s people to look into the mirror of the word, and change the way we talk.

2 Corinthians 6:17 (NLT)
¹⁷ Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.

Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLT)
³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.
³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, help us to be the kind of people to a watching world that would bring glory to Your name, and would build up one another, and be a powerful witness to the world. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_February 19, 2014

Title: The Power of Words to Hurt and Heal           

Text:

Proverbs 10:18-21 (HCSB)
¹⁸ The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
¹⁹ When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise.
²⁰ The tongue of the righteous is pure silver; the heart of the wicked is of little value.
²¹ The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.

Observation:

At its best life can be difficult. Inappropriate words spoken at the wrong time can be devastating. Our words have the power to build or destroy. Notice what the Word says about this unruly member.

James 3:6-8 (NLT)
⁶ And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
⁷ People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish,
⁸ but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.

The problem is with the heart. Is your heart right before God? When you open your mouth are you speaking from the wisdom of God or the wisdom of the world? Get God’s Word in you and the best will come out of you.

Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)
¹² For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that we will heed the admonition of the Word of God to guard our heart and discipline our tongue. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

“Lord, You have searched me and You have known me.
You understand my thoughts from afar!
You comprehend my path and are acquainted with all my ways,
For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold You know it all together!

• Search me, O God, and know my heart;
  Try me and know my anxieties;
  See if there is any wicked in me,
  And lead me in the way everlasting!”

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/ns/332#ixzz2tRK6f1AB

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_February 18, 2014

Title: You Are Special - - Born for Success

Text:

Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV)
¹³ For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Observation:

God made you on purpose and for a purpose. God’s plan is tailored made for each of us. Notice the plan He had for Jeremiah and Saul.

Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV)
⁵ “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Acts 9:13-15 (ESV)
¹³ But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.
¹⁴ And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”
¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

Have you discovered God’s purpose and plan for you? It’s not hard if you look to Your Maker for help in discovering it. God is looking for you; are you looking for Him?

Jeremiah 29:13 (NLT)
¹³ If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

2 Chronicles 16:9 (AMP)
⁹ For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are blameless toward Him. You have done foolishly in this; therefore, from now on you shall have wars.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am in awe of the love and concern You have for Your people, and the high esteem in which you hold them. Father, help us to see ourselves becoming the person You made us to be; people with potential, power and possibilities for godliness and greatness. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_February 17, 2014

Title: Do You Know How to be Free and Blessed?

Text:

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Observation:

This thought recently gripped me. What is the value of the stirring of the heart if your life is not changed? Selah.

It’s amazing what God can do in us and through us when we submit to His ownership, and do what He says for us to do in His Word. This is the key to having a blessed life; one day at a time. The grace of God is so amazing and so liberating. God does not desire to box you in; His desire is to set you free.

Are you free and blessed?

John 8:36 (NLT)
³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so thankful that nothing is impossible with You. Father God, help us and strengthen us to be all that You created us, and redeemed us to be. Lord, I thank You that I am free and blessed. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

 

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_February 14, 2014

Title: The Supremacy of Love - - The Love that Never Fails

Text:

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NASB)
⁴ Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
⁵ does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
⁶ does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Observation:

There is nothing that surpasses love. Paul describes it as the more excellent way, and of the gifts that are eternal; love is the greatest.

1 Corinthians 12:31 (NASB)
³¹ But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NASB)
¹³ But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

God has made each of us unique; we are His workmanship. God loved us, and He commands us to love one another.

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NLT)
¹ Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.
² Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so thankful for the love that You have for Your people. Father, help us to walk in love, and to love others in the manner that we have been loved by You. Father, help us to love and lift up one another every day.

Father, I thank You for the gifts of everlasting life and love. Praying and singing with the love of Jesus in my heart, Amen.

“Love lifted me!
Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me.”

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/1070#ixzz2tIRtve44

John 3:16 (KJV)
¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

--

Psalm 119:105 (HCSB)
¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_February 13, 2014

Title: The Creator of Light and Life

Text:

John 1:4-5 (HCSB)
⁴ Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men.
⁵ That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.

John 8:12 (HCSB)
¹² Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

Observation:

Notice the emphasis in this passage on life and light. Jesus existed before the creation of light and life in Genesis. In fact He was the creator of that light and life.

John 1:2-3 (HCSB)
² He was with God in the beginning.
³ All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.

Furthermore, this same Jesus who was the creator of life in Genesis is the creator of new life in John. He is the light and life, and is the only one that can lead us from darkness to light.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (HCSB)
¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, [he is] a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.

God is an able creator, and is a faithful re-creator; you can trust Him to give you light and life. Think about having the blessing of never walking in darkness. O, for the grace to walk in faith and obedience to God.

1 Peter 4:19 (HCSB)
¹⁹ So those who suffer according to God’s will should, while doing what is good, entrust themselves to a faithful Creator.

Prayer:

Father God, I am so grateful that You are my creator and my redeemer. Father, such love and grace amazes me and humbles me.

Father God, I am so thankful for the gifts of life and light, and for the hope that the best is yet to come. Father, I entrust myself to Your care; make me to be salt and light. In Jesus name, Amen.

“Feed on His faithfulness, my soul;
So shalt thou see His face,
Transforming thee till all shall see
The glory of His grace;
Closer to His great heart
In glad abandon press;
Fling thy soul down upon His own—
Feed on His faithfulness.”

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/655#ixzz2tCfscTmM

--

Psalm 119:105 (HCSB)
¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_February 12, 2014

Title: What and Who Are the Enemies of Your Peace?

Text:

Psalm 42:5 (HCSB)
⁵ Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God.

Observation:

The pain of the Psalmist is common to God’s people of every generation. Who among us have not cried out with words that were similar to his? When we face difficult times we are prone to ask these three questions: why me, why this, and why now?

It is not possible for any of us to escape the presence of the world, the flesh, and the devil. It is a universal problem that only the blood of Jesus can atone for. We are all in the same boat.

Ephesians 2:1-3 (HCSB)
¹ And you were dead in your trespasses and sins
² in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, the spirit now working in the disobedient.
³ We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.

We may all be in the same boat, but we are not without hope if you are able to say like the Psalmist, “My Savior and my God”.

Ephesians 2:4-5 (HCSB)
⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us,
⁵ made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!

The cure for the presence of sin is the presence of God. Have you received the grace gift of salvation? It’s only a step to salvation; if you have not taken it, why not take it now? If you have received the gift of salvation, then seek God’s face; do not fear, and listen to what God says to you, and obey it. Remember, you are never alone when you are walking with the Lord holding your hand.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I praise Your name above every other name on earth and in heaven. Father, there is no place I would rather be than in the safety and security of Your everlasting arms.

Father, I am so glad that I can say like the Psalmist, “My Savior and my God”. Father, I thank You for the perfect peace I find when I am close to You, and leaning on Your everlasting arms. Father, I am praying and singing in the name of Jesus, Amen.

John 14:27 (ESV)
²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

My song:

Woke Up This Morning with My Mind Stayed on Jesus (This will bless you if you enjoy gospel music):

Click here to watch video:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcMI2WYkviQ

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Psalm 119:105 (HCSB)
¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_February 11, 2014

Title: The Preparation for Opportunity

Text:

Song of Songs 5:2-6 (ESV)
² I slept, but my heart was awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking. “Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one, for my head is wet with dew, my locks with the drops of the night.”
³ I had put off my garment; how could I put it on? I had bathed my feet; how could I soil them?
⁴ My beloved put his hand to the latch, and my heart was thrilled within me.
⁵ I arose to open to my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the bolt.
⁶ I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had turned and gone. My soul failed me when he spoke. I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer.

Observation:

The key to handling opportunity is to be prepared. When opportunity knocks on your door, being prepared gives you the tools to seize it.

The story of the woman described in our text shows what happens when we are unprepared. She was not prepared to seize the opportunity when it knocked on her door. Not a happy outcome.

Here is another story that turned out happily.

John 5:2-3 (ESV)
² Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades.
³ In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.
John 5:5 (ESV)
⁵ One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.

John 5:8-9 (ESV)
⁸ Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.”
⁹ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a life that has been prepared for the next time that opportunity knocks at my door.

Father, I am leaning upon the everlasting arms of my Savior to lead and guide me as I travel up the Kings Highway. Lord, give me the strength to seize the opportunities that come to those who follow Jesus. Father, there is no one I would rather follow then Jesus, I know that He knows the way to where You are, and that is where I long to be. It’s in His name that I pray, Amen.

“Down in the valley, or upon the mountain steep,
Close beside my Savior would my heart ever keep;
He will lead me safely in the path that He has trod,
Up to where they gather in the rest of God.”

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/461#ixzz2t10WwX81

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Psalm 119:105 (HCSB)
¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

 

Daily Bread_February 10, 2014

Title: What Is the Deepest Desire of Your Heart?

Text:

Psalm 73:25-26 (ESV)
²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
²⁶ My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:28 (ESV)
²⁸ But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

Observation:

Can you associate yourself with the desire of the Psalmist? If I know my heart, I can say that it is the desire of my heart. But, I trust the Lord’s heart more than I trust my heart.

There is no place I would rather be than in the grip of the hands of the Lord. Listen to what the Bible says about God’s grip on His people.

Isaiah 54:17 (NLT)
¹⁷ But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken!

Romans 9:33 (NLT)
³³ God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said, “I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”

Philippians 3:12 (Phillips NT)
¹² Yet, my brothers, I do not consider myself to have "arrived", spiritually, nor do I consider myself already perfect. But I keep going on, grasping ever more firmly that purpose for which Christ grasped me. My brothers, I do not consider myself to have fully grasped it even now. But I do concentrate on this: I leave the past behind and with hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead I go straight for the goal - my reward the honour of being called by God in Christ.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I am so grateful that You are holding me firmly in the grip of Your almighty hands. Father, my deepest desire is to stay close to You, and to walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

Lord, allow me to walk with You; tell me things that only You know, so that I can bear the strain of service and the weight of caring. Father, I’m walking with Jesus, and as He did, I am looking to You for the strength I need to be faithful. So, it is in His holy name that I pray, Amen.

“In hope that sends a shining ray
Far down the future’s broadening way,
In peace that only Thou canst give,
With Thee, O Master, let me live.”

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/905#ixzz2sv0yuFUT

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Psalm 119:105 (HCSB)
¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/