Daily Bread_May 9, 2013

Title: Every Trial Has the Seeds to Be a Blessing

Text:

James 1:2-8 (HCSB)
² Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials,
³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
⁴ But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
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.
⁶ But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
⁸ An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways.

Observation:

People of faith can expect and should welcome the testing of their faith. It is through the testing of our faith that reveals whether it is real.

There is a great reward for those who past the faith test.

James 1:2-3 (AMP)
² Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.
³ Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.

It takes godly wisdom to be able to handle the trials or when we fall into any type of temptation. God will supply what we need; we need wisdom to enable us to get through the trial, and reap the reward of the spiritual blessings of endurance, steadfastness and patience. O, the blessings of faith in God, and faithfulness to God.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that I will have faith to enable me to face the trials of life and have them work for me and not against me. Father, may my faith and focus be upon you, and not the trial. Lord God Almighty, give me faith to trust you more, and the wisdom to handle trials without losing my joy. In Jesus name, 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_May 8, 2013

Title: God is a Refuge for His People

Text:

Psalm 46:1 (HCSB)
¹ God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.

Observation:

This Psalm 46 was the inspiration for Martin Luther to write the classic hymn, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God".

I pray that the Psalm will be an inspiration and encouragement to each of you. In these last days with all of the oppression that many believers are facing, we need all of the inspiration and encouragement we can get.

I share with you some of the notes I have written in the margin of my study bible concerning a few of the verses in this Psalm. These are things that God is, and provides for His people.

In verse 1 He is an infallible refuge.

Psalm 46:1 (HCSB)
¹ God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.

In verse 2 He is an immovable confidence.

Psalm 46:2 (HCSB)
² Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas,

In verse 4 He is an infinite supply.

Psalm 46:4 (HCSB)
⁴   {There is} a river— its streams delight the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the Most High.

In verse 5 He is an unfailing comfort.

Psalm 46:5 (HCSB)
⁵ God is within her; she will not be toppled. God will help her when the morning dawns.

In verse 10 He provides a peaceful attitude, and a triumphant result.

Psalm 46:10 (ESV)
¹⁰ "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Yes, my brothers and my sisters, God is alright. If He's your Father, you can call upon him and He will help you in whatever problems or difficulties you are facing.

Prayer:

Father God, I praise you and thank you for who are, and for whose we are, and for all that you are to your people. Father, nobody can do for us what you do; there is none like you. Father, I thank you for being the solid foundation upon which we can build our lives. In Jesus name, 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_May 7, 2013

Title: It's Time for God's People to Pray

Text:

James 5:16-17 (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.
¹⁷ Elijah was a man with a nature like ours; yet he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the land.
John 9:31 (HCSB)
³¹ We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He listens to him.

Observation:

Prayer is the most powerful resource that the believer has to enable us to fulfill the purpose for which God made us and redeemed us.

There is nothing that is beyond the reach of prayer. There is no need that we have in our life that our Lord cannot meet; there is no problem that we face that our Lord cannot solve.

Therefore, let's flood the throne room of God with the prayers of God's believing and faithful people. Don't just pray for yourself; pray for others also.

Ephesians 6:18 (HCSB)
¹⁸ Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

Prayer:

Father God, we stretch our hands to thee; we cry out to you with our whole heart. Lord, look down from your throne room in heaven, and pour out your favor on your people. In Jesus name, 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_May 6, 2013

Title: What is God's View of His People?

Text:

Isaiah 43:1-2 (ESV)
¹ But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.
² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

Observation:

When you look at the condition of our world today you can't help but notice the fear that many people have concerning the present and the future.

I don't like the perspective that I see with my eyes and hear with my ears. I don't like the messages that I hear in the media and the social networks. There are seldom any encouraging words; words that lift the spirit, bring joy to your heart, and give you hope for the future.

Today's text offers another point of view; a higher point of view. It is the view of God of His believing people. The key word in the passage for me is "you". This passage will drive out any fear that may be lurking in your heart.

We get tired of the grind, but our God never gets tired. We get perplexed, and we get distressed. However, God knows our condition, and He is Sovereign over our circumstances. When you get down, take the upward look.

Isaiah 40:28 (ESV)
²⁸ Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

Prayer:

Lord, I thank you that I can rest in the blessed assurance that I belong to You. Father, I thank you for creating me, forming me, and redeeming me. Father, I thank you for your promise, "I will be with you". Lord, I am so grateful for my relationship with You. In Jesus name, 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_May 3, 2013

Title: When Few Words are a Sign of Wisdom

Text:

1 Peter 4:11 (NLT)
¹¹ Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

Psalm 141:3 (NLT)
³ Take control of what I say, O LORD, and guard my lips.

Observation:

Today, I am pondering the first portion of our text; "Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you".

It is not the quantity of our words that changes lives; rather, it is the source of those words. Only God's words have the power to change lives.

There are times when few words are a sign of wisdom.

Proverbs 10:19 (HCSB)
¹⁹ When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise.

Prayer:

Father God, I ask that you fill my heart with your Word so that when I speak people will hear your voice and not mines. Father, tune my heart with your heart, and my lips to give glory to God. Father, may my life be a blessing to others. In Jesus name, 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_May 2, 2013

Title: Grace is so Amazing

Text:

Romans 6:6-7 (HCSB)
⁶ For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin's dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,
⁷ since a person who has died is freed from sin's claims.
Romans 6:11-14 (HCSB)
¹¹ So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
¹² Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires.
¹³ And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.
¹⁴ For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law but under grace.

Observation:

O, what a blessing to be free from the law, and saved by the grace of God. That is the happy condition of every believer in Jesus.

"Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow".

                Elvina M. Hall

Our old man, our Adamic nature died when Jesus died on the cross at Calvary. The Apostle Paul's says me need to consider it as being dead. The debt has been "Paid in Full", we need to cash the check of this promise.

Romans 6:11 (AMP)
¹¹ Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God [living in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus.

Therefore, we should live as free people.

John 8:36 (HCSB)
³⁶ Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.

Prayer:

Father God, I thank you from the depths of my heart for your amazing grace that you have so richly given to me.

Father God, from a heart filled with gratitude, I say thanks; thank you Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In Jesus name, 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_May 1, 2013

Title: Little Things Have the Promise of Large Returns

Text:

Acts 6:1-7 (HCSB)
¹ In those days, as the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.
² Then the Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, "It would not be right for us to give up preaching about God to handle financial matters.
³ Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty.
⁴ But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the preaching ministry."
⁵ The proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte from Antioch.
⁶ They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
⁷ So the preaching about God flourished, the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.

Observation:

One of life's greatest lessons is when we come to the point in our lives when we realize that little things matter. It is when we come to the point in our life where we can know and experience true greatness through doing the little things consistently and faithfully.

Luke 16:10 (HCSB)
¹⁰ Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much.

What little act of kindness can you do today that will enable the Master to trust you with the big things that are the desire of your heart? Why not be faithful and do the little things today?

Colossians 3:23-24 (HCSB)
²³ Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men,
²⁴ knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that you would instill in the hearts of your people the willingness to be faithful in the little things. Father, help us to see the wisdom of descending to do the little things to demonstrate our faithfulness. Father, give us the attitude of a servant; help us to be more like Jesus. In Jesus name, Amen.

Luke 22:27 (HCSB)
²⁷ For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn't it the one at the table? But I am among you as the One who serves.

 

--

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/