daddy4ms

My word for 2018 is abide.  I have this great picture over my fireplace made by a good friend that reminds me to abide each day.  My understanding of abide is to "be with Jesus." What does it mean to abide?  Here are some definitions to help us better understand the word.  The Greek word "meno" which is a verb means "to stay". It can also be translated as abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry for. We will also see these in the Old Testament as well. Each week I will share a verse (or two) to help us better understand abiding. Let me dwell in your tent forever!      Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah 5  For you, O God, have heard my vows;      you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. 6  Prolong the life of the king;      may his years endure to all generations! 7  May he be enthroned forever before God; ...

My Aunt Kay Jean suggested I start sharing a verse of the day.  I liked her suggestion but decided instead of a verse of the day, I would share a verse of the week.  Be reminded of who God is from His Word. 150  Praise the Lord ! Praise God in his sanctuary;      praise him in his mighty heavens! 2  Praise him for his mighty deeds;      praise him according to his excellent greatness! 3  Praise him with trumpet sound;      praise him with lute and harp! 4  Praise him with tambourine and dance;      praise him with strings and pipe! 5  Praise him with sounding cymbals;      praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 6  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord ! Praise the Lord ! (Psalm 150)

My Aunt Kay Jean suggested I start sharing a verse of the day.  I liked her suggestion but decided instead of a verse of the day, I would share a verse of the week.  Be reminded of who God is from His Word. Shout for joy to the Lord , all the earth. 2       Worship the Lord with gladness;      come before him with joyful songs. 3  Know that the Lord is God.      It is he who made us, and we are his;      we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4  Enter his gates with thanksgiving      and his courts with praise;      give thanks to him and praise his name. 5  For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;      his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100)

My Aunt Kay Jean suggested I start sharing a verse of the day.  I liked her suggestion but decided instead of a verse of the day, I would share a verse of the week.  Be reminded of who God is from His Word. 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 ...

My Aunt Kay Jean suggested I start sharing a verse of the day.  I liked her suggestion but decided instead of a verse of the day, I would share a verse of the week.  Be reminded of who God is from His Word. O Lord , our Lord,      how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2       Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes,      to still the enemy and the avenger. 3  When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,      the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4  what is man that you are mindful of him,      and the son of man that you care for him? 5  Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings      and crowned him with glory and honor. 6  You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; ...

What do you do during morning devotions?  I have shared previously that I read It is Finished by Tullian Tchividjian and New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp.  However, I have also been looking for ways other than reading through the Bible in a year to spend time with Jesus. Let me remind you that devotions are not something to check off a list or to prove you are a good Christian.  It is all about relationship with Jesus.  God does not love you more if you do them or less if you don't.  Most recently, I have been reading through the Psalms and listing the characteristics of God.  As I list them, I then incorporate them into my prayer time. I have loved this time with God.  After I finished the Psalms, I wanted to continue this.  So, I recently started reading through the gospel of Mark and listing characteristics of Jesus.  I list these and then pray about them as well.  Why do I share this?  To offer you another opt...

For my morning devotions over the last few months, I have been reading one Psalm each morning and listing the character or attributes of God.  It has been a blessing to me.  I specifically look for words related to God not the person. This has reinforced a few thoughts for me: God is good!  So often, we make God out to be a grumpy mean deity in the Old Testament. The Psalms are a reminder of God being loving, good, and gracious. God is for us!  I am currently in Psalm 69 and I am reminded how God is for us as his people.  Many times the author of the Psalm asks for deliverance or help from God.  We see a God who is interested in the lives of His people. God is powerful!  Listen to these words from Psalm 68: " O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, Selah to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose p...

As I mentioned yesterday, I am sharing Psalms in preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Yesterday was Psalm 23 and today is Psalm 100. Psalm 100 A psalm. For giving grateful praise. 1  Shout for joy to the Lord , all the earth. 2       Worship the Lord with gladness;      come before him with joyful songs. 3  Know that the Lord is God.      It is he who made us, and we are his;      we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4  Enter his gates with thanksgiving      and his courts with praise;      give thanks to him and praise his name. 5  For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;      his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Here are more promises of God from the Psalms compiled by Kenneth Boa: “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless.   He is a shield for all who take refuge in him” (18:30). “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you” (32:8). “Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him” (32:10). “The Lord redeems his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned” (34:22). “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart” (37:4). “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall” (55:22). “The Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.   O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you” (84:11-12). “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear h...

Be encouraged by the Word of God this morning.  Here are some promises of God from the Psalms compiled by Kenneth Boa: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.   But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.   He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.   Whatever he does prospers” (1:1-3). “Blessed are all who take refuge in him” (2:12). “Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him” (4:3). “For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield” (5:12). “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.   Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you” (9:9-10). “The Lord ...