2020 Archived Blogs
Numbers 6:24-26 (NKJV)
The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.
We offer the following three prayers in response ...
1. LORD, bring those who yet need You into new- birth relationship with You through Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ - Lord of lords and King of kings. Please do so whereby they, too, can so enjoy the huge blessings found only in the Lord Jesus as Your New Covenant graciously continues. May peace with God be their eternal discovery this new year. Amen
2. LORD, bless and keep those in You who, by grace, con- tinue in relationship with You in their new-born state. May Your holy face shine upon them and be gracious to them. Lift up Your countenance upon them, precious Father. And, dear YHVH God Most High: THANK YOU for Your holy New Covenant through Jesus Christ Your Son. May the peace of God which passes all understanding be our ongoing blessing through 2020. Amen
3. LORD, soften the hearts of those who claim to be in You but who are not abiding in Your Son. Open their eyes to the dangers of the life they are presently living. Help the carnal to repent of their ways, turn and walk in Your Holy Spirit. May You grace them with change whereby they, too, can enjoy the sweet abundant life Your Son, our Shepherd, so kindly offers. May Your merciful, gracious light reign over the darkness. In Jesus Christ's glorious name we pray, amen.
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Week of 1/6-10 (B2;20)
Psalm 1 (NKJV)
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Father, in a day filled with dark uncertainty, may we be wise enough to heed the blessings of this psalm. May we enjoy Your peace which passes all understanding even though the events of Mt. 24:4-8 continue to manifest themselves. LORD, we praise You for the heavenly blessings in Christ Jesus Your glorious Son. Thank You for Your peace which does indeed transcend all understanding. We magnify You oh eternal YHVH God. In Jesus Christ's - Your Son's - holy name we pray, amen.
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Week of 1/13-17 (B3;20)
Psalm 2 (NKJV)
Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, "Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us." He who sites in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: "Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, today I have begotton You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'" Now therefore, be wise O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
Father God, we ADORE Thee. In Jesus Christ's holy name, LORD, help us to revere Your glorious Son. During these days of rebellion, help us LORD to stay the course and remain faithful to You. Help us endure during these days of global warfare against You and Your peoples - both Your Old Covenant people and Your New Covenant people in Jesus Christ Your Son. Thank You, Father God. In Christ alone we bring appeal: Come soon Lord Jesus!
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Week of 1/20-24 (B4;20)
I Peter 3:8-17 (NKJV)
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For "He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil. And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled." But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Father YHVH God, thank You for graciously providing the resources to walk in the perspective You've kindly outlined Your people to obey as we abide in Your Son. Yes LORD, thank You for your empowering Spirit. Help us to walk in Him as Your Ambassadors of Christ Jesus. May we, in Your abundant mercy and grace, continue being those lights which exalt and magnify Your great name. In Jesus Christ's name we pray, amen.
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Week of 1/27-31 (B5;20)
II Peter 2:1-11 (NKJV)
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds) - then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to re- serve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are pre- sumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. [ continued next week ]
Lord God, grace us, please, with Your discernment regarding the false teachers currently among us. Thank You for caring for us to the degree You put these warnings in Your Word. May Your generous Spirit illumine our minds, hearts and eyes whereby we better discern the many deceptions today. Unto our protection in these end of days (in which we are, very much so, in harm's way) unto the efforts at reaching the lost, and ultimately, unto Your glory and praise. In the name of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior we pray, amen.
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Week of 2/3-7 (B6;20)
II Peter 3:1-9 (NKJV)
Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now pre- served by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Thank You, Father God, for caring as You do. Thank You for Your generous patience with us. May some come to You as we continue in these end of days. In Your Son's, our Savior's mighty and holy name we pray, amen.
Note: Please see our Gospel pages on this site if you're open to God's saving message of eternal Hope in Christ Jesus.
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Week of 2/10-14 (B7;20)
I Corinthians 15:50-58 (NKJV)
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Faithful Father God, thank You for being ever so True to Your Word. Thank You for Your promises to Your own in death - that death is swallowed up in victory. Thank You for seeing our loved ones in You, safely Home. Thank You for the victory You provided for needy mankind in Your holy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. And Abba God, help us who remain to be faithful to the end, knowing our kingdom labor on Your behalf is not in vain, especially as we walk in Your Spirit and abide in Your Vine. In Christ Jesus' name we pray, amen.
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Valentine's Day celebrations continue ... Praise: Lord YHVH God, You are SO good!
Week of 2/17-21 (B8;20)
I Corinthians 13 (NKJV)
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all my- steries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I can remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the great- est of these is love.
Loving Creator, thank You for showing Your love for us as You do. Thank You for the supreme expression of Your deep love by sending us Your Savior, Christ Jesus our Lord. Thank You for dying for us so that our sins can be forgiven if we but accept Your precious, eternal gift. Lord, wake up some churches to the fact that YOU have called us to love You through our graced-based obedience to You. Help us discern the false teaching that everything's "done" and that we are not to "do." Thank You for being absolutely clear in Your Word on this matter. And thank You, too, for being clear that the works which are honoring to You are done, in Your mercy and grace, by Your generous Spirit within us whereby You get the glory. Thank You for Your call (to us) to honor Your full Word so that we avoid the consequential deceptions of half truths. Thank You that Christ Jesus Your Son atoned for the sins of mankind while on the cross. Yes, Lord, it is finished. Help lost mankind to accept Your gift so as to apply it, personally, to their lives. And thank You, too, that You continue doing wonderful things in and through Your people by Your kind mercies and grace. We praise and magnify Your great name. In Jesus Christ's holy name we pray, amen.
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Week of 2/24-28 (B9;20)
Ephesians 6:10-18 (NKJV)
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints ...
Father YHVH God, thank You for kindly directing Your people in Christ Jesus with the protective Counsel above. As we enjoy Your provision in this context of spiritual warfare, may we press on in Gospel and Discipleship ministry unto Your glory and praise. In Your glorious Son, Christ Jesus we pray.
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Week of 3/2-6 (B10;20)
John 14:1-6 (NKJV)
[ Jesus Christ speaking ] "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know." Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
Lord Jesus, thank You for speaking Truthfully to needy humanity. Lord, may we accept Your significant revelation to us concerning the way of eternal life. May those who need to do so, accept unto regeneration; may those who have already been born anew, walk in our new birth as we rely upon You and Your wonderful provision, Your Holy Spirit within us. We praise You, Father, for Your kind, ongoing grace! Unto Your glory and praise we pray, amen.
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Week of 3/9-13 (B11;20)
I Corinthians 15:50-52 (NKJV)
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
YHVH God, we long for your Son's return and the gathering together of His elect. Until that time, Lord, and until His initial appearing, help us to abide in Your precious Holy Spirit so that we are supernaturally - by You - enabled Ambassadors on Your behalf, equipped to represent You in a manner pleasing to You, Oh Lord Most High. In Jesus Christ's name we pray, amen.
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Week of 3/16-20 (B12;20)
Psalm 46 (NKJV ; emphases ours ; addition in [ ] ours)
[ YHVH ] God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, * even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Come, behold the works of the LORD, who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Father God, You are great and greatly to be praised! You grace man with things which allow for the bending of our knees in wor- ship. Thank You! Lord, You dwell in Your Church in Jesus Christ Your holy Son. Indeed, You are in the midst of us as this psalm powerfully highlights when we contemplate the blessings of Your New Covenant in Christ. May we glean the insights You have so kindly extended in I & II Thessalonians concerning Your Church being persecuted YET eventually experiencing Your deliverance - in Your time. As did the church in Thessalonica, help us endure through the tribulations too. * And LORD, help us not to fear, even as the earth suffers from COVID-19. May Jesus Christ be praised. Amen
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Week of 3/23-27 (B13;20)
Psalm 100 (NKJV)
Preamble: "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes." Psalm 118:8, 9 ; NKJV
Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God. It is He who made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.
LORD God, we bless and magnify Your glorious name. We give thanks to You who alone are great and greatly to be praised! We exalt You in all things. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever, amen. Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus. Amen
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